Famous Ganesha - Maharashtra Tourism

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Blessed by Ganesha:
Famous Ganesha temples in
Maharashtra
Siddhivinayaka n
Lalbaugcha Raja n
Titwala Ganapati n
Kasaba Ganapati n
Talyatla Ganapati n
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati n
Trishund Ganapati n
Moraya Gosavi n
Mahaganapati (Dholya Ganapati) n
Sinnar Ganapati n
Padmalaya Ganapati n
Ganapatis in Konkan Region n
www.maharashtratourism.gov.in
Volume 4 | Issue 3 - 2015 | MAHARASHTRA UNLIMITED
57
n Famous Ganesha Temples in Maharashtra
The temple is located at Prabhadevi in Central
Mumbai, the temple’s idol of Shree Siddhivinayak was carved out of a single black stone and is
2’6” (750 mm) high and 2’ (600 mm) wide with
the trunk on the right side. This is considered
a rather unusual appearance of Lord Ganesha.
The upper right and left hands hold a lotus and
an axe respectively while the lower right and left
hands hold a rosary (japmala) and a bowl full of
‘modak’ respectively. On the forehead of the deity
is an eye, which almost looks like the third eye of
Lord Shiva. On both sides of the Lord Ganesha
idol are placed one idol each of goddesses Riddhi
and Siddhi who appear as to be peeping out from
behind the Ganesha idol. It is because of these
two deities along with that of Lord Ganesha that
the temple is called the Siddhivinayak Ganapati
Temple. These goddesses signify sanctity, success, wealth and prosperity.
The original structure of the Siddhivinayak Temple was a small 3.6 meter x 3.6 meter square brick
structure with a dome-shaped brick ‘shikhara’.
It was built by professional contractor Late Mr.
Laxman Vedu Patil as per the financial support
and instructions of Late Mrs. Deubai Patil. The
temple was built by Late Mrs. Deubai Patil having
her profound wish that Lord Ganeshaa should
grant children to barren women. The present
magnificent and palatial temple’s new building
was completed on 13th June 1994. The gabhara
has three wooden doors having excellent carvings
and designs and images like Navdurga, different
postures of Ganapati and Navagraha. The inner
roof of the sanctum is plated with gold. Images
of the Ashtavinayakas (the eight manifestations
of Lord Ganeshaa in Maharashtra) are carved out
on the red marble at gate no.3.
Shree
Siddhivinayak
Ganapati Temple
Prabhadevi, Mumbai
Anand and Madhura Katti
Information and Photo courtesy:
Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Trust, Mumbai
The authors are travel and food writers and documentary film
makers based in Mumbai and can be reached at
[email protected]
58
MAHARASHTRA UNLIMITED | Volume 4 | Issue 3 - 2015
With the firm belief that nothing new should
ever be embarked upon without invoking
the blessings of Lord Ganesha, the Shree
Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple at Prabhadevi is understandably the most popular
of places of worship in Mumbai. Great Soul
Late Mrs. Deubai Patil of Agri Samaj from
Matunga and Late Mr. Laxman Vedu Patil,
a financial supporter and professional contractor built and consecrated this temple.
The popularity of the shrine increased day
by day. This Siddhivinayak is famous for
and known as “Navasacha Ganapati” or
“Navasala Paavnara Ganapati” in Marathi which means “Siddhivinayak bestows
whenever humbly and genuinely prayed
with a wish before him.”
The temple vastu is a five-storied building constructed on 13th June 1994. The first floor of the
building is used as a mezzanine floor for performing poojas as well as taking distant darshan by the devotees. The second floor is used
as a kitchen for preparation of Naivedya i.e. the
sacred food stuff offering to be blessed by Lord
Ganeshaa. The third floor comprises chambers of
Chairman, Treasurer and Executive Officer of the
Trust including reception counter, conference
room, and committee hall. The fourth floor has
accounts and administrative department having
sections for accounts, cash counting, ornament
valuation and establishment including cabins
for Deputy Executive Officer and Finance and
Accounts Officer. A dedicated enclosure inside
the temple is for Hanuman, whose statue was
unearthed during a road construction project in
1952. Also an 18 feet high black stone Deepmala
is in front of the Hanuman Mandir. It is believed
that the two big silver mice statues in the main
hall grant the wishes of the faithful if they whisper their requests into their ears.
Interestingly, the temple has adopted modern
eco-friendly techniques of rainwater harvesting
and is self-sufficient in energy with its own solar
unit. The daily floral waste is recycled as compost.
The temple is surrounded by many shops that sell
flowers, fruits and sweets that are bought as offerings to the god. Packets of ‘prasad’ containing
‘laddoos’ and coconut ‘barfi’ are available at the
temple’s outlet within the complex. Besides the
management of the trust utilizes temple’s funds
not only for management and maintenance of the
temple but nearly 50% of temple’s funds on many
social welfare activities also, like medical assistance to poor and needy patients, free book bank
scheme, arranging health care camps, monetary
help in natural calamities. The trust also has its
own dialysis centre.
Tuesday is a special day to visit the temple but
is also the most crowded. Saturdays and Sundays
are crowded too. Call the temple reception office
on + 91(022) 24373626 (10 am to 5 pm) and find
out about crowd status. There is a PRO office just
inside the main gate where NRIs and foreigners
will get assistance and guidance. The temple has
its own website www.siddhivinayak.org through
which a lot of services like free online darshan,
online pooja booking, donations and purchase of
silver coins are offered to devotees.
Excursions
Portuguese Church
Just a kilometer away from Siddhivinayak Temple is the Church of Our Lady of Salvation, popularly known as Portuguese Church. Built in 1596,
it is among the oldest churches of Mumbai and
India. The church has an interesting and symbolic architecture representing specific phases of
Jesus Christ’s lifetime. Specially designed sacred
cross stands out. Mumbai Mayors Bungalow is in
the vicinity.
Explore Mumbai
If you are a first time visitor to Mumbai, the city
has a lot to offer in terms of tourist attractions.
From caves dating to the first century BCE at
Kanheri Borivali and Elephanta, a paradise of
flora and fauna which is the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, a long list of museums as also shopping centres, beaches, places of spiritual interest
for people of all faiths and even a Bollywood tour;
Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra will provide a mesmerizing experience.
59
The sarvajanik or community Ganesha festival
celebration forms an iconic part of the culture of
the city of Mumbai. What was mainly a private
religious celebration in Maharashtra became a
participative community festival around the turn
of the 20th century on the encouragement of social and political reformers like Lokmanya Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, mainly in Mumbai and Pune.
Today community groups organize local Ganapati celebrations with funds collected from residents of the area and local businesses, each competing to present a larger Ganesha idol or a more
extravagant decor. Starting out as a platform for
communities to come together and build nationalistic fervour, as conceived by Tilak, the public
Ganesha celebration is a tradition that has not
only sustained itself for more than a century but
gone from being a mere festival to an economic
and cultural phenomenon. No other idol is more
representative of this shift than the Lalbaugcha
Raja in Lalbaug, Mumbai.
