#THREAD

THE ASHTAVINAYAKA GANAPATI.

Ganesh is the Pratham Pujya or the one who is to be worshipped first. In Maharashtra Ganesh is a household deity. Here visiting the ASHTAVINAYAKA GANAPATI(eight temples) of Ganesh are considered to be the Sacred of all pilgrimages.

Today I bring to you the stories of all these self originating idols and their importance.

1.Mahaganpati at Ranjangaon. It is believed that nandi and Shiva once visited this temple. Nandi refused to leave this temple. So over here Nandi and Mushak both protect this temple.

2.Mayureshwar at Morgaon is named after the village where once peacock were found in abundance. This temple should be visited first. Also it is called Mayureshwara as Ganesh came on a mayuri or peacock to defeat demon Sindhurasur.

3.Sidheshwar at Sidhatek, Pune. This temple is also very important as it is believed that Vishnu acquired all his sidhi's here.

4. Ballareshwar at Pali is named after his devotee Ballal. It is situated on Mumbai Goa highway. The story is that Ganesha saved the child Ballal from his father(kalyanI) and villagers for worshipping Ganesh.

5. Chintamani at Theur, Pune. Here he is worshipped as the peace giver and the one who relaxes our minds by removing our worries. It is believed that Ganesha got back the jewel Chintamani from demon Guna and returned it to sage Kapil. Kapil put this jewel on Ganesha's neck.

The present day temple was reconstructed by the Peshwas.

6. Girijatmaj at Lenyadri Pune is situated inside a cave. It is said that Girija performed Penance her to beget Ganesha.

7. Varad vinayak near Khopoli on Mumbai Pune highway, is said to grant boons to all his devotees. The story is of handsome Prince Rukmangad who refused the illicit calls of sage Vachaknavi's wife Mukunda who then cursed him to be a leper.

She then went on and had an illicit Son through Indra whom she named Grustmad. Later when Grustmad learnt about his illicit birth,cursed his mother. The mother cursed him to become demon Tripurasur,who was defeated by Shiva. This demon later on became a great devotee of Ganesha.

8.Vigneshwar of Ojhar,Pune. It is believed that he destroys all our troubles or vidhna. Vidhnasur demon was created to kill king Abhinandan. But the demon destroyed dharma.Ganesha defeated the demon.The demon became a devotee of Ganesh.

Sources-Ganesh puran and other sources as well.