The Lalbaugcha Raja or the ‘king of Lalbaug’ is
perhaps the most iconic, if not the largest, community Ganesha celebration in Mumbai city.
Organized for the ten days of the festival in a
cramped by-lane of Lalbaug market by the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshaotsav Mandal,
it is visited by close to thirty million patrons every
year. The idol is unveiled in a pandol erected in
the market on the day of Ganesha Chaturthi. Patrons queue up to receive their blessings from the
revered Ganesha over the next ten days until the
idol is carried to Girgaon chowpatty by thousands
to be immersed on the eleventh day.
Lalbaugcha Raja
Mumbai
Ruchi Sawardekar
Photographs © Sachin Naik
The author is freelance filmmaker and writer
and can be reached at [email protected]
60
The King of Lalbaug stands tall at over 20
feet during the Ganesha festival in the heart
of Mumbai. Revered by close to 30 million
devotees every year, the benevolent Ganesha of Lalbaug is the icon of the Mumbai
Ganapati festival celebrations.
Swatantryaveer Savarkar Library, the Sant Dnyaneshwar Reference Book Bank among several
others.
Over the years, the Lalbaugcha Raja has grown
tremendously in popularity, so much so, that it
has become more of a site of pilgrimage than a
mere Ganesha idol. Known as the navsacha Ganapati or the Ganapati who answers one’s prayers,
the Raja is visited by lakhs of patrons during the
ten days of the Ganesha festival. Patrons may assemble in one of two queues: the mukhdarshan
queue which allows one only to catch a glimpse
of the idol from a close distance; and the navas
queue where one may go and touch the feet of the
idol. Devotees queue up in the thousands waiting for anywhere close to 30 hours in line to get a
chance to pray to the revered Raja.
The image of the Raja itself is iconic. The design
of the idol has now been patented by the Kambli family who has been sculpting the Raja since
1953 when Venkatesh Kambli first designed it.
His son Ratnakar and grandson Santosh Kambli
continue to sculpt the iconic idol in the same design. The Raja stands tall at a grand 20 feet.
Lalbaugcha Raja literally translates to ‘the King
of Lalbaug’. What began as a community Ganesha
celebration is now a citywide cultural phenomenon. Not only has the Raja brought country-wide
fame to the heart of the erstwhile mill district of
Mumbai, it has gone to symbolise Ganesha in the
eyes of the city that has come to adopt him as its
deity like no other.
Like every large sarvajanik Ganapati in Mumbai, the origins of the Lalbaugcha Raja are in the
humble gatherings of a working class community during the nationalist movement of the early
20th century. It is believed that the fisherwomen
and vendor community of Lalbaug first installed
a Ganesha idol and prayed to Lord Ganesha to
grant them a permanent space to sell their wares,
thus establishing what is now the Lalbaug market. The recorded history of the Lalbaugcha Raja
begins in 1934 with the establishment of the now
Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshaotsav Mandal. The event is organised with funds collected
in donations, not just from patrons during the
festival, but also from donations from commercial ventures and political and corporate entities.
Because of the ever-growing scale and influence
of the Raja, the Mandal has also been able to
establish several institutions for social welfare
such as a dialysis centre, the Lokmanya Tilak
Computer Training Institute, a free yoga centre,
a study facility at the Sane Guruji Abhyasika, the
61
Visited by thousands of devotees, particularly on
Angaraki Chaturthi – a Tuesday that follows on
the fourth day of the lunar bright fortnight – the
Siddhivinayaka Mahaganapati Temple at Titwala also witnesses a huge congregation during the
occasions of Ganesha Chaturthi and Ganesha
Jayanti. Another reason for its religious popularity is that Titwala is believed to be the putative
site of the hermitage of sage Kanva, the foster
parent of Shakuntala who was born here. Titwala
is also an easy place to go to with its proximity to
Mumbai. In fact, the domestic and international
airports of Mumbai are just about 75 kilometers
away.
There is a fascinating legend attached to this
place. The village was part of the Dandakaranya
forest where the Katkari tribe lived. Sage Kanva,
who resided here, had adopted Shakuntala, who
was abandoned immediately after her birth by
her parents. King Dushyanta of the Gandhara
kingdom while on a battle campaign was passing
through the forests when he and Shakuntala fell
in love with each other and got married according
to the Gandharva rite in the hermitage. Since Dushyanta had to leave Shakuntala after some time
due to unrest in his capital city, he gave Shakuntala a royal signet as a sign of their love, promising her that he would return for her.
The Titwala
Ganapati Temple
Mumbai
Text & Photographs: Anand and Madhura Katti
Photo courtesy ©
Trustees, Shri Siddhivinayak Vinayak Mandir, Titwala
The authors are travel and food writers and documentary film
makers based in Mumbai and can be reached at
[email protected]
62
For all those who believe in the power of
Lord Ganesha, regular visits to the Siddhivinayaka Mahaganapati Temple at Titwala
is always high on the ‘faith’ list. The place
is steeped in ancient legend and the temple
is also frequented by those who believe that
separated married couples can be united
and the marriages of desired people can
be arranged easily if the Ganesha image
installed in the temple is worshipped with
devotion.
Once, while Shakuntala was in the hermitage in
pensive mood thinking about her husband Dushyanta, she did not pay the desired reverential
attention to sage Durvasa who was visiting the
place. Known for his short temper, he felt offended by this slight and cursed Shakuntala saying
that the person she was dreaming of would forget about her altogether. Later, however, Durvasa toned down his curse to mean that the person
who had forgotten Shakuntala would remember
everything again if she showed him a personal token that had been given to her.
It is said that sage Kanva, realising the gravity
of the issue faced by Shakuntala, directed her to
build a shrine in honour of Lord Ganesha as Siddhivinayaka. He assured her that by her sincere
prayers Siddhivinayaka would bless her and she
would once again join her husband Dushyanta.
This eventually came true after considerable effort and lapse of time and by which time Shakuntala who had conceived after marrying Dushyanta, also gave birth to a son who came to be known
as Bharata.
The Siddhivinayaka Mahaganapati Temple
built by Shakuntala with the stated legendary
background was submerged under a tank. During the rule of Peshwa Madhavrao I, to resolve
the drought situation in the town, the tank was
de-silted to provide drinking water to the town. It
was during the de-silting operations that the temple was found buried. The image of Ganesha was
found by Ramchandra Mehendale. Soon thereafter, the renovation of the temple was undertaken
and a stone temple was built. Peshwa Madhavrao
I consecrated the ancient Ganesha image in this
new temple, after the conquest of Vasai Fort. Initially, the temple was very small with a wooden
‘sabha mandap’, which was in a run-down condition. Since the temple had also degenerated over
time, in 1965–66 renovation work was initiated
again and a new temple was constructed at the
same location.
Excursions
Boating
There is a pond next to the temple complex which is
surrounded by a garden. Paddle boats of two- and
four-seater capacity are available here between 4 pm
to 7 pm for recreation.
Temples
There is another famous temple dedicated to Vithoba
and his consort Rukmini in Titwala that is worth visiting. So also is the exquisitely carved Vithoba Temple at
Shahad. Also called the Birla Mandir, it is 10 kilometers
away from Titwala and accessible by train and road.
At an hour plus drive away from Titwala are naturally
scenic spots of Matheran and Mahuli Fort and forest
sanctuary.
Mahuli Fort
Mahuli Fort at 2815 feet, is in a scenic spot of Maharashtra’s Western Ghats (Sahyadri Range). It has many
adjacent pinnacles that can be climbed through trekking, hiking and rock climbing. The fort on this interesting mountain complex was once ruled by Shahaji Raje,
father of Chhatrapati Shivaji and is now a protected
monument along with the surrounding forest sanctuary. There is an open Shiva temple and three natural
caves. Asangaon, the town near Mahuli Fort is about 40
minutes drive from Titwala.
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63
Kasaba Ganapati
Pune
P K Ghanekar
Photographs © Manjiri Bhalerao,
Courtesy: Shri Kasaba Ganapati Devasthan, Pune
Pune is of course known for its temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha as well as the 10-day
Ganesha Festival. Among its many temples,
the Kasaba Ganapati Mandir holds a special
place of pride and so old is it that it has been
a witness to the city’s transformation from
Punawadi to Pune and now to Pune Mahanagar.
A mansion was built in Pune called Lal Mahal where Jijabai and her son Shivaji, later to
become Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, stayed
for some time. In the vicinity was a neglected
temple of Ganesha. Jijamata reconstructed
the temple and as such came to known as the
gram daivat (city deity). The present temple houses the sanctum-sanctorum, a sabhamandap and a path for circumambulation.
Talyatala Ganapati
Sarasbaug, Pune
P K Ghanekar
Photographs © Manjiri Bhalerao
Courtesy: Shri Devadeveshwar Sansthan, Parvati and Kothrud, Pune
The author is environmentalist, historian, writer, nature lover
and an avid trekker.
There is a small museum of the Ganesha
idols behind the present temple. Various
images of Ganesha in different poses and actions are displayed in it.
64
The most notable triangular landmark of
Pune is the Parvati Hill, Sarasbaug Ganapati and Peshwe Energy Park. According to
historical records, a few hundred years ago
there was a lake with a small island where
today’s Sarasbaug is. On this island, Nanasaheb Peshwa, in 1753, built a small temple
of Lord Ganesha which was reconstructed
by Madhavrao Peshwa in 1784. Now, the big
temple is known as the Siddhi Vinayak Ganesha Mandir. The sunken Sarasbaug around
it with its lavish lawns and beautiful garden
attracts hundreds of Punekars and tourists,
especially during the evening hours and on
the weekends.
65
in its grip, took away Dagdusheth and his wife
Lakshmi’s son. The couple were overcome with
grief. Their guru Shree Madhavnath maharaj,
who had just returned from the Himalayas consoled Lakshmibai. His advice was to make idols
of Datta and Ganesha and worship them daily.
“Look after them, the way you would your own
children,” he said. “In the days to come, they will
bring glory and fame to you, just the way your
children would.”
Thus, Dagdusheth made two idols: a marble idol
of Datta and a clay idol of Ganesha. The idol of
Ganesha was ritualistically installed by Tilak
himself in the presence of luminaries like Baburao Godse, Bhausaheb Rangari, Shree Morappasheth Ghadve, Narayanrao Bajiwale a.k.a Jadhav,
Narayanrao Bhujbal, Ramrao Butler, Ganpatrao
Vithuji, Sardar Paranjape, Shivrampant Paranjape, Gopalrao Raikar, and Narayanrao Darode
amongst others.
This historic idol of Ganapati is now in the Akara Maruti Mandir of Shukrawar Peth and is duly
worshipped. In some time, Dagdusheth passed
away but the festivities continued as the Bahulichya Haudyacha Sarvajanik Ganapati.
Shrimant Dagdusheth
Halwai Ganapati, Pune
Every year, people are curious to know how
the Ganesha idol at Dagdusheth Halwai will
be adorned. The idol is famous for its gold
and silver decorations, which people flock
to see from across the region. There is however, much more to this temple than meets
the eye.
Kalyani Sardesai
Photographs © Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust
Information Courtesy:
Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust
The author is freelance journalist, apart from working on her first book
and teaching creative communication and can be reached at
[email protected]
Devotees of the Vighnaharta need no introduction to the iconic Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati
Mandir of Pune. For over a 123 years and counting, it has played a significant role in maintaining the tradition of Sarvajanik Ganapati or large
scale, public celebrations of the ten day Ganapati
festival commencing from Ganesha Chaturthi,
and ending on Anant Chaturdashi in the Hindu
month of Bhadrapad.
Ensconced in the vicinity of the historic Shaniwar
Wada, seat of the erstwhile Peshwa rule, every
brick of this legendary temple tells a story; that
of Puneri cultural pride; of faith that goes hand
in hand with social responsibility; of patriotism;
of creativity.
Like most traditions of lasting value, the germ of
an idea that sought to celebrate Ganapati festival
on a public forum, was mired in the draconian
ways of the British Raj. Public meetings were forbidden, and there was an organized government
attempt to distance Indian youth from their culture.
History and significance
Dagadusheth Halwai was a sweet vendor in Pune.
The plague epidemic of the 1896 that had Pune
66
67
Ganesha
celebrations and Mahaarti
There are five mahaartis
organized on a daily basis
at set timings. They are:
Suprabhatam, Mahanaivedyam, Madhyanaha,
Sandhyarti and Shejarti.
The mahaarti held every
evening at 8 pm is the
best known of them all,
and is a wondrous event
in which to participate.
The devotees, in the grip
of devout fervour, and
the melodious prayers to
the Lord accompanied by
the sound of taal, tabla,
chowgada and nagara,
make for an unforgettable experience.
All auspicious days dedicated to Ganesha as per
the Hindu calendar are
celebrated with great enthusiasm and ritual. The
idol of Ganesha, heavily
bedecked with jewellery,
is an awe-inspiring sight.
The manner in which the
temple is built, makes it
possible for everyone to
see the proceedings from
outside.
Thus, the beauty of both the tradition and the
temple lies in the fact that it is as famous for the
devotee Dagdusheth and his implicit faith in the
Lord, as it is for the Lord himself !
From 1952 onwards, the Suvarnayug Tarun Mahamandal, took over the organization of the festivities. In 1967, on the occasion of the 75th year
celebrations of the Ganesha festival, it was decided to commission a new idol of the Lord, given
the jaded condition of the old idol.
Every year the varganis or donations collected
by the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Sarvajanik
Trust have gone from strength to strength and it
has given back in equal measure to the citizenry
of Pune and Maharashtra.
68
Every
year
Ganesha
chaturthi is celebrated on
a huge and well-organised scale, with prayers
commencing from dawn itself.
Another important feature is the participation of
students from different schools in the recitation
of the Ganapati Atharvashirsha at dawn.
Other cultural celebrations include the Amba
Mahotsav on Akshaya Trititya in May, which celebrates and honours the king of all fruits, by dedicating 11,000 mangoes to the lord. This offering
is made by the famous traders Desai Bandhu.
Similarly, the Mogra Mahotsav celebrates the onset of spring by dedicating 1 crore mogra flowers
to Ganesha.
Tripuri Purnima and the day after Mahashivratri
see the temple lit up with thousands of lamps.
pital, apart from renovation of 5 wards of the
Sassoon Hospital.
- The Jay Ganesha Gyanavardhan Abhiyaan
under the aegis of which 550 meritious students are mentored and their educational expenses taken care of.
- The Jay Ganesha Nisarga Savardhan Abhiyan
has taken it upon itself to plant 5 lakh trees all
over Maharashtra.
- The free Ambulance Service that takes patients both within and outside the PMC corporation
Decorations
The decorations during the Ganesha festival
every year are a chapter in themselves. Each year,
different aspects of India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage are brought to life—especially the
replicas and likenesses of ancient temples and
palaces such as the legendary Meenakshi Temple
at Madurai, Surya Temple of Orissa, Shree Mahalaxmi Temple of Kolhapur, the Mysore Palace,
the Hawa Mahal, the Bikaner Palace and the Angola Palace from Rajasthan, etc. Scenes pertaining to public welfare and social evils are depicted
as well.
The objective of carrying out this massive exercise is to acquaint devotees with places and
monuments they cannot see—but which are very
much a part of our Indian ethos.
- E learning facility for students from 65 rural
schools
- The running of an old people’s home called
Pitashree at Kondhwa, Pune, since 2003.
- Running the Jay Ganesha Vocational Junior
College in Kondhwa.
- Insurance schemes for devotees in case of any
untoward event are also run by the Trust.
- The Suvarnayug Co-operative Bank, which
was founded by Tatyasaheb Godse in 1973,
has gone from strength to strength since.
- Besides this, every Sankashti Chaturthi also
sees the organization of a mahaprasad for
thousands of devotees on the breaking of
their fast. There is no charge to this elaborate
meal.
The Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai
Sarvajanik Ganapati Trust
- Apart from this, the Trust also offers meals to
the Warkari pilgrims en route to Pandharpur
in the months of June-July.
In keeping with its founding principles, the Trust
is intensely engaged in various socio-cultural-educational philanthropic activities. The highlights
are:
- The Balsangopan Kendra in Kondhwa which
supports, houses and educates 100 children
of devdasis.
- The Jay Ganesha Swayampurna Gaon Abhiyan under the aegis of which the trust has
adopted the Pingori village of Purandar
- The Jay Ganesha Rugun Seva Abhiyan Sasoon
Sarvopchar Rugnalay: The trust provides
meals to 1200 patients admitted to the hos-
- The Suvarnayug Sports Club: The club is focusing on building an internationally competitive women’s kabaddi team
- It also ran an ambulance between 1990 to
2008 for the purpose of polio eradication.
- The large scale cleaning of the Khadakvasla
dam following heavy silting.
69
Pune is famous as the cultural capital of Maharashtra. It has a hoary past, the remnants of which
can be witnessed at various places in the city,
the most famous icon being the Shaniwarwada,
an impressive fortification built in 1746 which
served as the seat of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire until 1818. Not too far from here is a
structure with a peculiar name - ‘Trishunda Ganapati’. Trishunda Ganapati literally means Lord
Ganesha with three trunks. This temple is also
known as the Trishundya Mayureshwar Ganapati
Mandir. It is a small but beautiful temple located
in Somawar Peth near the Kamala Nehru Hospital in the eastern part of Pune.
The History
The temple is situated near a stream called Nagazari. In fact, when the temple was constructed,
it had a direct approach to the banks of the Nagazari. The construction of this temple was started
on August 26, 1754 CE by Bhimjigiri Gosavi from
Dhampur near Indore and was completed in 1770
CE. There are three inscriptions on the wall of its
sanctum, two of which are in Devanagari script
and Sanskrit while the third, and amazingly so,
is in Persian. The first inscription refers to the
foundation of Rameshwara and provides the date
of its construction. The second is a verse from
the the Bhagvad Geeta. The Persian inscription
states the temple was dedicated to Gurudeva Datta. However, presently the temple houses an image of Ganesha with three trunks and six hands.
The Architecture
Trishund Ganapati
Text and Photographs © Manjiri Bhalerao
The author is Associate Professor of Indology, Tilak Maharashtra
Vidyapeeth, Pune and can be reached at [email protected]
There are as many forms and styles of Lord
Ganesha as the mythological tales that surround him. One of such is his representation
with three trunks, found at the Trishundya
Mayureshwar Ganapati Mandir near the
historic and imposing Shaniwarwada
The deity, Lord Ganesha, is seated on a peacock,
which in fact is a very rare depiction of its sort.
The temple is constructed on a high platform with
a flight of steps. It has a small courtyard which
leads to the shrine’s entrance. The facade is highly decorated with several depictions of different
real and mythological creatures. The entrance is
topped by a sculpture of Goddess Lakshmi (also
known as Gajalakshmi) flanked by two elephants
shown pouring water from their trunks. The entrance leads to a hall which has a passage opening
in front of the sanctum. The entrance doorway of
this passage also has a sculpture of Gajalakshmi.
The entrance of the sanctum has many sculptures,
including a couple of ascetics practicing penance.
The entrance doorway has a unique sculpture of
Lord Shiva with two goddesses seated on his lap.
The goddess on his left lap could be Parvati as her
vehicle, the lion, is carved next to her and on his
right lap could be the river Ganga whom Shiva
generally carries on his head. His right hand is
70
71
shown in the ‘varada mudra’ indicating the giver
of boons. This further establishes that the second
goddess could be Ganga because she is the giver
of life to people on earth. On his right is Nandi,
the vehicle of Shiva.
Above this sculpture are the above mentioned
three dedicatory inscriptions. The sanctum has
the presiding deity with his right hand holding a
bowl of sweets. On his left lap is a goddess. Of the
three trunks of Ganapati, the left touches the chin
of the goddess while the central trunk has a ‘laddoo’ on it. On the back wall of the sanctum can be
seen a sculpture of Sheshashayi Vishnu. The temple has a basement which can be reached through
a staircase carved into the wall of the main entrance. There is an open hall here with platforms
and pillars along with a ‘samadhi’ (memorial).
The basement has an inlet through which water
flows in and as such it is not kept open for visitors
except on the occasion of Guru Pournima when
it is cleaned and people are allowed to pay homage to the ascetic. It is believed that the basement
was used as a school for those who practiced the
tantric form of Hinduism. The exteriors of this
temple are well-decorated with the images of
Shiva, Vishnu, and the ‘lingodbhava’ depiction
of Shiva since the original plan was to dedicate
this temple to Shiva.
There are some unique sculptures carved on the
facade of this temple; a rhinoceros being tied with
iron chains by a British soldier is one of them. It
72
indicates the historical fact that after the Battle
of Plassey in 1757 CE the British captured Bengal
and Assam. The rhinoceros symbolizes Assam.
The architecture of the temple is a mixture of Rajasthani, Malwa and South Indian styles but the
‘shikhara’ (tower over the sanctum) has been lost
to the ravages of time.
Travel Facts
The temple is managed by a trust and is open for visitors
from 7 am to 12 noon and 5 pm to 9 pm.
On your visit to Pune, you can also include many other
places of tourist interest such as Raja Dinkar Kelkar
Museum, Shaniwarwada, Omkareshwar Mandir, Parvati
Hill, Sinhagad Fort, Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, etc.
The Pune Darshan bus tour is a good option. It starts at
9 am every day and is conducted by the Pune Mahanagar
Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML). The fare is Rs
300 per person. It is free for children below three years.
For booking, call 020-225510069.
For accommodation, the city has many budget and luxury
hotels. MTDC’s bed and breakfast facility is also available
at a reasonable price.
In terms of cuisine, Pune has a wide variety to offer.
But do try the local Maharashtrian ‘thali’ as also snacks
like misal, vada pav, bhakarwadi, etc. Chitale Bandhu
Mithaiwale and Kaka Halwai are among the popular shops
selling sweetmeats and snacks.
For shopping, take a look at the Puneri sarees available
at the outlets on Laxmi Road. The ‘Warsaa’ shop in the
Shaniwarwada complex has lots of souvenirs made from
traditional materials like the Khann.
Born to a couple in the
month of Magh, Krishna Chaturthi in 1375
CE, after several years
of service to Ganesha,
Moraya was considered
a gift from Lord Mayureshwar, hence the
name “Moraya.”
From childhood itself,
Moraya distinguished
himself as a deeply devout and serious young
boy, who was interested in meditation. His aura
and simplicity impressed the great yogi Nayan
Bharati, and he took Moraya under his wing.
Morya Gosavi was prominent saint of the Ganapatya sect which considers the Vighneshwara
as the Supreme Being, there are various miracles that are centred around him. It is said that
he restored the vision of a blind child, and was
unharmed despite a vicious attack by a tiger
while he was meditating. Instead of Moraya being harmed, the tiger turned to stone. Similarly,
when a jealous enemy set Moraya Gosavi’s hut on
fire, the fire consumed merely the hut, but left the
saint unharmed.
After his wife’s death and his guru Nayan Bharati’s sanjeevan samadhi, Moraya also took sanjeevan samadhi by burying himself alive in a
tomb with a holy book in his hand in 1561 CE..
Moraya left precise instructions that his tomb be
never opened.
Thus, both Moraya Gosavi’s tomb as well as the
temple are great attractions to the myriad devotees who throng to Chinchwad on all auspicious
days. The belief is that since Moraya Gosavi attained Moksha or salvation here, his spirit and
presence continue to linger here.
Moraya Gosavi
It wasn’t Moraya alone who was worshipped as
a holy man, but also his son Chintamani, who
was said to be a reincarnation of Ganesha. Chintamani was succeeded by six more Devs, namely
Narayan, Chintamani II, Dharanidhar Chintamani III, Narayan II and Dharanidhar II.
Kalyani Sardesai
Photographs © Manjiri Bhalerao,
Courtesy : Chinchwad Devasthan Trust, Chinchwad, Dist. Pune
The author is freelance journalist, apart from working on her first
book and teaching creative communication and can be reached at
[email protected]
74
The final resting place of Moraya Gosavi, one of the most renowned devotees of
Lord Ganesha, the shrine at Chinchwad,
holds pride of place amongst the various
temples dedicated to the Lord. Significantly, the temple was established by Moraya
himself—following a celestial vision from
the Lord when he was bathing in the Karha
river off Morgaon.
Moraya’s memorial temple is a low plain building with a square hall or mandap and an octagonal inner shrine, inscribed with a Marathi inscription: “This temple was begun on the bright
twelfth of Kartik (November–December) shaka 1580 (C.E. 1658-9) and finished on Monday
the bright fourth of Ashada.
What makes this temple an attractive tourist destination, apart from its association with
Ganapati’s most ardent devotee, is its deep and
long-standing bond of faith with the worshippers, as well as its social responsibility.
Mangalmurti wada
To the right of the Samadhi is the Mangalmurti
wada, with the idol of the Mangalmurthi which
Shri Moraya Gosavi got in the Karhe river in Morgaon.
There is a large sabha mandapa (hall) in front
of the temple, which is built of wood. It has glass
lamps and chandeliers. Large pictures of the Ashtavinayakas are erected here. All major festivals
are celebrated in this hall.
After Shri Moraya Gosavi, the Maharajas (in succession) resided in this wada. This wada is very
spacious. It has been visited by Shivaji Maharaj,
this proves its antiquity. Chintamani Maharaj
built some sections in this wada, few other portions were built by Nana Phadanvis and Haripant
Phadke.
The office of Chinchwad Devasthan Trust is to the
left of the Wada. Facilities like education, food
and boarding for the students of the Vedpathshala are provided in the wada.
Shri Kothareshwara Temple
Adjoining the idol of Mangalamurthi, is the idol
of Kothareshwara, another Ganesha idol facing
North. This idol is situated behind Mangalamurti’s idol. Shri Kothareshwara is worshipped daily,
even when the Mangalmurti idol is out for the
yatra.
The festival of Kothareshwara begins in earnest
on the 6th day of the month Shravana every year.
This idol is worshiped till the main idol returns
from the yatra.
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Wai is a picturesque medieval town of 60,000 inhabitants (as per the 2011 census), situated at the
foot of the Sahyadri ranges. It is located on the left
bank of river Krishna, 33 kilometers northwest of
Satara and 85 kilometers southeast of Pune, with
which it is connected by a state highway road that
branches off from the Pune-Bangalore highway
at Sirur. Wai is a holy town, popularly known as
‘Dakshin Kashi’. It is mainly a town of medieval
temples, mansions and ghats. A good number
of them have been built by the Raste family and
their vassals. The Rastes enjoyed the title ‘Sardar’ under Chhatrapati Shahu of Satara who ruled
from 1707 to 1749 and became the virtual administrators of Wai.
At the west end of the town the river forms a
pool partly by the aid of a stone weir built from
the steps about 50 meters above a large temple
of Dholya Ganapati. The face of the river for almost 1.5 kilometers is lined with well-structured
steps or ghats. The temple dedicated to Ganapati stands almost in the bed of the river and faces
east. The plan is orthogonal i.e. chaturasra of
the neo-Yadava style. Ganpatrao Raste built it in
1762 CE at the cost of Rs 1,60,000 near a ghat of
48 meters built by his brother Anandrao Bhikali
Raste.
His vahana i.e. a mouse is sculpted in between
his two extended legs. It is rather a symbolic small
image. The image of Ganapati is stately, majestic and neatly carved out of a single black basalt
stone, specially brought from Karnataka. The
peculiar features of Ganapati like the proboscis,
ears and belly depict the traditional form. Due
to his huge body and belly, people named him
Dholya Ganapati but Tarkateerth Laxmanshastri
Joshi, an erudite Sanskrit scholar, replaced this
rather derogatory name with MahaGanapati. Behind the image is a painted semi-circular prabhawala that has geometrical designs.
The image of Ganapati was established by pratishthapana i.e. a virtual ceremony on 13thof
Vaishakh, Shake 1691 (most probably in AprilMay 1769). This foundation day is celebrated with
pomp and rituals. Besides this, Ganesha Jayanti
and Ganesha Chaturthi falling on the 4thof Bhadrapad are also celebrated with rituals, mahapuja,
lighting of lamps, and display of splendour. Every
month sankashti is observed with recitations of
Rudra and Ganesha stotra along with abhishek
(special worship).
Sabhamandap or Portico:
The Temple
Mahaganapati
(Dholya Ganapati)
S. R. Deshpande
Photographs © S. R. Deshpande. G. K. Mande
The author is Section Editor, Marathi Vishwakosh, Wai
76
The Dholya alias Mahaganapati Mandir
in Wai, like many other Ganesha temples
in Maharashtra, presents a fine specimen
of architecture, the beauty of which is enhanced by nature’s bounty in the small
town where the deity resides, says Dr. S.
R. Deshpande, Section Editor, Marathi
Vishwakosh.
The construction of the temple is in stone and
mortar upto the base of the spire or shikhar
which is built in brick and mortar. The stone is of
high quality and well-dressed. At the rear end of
the garbhagriha the wall has a vertical triangle,
like a bow, which helps to divide the gusty flow of
water created by the floods of the river and saves
the edifice from any deluge during heavy rains.
The temple consists of a square shrine of 9x9 meters or garbhagriha and a large sabhamandap
on its front, with three doors.
Garbhagriha:
It is a square apartment of 81 sq. meters. Its walls
are plain and there is a pradakshina (circumambulation) pathway. Here, there is a huge image of
Ganapati seated on the plinth measuring 4 meters in length, 3.60 meters in width and 0.5 metersin height. The deity is seated with thighs apart
in an almost squat position. His height is 1 meter
and 80 centimeters and a width of 2 meters. His
four hands are shown holding ayudhas, viz. dant
(tooth), parashu, pali (spoon) and modak. His
trunk is placed on the lower left hand which carries the modak. He is seen wearing various ornaments like hara, tode, anklets, bajuband,etc.
besides his sacred thread (yadnyopavita).
In front of the garbhagriha there are three doors,
including the main one, and a big mandap which
measures 162 sq. meters. Its walls have unusual
thickness of more than a meter, which gives considerable dignity to the small arches, five each
on the south and north and three at the end with
which they are pierced. The side walls of the sabhamandap have recessed arches. The base of the
arch is placed in the wall instead of on projecting
stones. The arches show an Islamic influence.
Ceiling:
The ceiling of the garbhagriha is of a unique
pattern. It is divided into two parts. The central
nave or the matchbox construction is horizontal
while those on the two sides of the aisles have
77
possesses about 200 wall paintings and a rare
Persian wheel. The religious ceremonies performed on the seven banks of the river Krishna
are known as Krishnostav or Krishnabai Utsava,
which is a peculiar and special festival performed
by Waikars during February-March every year.
Recently Wai has been listed on the tourist map
as a thirthkshetra i.e a pilgrimage centre.
a slant. Basically it is domical like an umbrella
and is constructed of well-dressed slabs having
a carved groove and interlocked with exceedingly
fine joints and cemented with adhesive mortar.
It is quite likely that iron clamps were used for
the plates. The whole ceiling is formed out of projecting stones into which a pointed arch is often
cut. The key stones on the lintel of the two doors namely north and south - hold the whole ceiling.
The ceiling of the sabhamandapa is supported
by eight simple plain stone pillars. It is flat and
constructed of stone slabs having exceedingly
fine joints and cemented with adhesive mortar.
Here also it is quite likely that iron clamps were
used for the plates.
Shikhar or Superstructure:
The only part of the temple that has anything
like decoration is the shikhar (spire). It is likely
that the present Maratha shikhar is an evolution,
through a number of stages, of the Yadava shikhar. The upward sweep of the shikhar is noteworthy in this temple also. Its height is 24 meters
and it is built in brick and mortar and covered
by lime plaster. At the base are miniature prototypes of the same shikhar at four corners, The
garbhagriha is covered by a fluted cone with a
lotus-petal base. The lotus has 16 petals and the
shikhar is rested on the full-bloomed lotus. The
faces of this shikhar are decorated with vertical
offsets. The vertical projecting bands running
from the base to the top of the shikhar enhance
its grandeur. The whole shape of the shikhar is
pyramidal like a conchshell, having an inverted
lotus on its top. This is surmounted by a domical
amalaka and kalash.
Other Temples
Besides the MahaGanapati Mandir there are
about a dozen Maratha temples in this area
mainly built during the later Peshwa period.
They are embellished with fine stucco images.
Among them, Kashivishweshwar, Mahalaxmi,
Baneshwar, Vakeshwar and Dhundhi Vinayaka
are worth seeing. Moreover, there are mansions
and mentors which are decorated with wall paintings. Among these mansions, the summer palace
of Anandarao Raste, built by him in 1787 CE,
78
79
Sinnar may seem like a modern, vibrant and recently evolved town in Maharashtra. However, it
traces its roots to the historical evolution of the
state of Maharashtra, being the capital city during the Yadav dynasty (10th to 12thcentury). Today
it is both an industrial and agricultural hub with
acres of farmland and fruit orchards jostling for
space with manufacturing units.
dada and Anandibai Peshwa during the 18thcentury.The area was named Anandvali or Anandvalli after Anandibai Peshwa; previously it was
called Chawandas. The temple can be reached by
climbing down a flight of steps. There is a marble
‘Shivalinga’ near the entrance of the temple. The
beautiful idol of Lord Ganesha is surrounded by
beautiful ‘makhar’ made from silver.
Sinnar Ganapati, Sinnar
The river flows by right next to the temple and
you can climb down the small ‘ghat’ to reach
it. The scenario becomes all the more alive and
mesmerizing during the monsoon. Though quite
famous, the temple is usually not very crowded
except on festival days and special occasions. The
tranquil surroundings lend an aura of refreshing
serenity and you will surely want to spend some
extra few minutes in the unspoiled beauty of the
nature here. Boat rides offered from the river
bank add to the pleasure of visiting this temple.
Also known as MahaGanapati, the temple has an
interesting legend associated with it. A sculptor,
Shri Rangnath Gangaram Lokhande, wanted to
create a large Ganesha idol and to be able to do
so he was given a place within the Bhairavnath
Mandir, this being the abode of the local deity.
It was completed in 1946. Many years later, 1962
to be precise, an officer working with Air India
happened to visit this place and saw the idol. So
impressed was he with the beauty and towering
size of this magnificent piece of sculpture that
he clicked some photographs and got them published in that year’s calendar of Air India. This
quickly put Sinnar on the international map and
fetched a lot of publicity for the temple.
Now, devotees come from far and wide especially
to see the idol with the temple acquiring an additional touch of festivities and glory during the
10-day Ganesha Festival when several social and
cultural events are held here. The Ganesha idol
is located in the temple’s courtyard and its sheer
size is what impresses one and all. The idol is 14
feet tall, the second-largest in Maharashtra. The
red-coloured idol is considered a ‘jagrut devasthan’, implying that it fulfills the wishes and
prayers of all the devotees who come here.
Unique Ganapatis at
Sinnar and Nashik
Anita Joshi and Anuprita Morey
Photographs © Anita Joshi
The author, Anita Joshi is manuscript conservator and Indologist and can be reached at [email protected]
The author, Anuprita Morey is web content writer and can be
reached at [email protected]
80
Explore Around
Very close to the religious city of Nashik are
the temples of Sinnar and Anandvali which
house beautiful idols of Lord Ganesha of
which the one at Sinnar is captivating for
its sheer size and majesty.
The town is famous for its many beautiful temples dating back to the rule of the Yadavs. The
elaborate and accurate carvings of these temples
make them a feast for the eyes. The town was also
known for its gateways of which one, called the
‘Vavi Ves’, has managed to survive the ravages of
time. Another place worth a visit is the famous
museum of minerals called Gargoti which is a
wonder house of beautiful minerals and precious
stones. You can also buy beautiful souvenirs in
its outlet.
Navshya
Nashik
Ganapati
in
Explore Around
Visiting the Navshya Ganapati provides a chance
to visit two other temples in its vicinity. One is
the Someshwar Mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva
which is just about a kilometer from here. The
other temple is the Balaji Vishnu Mandir which
too is located nearby. You can go to Someshwar
Mandir by road or better still opt for a boat ride.
Don’t miss the sight of the wonderful waterfall
when you take the river route.
Nashik: A City of Many Attractions
Known of course for its Kumbh Mela, Nashik is
an ancient, religious temple town located on the
river Godavari. Records of its earliest settlements
date back to 1stcentury BCE and legend has it
that it was the first home of Lord Rama during
his exile years. Today the city is famous for its industries, temples, vineyards, fresh flowers, fruits,
and vegetables which are exported to all parts of
the world. Not to be missed are the grapes of Nashik. You can get the fresh variety if you arrive
here between February to May. The dried variety
of the fruit in the form of ‘manuka’ (raisins) is
available round the year.
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Situated right on the banks of the river Godavari,
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scenery all around. It dates back 300 years to the
Peshwa regime and was constructed by Raghoba-
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Text and Photographs © Narsingh Pardeshi
The author is a hostory reasearcher in North Maharashtra
University, Jalgaon and can be reached at
[email protected]
There are of course many temples across Maharashtra dedicated to Lord Ganesha. However,
some of them stand out for their unique features, one of them being the temple at Padmalaya
where two idols of Ganesha have been placed on
a single dais. Both these are self-existent (swayambhu) idols, one of which has its trunk curving
to the right and the other to the left. The Padmalaya Mandir is located on the bank of the Lotus
Lake on the eastern side of Erandol in in Jalgaon
district, about 32 kilometers from Jalgaon city.
Form and Structure
The Padmalaya Mandir near Jalgaon is unique for the fact
that it has two idols of Ganapati, with each of its trunks
curving to the right and the left. Moreover, the location of
the temple is in such beautiful natural surroundings that
it is a major draw for both pilgrims and tourists, says
Narsingh Pardeshi, a researcher with the North
Maharashtra University at Jalgaon.
The platform on which these two deities are
placed together is called the ‘vyaspeeth’. It is
believed that it is the only one of its kind in the
world. The two idols are called Aamod and Pramod and together known as Prawalganesha. The
temple is situated on the top of a hill with other
smaller Ganapati temples located all around the
main structure, has a beautifully sculpted interior as well as exterior. and interior. Around the
temple is the pond with an abundance of the lotus
plant in mesmerizing hues of red, white, green,
yellow and blue, which is what gives it its name.
In Sanskrit, ‘padma’ means lotus and ‘alaya’ implies home. This is therefore the home of the lotus.
There are two and a half Shree Ganeshapeethas
in Maharashtra, reference to which is found in
Vedic texts. One of these ‘peeths’ is known as Mayureshwar at Morgaon in Pune district while the
other is MahaGanapati at Rajur in Jalna district.
The half peeth is known as Shree Kshetra Padamalaya, mention of which can be found in the
Mudgal Ganesha Puran. The temple was built in
the medieval period and is surrounded by a thick
82
forest and small hillocks. This places it in one of
the most natural surroundings.
According to historical records, during the regime of the Peshwas in Maharashtra, Madhavrao
Peshwa had decreed that half of the revenue taxes
of 37 villages be given to preserve and maintain
this temple. After the decline of the Peshwas,
the British rulers granted an amount of Rs 1,800
per year as per an order issued on July 25, 1820.
Since then it has been a practice for the government to provide the necessary funds for the temple’s upkeep. The 600-year-old temple was first
renovated in 1912 by Shri Sadguru Govind Maharaj, as revealed by a stone epigraph on the temple
premise. The ‘padukas’ of Govind Maharaji have
been placed in front of the main entrance of the
temple.
In front of the Ganesha temple is a huge bell
weighing about 440 kilograms. It was made from
a mix of five different metals and was brought
here from the holy city Kashi in Uttar Pradesh.
This ‘lolak’ (clapper) weighs about 20 kilograms
and it is believed that the sound made by the
bell could be heard as far as 5 kilometers away.
The metal clapper has now been replaced with a
wooden one. There is also a huge stone grinder
on the premise with a radius of 3.5 feet and so
heavy is it that not even a group of eight to ten
people can move or lift it. This grinder was used
to make flour for the ‘prasad’.
On the other side of the lake is a huge ‘deepmala’ to provide for lighting 108 lamps. It is a sight
indeed when on special occasions the lamps are
lit, spreading a warm glow to the surroundings.
83
Excursions
The hillocks and woods nearby are also home
to peacocks. Just about 1.5 kilometers from
the temple is a historical place called Bhimkund
which is believed to be the spot where the mighty
Bhim fought and killed the demon Bakasur. The
war between both is referred to in the epic Mahabharata. It is said that the pond of fresh water
was created out of the pounding of Bhim’s heavy
feet on the ground during this battle. About 5 feet
in depth, the pond has never dried up.
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Bhimkund is also known for a wide variety of
herbs and medicinal plants and what makes it a
tourist’s delight is the green canopied path that
leads through the forest. There are near about
215 steps carved out of stone for reaching Bhimkund. Along with Bhimkund, you can also visit
the temple of Vishwambhar Shivalaya where the
‘Shivalaya’ is made of hard black stone. Another
famous temple of Lord Ganesha in this region is
at Tarsod, about 8 kilometers from Jalgaon city. It
is said that at the time of the Peshwai rule, Maratha soldiers rested awhile at Murarkhede near
Tarsod village on their way to North India and the
foundation stone of the temple was laid by a warrior called Moreshwar Hanmant Deshpande.
The world-famous Ajanta caves, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site are located near Jalgaon at a
distance of 60 kilometers. You can also visit the
temple of Patana Devi and the historical place of
Pitalkhore which are about 75 kilometers away.
The renowned swinging ‘minars’ of Farkande are
just 25 kilometers from Jalgaon.
Upharata Ganapati,
Guhagar
The Chiplun–Guhagar–Hedvi-Velaneshwar circuit along the Konkan coast is perfectly suited for
a relaxing weekend away, with the sun, sand and
sea all coming together. Guhagar is a small town
with not many charms. However, it can be an
ideal base camp to explore all the interesting locations around it. At Guhagar, near the ST stand
is the big temple complex of Vyadeshwar, a Shiv
Panchayatan temple with a Bhakta Niwas, i.e.
residence for pilgrims. The Durga Devi temple
is yet another place of religious worship worth a
visit.
The word Upharata can be roughly translated as
a non traditional. The image of Lord Ganesh is
facing west. The legend behind this is that once
upon a time this Ganesh was facing east. There
was a big typhoon in the Arabian Sea. The local
residents got afraid and prayed the Ganesha to
save them from the natural calamity. The Ganesha turned his face towards the sea. The rising water then started diminishing hence saved
the village Guhagar. Ganesha turned his face to
the opposite direction hence named as Upharata Ganapati. It is the family deity of the Khare
community. The image of Ganesha is white and
carrying parashu and trishula in his hands. The
trunk is towards left side and the snake is shown
around his belly.
Ganapatis in
Konkan Region
P. K. Ghanekar
Photographs © Parag Purandare
86
Here are the descriptions of many more
Ganesha temples across Maharashtra,
some of which are located near the Konkan coastline, providing an ideal opportunity to combine a pilgrimage with a
vacation
The personalities from Peshwa family were also
associated with Guhagar. Anandibai the wife of
Raghobadada, uncle of Madhavrav Peshwa had
her maternal residence at Guhagar. Her maternal surname was Oak. In the village kotulak, 15
kms from Guhagar she had her maternal residence. And just like anywhere else in the rest of
Konkan region, Guhagar offers a variety of local
preparations like ambapoli and phanaspoli that
are a culinary delight. These are thin pancakes of
crushed, sweetened and dried pancakes of mango
and jackfruits. What are also treats are sol kadhi
and modak, the favourites of Lord Ganesha.
The best time to visit Guhagar is during the
monsoon, or just after because that is when the
landscape turns a deep green and the fields and
forests echo the pitter-patter of the rain as in a
musical beat. However, the beaches may not be
in their best form at that time and it is also dangerous to go swimming in the sea. For those who
want to frolic in the waters, winter is the best
season. Summers can be hot and humid but can
be fun too because of the abundance of mangoes,
cashewnuts, and jackfruits.
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Kadyawaracha
Ganapati, Anjarle
Although tourist facilities are practically non-existent at
Anjarle, you can swim and sunbathe here without a care
in the world. The beach is more or less private, has a gentle, rock-free gradient that allows you to wade in for nearly half a mile in low tide, and the sand is clean and fine.
The main attraction of Anjarle is Kadyawaracha Ganapati, which means Ganesha at the top of a cliff. And of
87
course apart from invoking Ganesha’s blessings
and enjoying the coastal ambience, you can also
tuck into fresh Alphonso mangoes during summer time and the rich variety of fish food which is
a staple diet in this region.
The Kadyawaracha Ganapati is a deity with its
left leg folded vertically. This is a very impressive
and attractive pose and quite unique too. The Ganesha idol is right-sided i.e. its trunk is curved
towards the right, which is very rare. Kadyawarcha Ganapati is also considered as a living deity
(a jagrut daiwat) who responds to distress calls
of common people. The temple has a stone staircase on the right hand side to reach to the top
of the temple (kalas). You can get a magnificent
view of the thick plantation of coconut trees, betel nut trees, Suvarnadurg Fort, the blue sea and
surrounding hills from the top. There is a pond
in front of the temple where you can feed big fish
and turtles. Besides the Ganesha temple there is a
small but beautiful temple of Lord Shiva. You can
also visit the famous temple of Ashtabhuj Mahishasur Mardini-Durga Devi as well as a temple
dedicated to Laxmi-Vishnu.
The area has very huge and old trees of Bakul
(Mimusops elengi) that sprout fragrant flowers
and edible fruits. These are evergreen trees and
offer shade to visitors.
Excursions
The Parashuram temple at Ade, about 10 km
from Anjarle and the temple of Mahalaxmi,
Valuchi Tekdi (slipping sand hillock) and the dargah of Yakut Baba at Kelshi can be visited from
Anjarle. Dapoli, Asud and Harne can also be visited from here.
Lord Ganesha, Redi
Redi is better known as a small manganese ore
exporting port. At the same time it is also known
for its temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. You will
also find here a coastal hill fort called Yashwant
Gad. The story goes, that on April 18, 1976, some
people came across a swayambhu Ganesha i.e.
self-existent in the manganese mine. Therefore, a
temple of 40 meters x 20 meters was constructed
around the idol, which was gradually expanded
along with beautifying its surrounding area. The
temple attracts an impressive flow of devotees
on Chaturthi and during holidays, given the fact
that it is close to a splendid beach with its pebbly
coastline a haven for marine algae and some sea
creatures.
88
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Ganesha, Hedvi
Hedvi is a small village with a beach and a temple of Dashabhuja Lakshmi-Ganesha on its list
of attractions. The Ganesha temple was built
about 300 years ago during the time of the Peshwas. Hedvi is a small village with not many
tourist facilities except for some private lodging
and boarding offers. It is therefore best to stay
at Chiplun (65 km) or Guhagar (about 20 km).
Along with Guhagar-Hedvi you can also make a
day trip to Velaneshwar.
The most astonishing feature of Hedvi is the
spectacular Brahman (Baman) Ghal or Sagar
Ghal. Near the Maheshwar temple on the platform of a solid rock is a small cleft or a narrow
crevasse which is 12-15 meters in length, 4-5 meters in depth and hardly a meter or two in width.
During high tide, sea water rushes into this blind
cleft and the next wave does not permit water to
recede or go back. As a result a strong and beautiful water column makes its way out. The height
of the water column can even reach 10-15 meters.
The spray of salt water makes the area slippery
and therefore you have to be very cautious while
moving about.
Around 180 km away from Ratnagiri, Hedvi is famous for the Dashabhuja Ganapati (ten handed
Ganesha).The temple premises are clean, housing an idol of Ganesha which is almost one meter
in height. It is firmly seated on a platform, half
a meter from the ground. It is believed that this
idol originated in Kashmir a few hundred years
ago. The deity holds a trishul, gada, bow, chakra,
lotus, modak, parashu and a conch shell. It was
Kelkar Swami of Hedvi who received this idol
from the Peshwas of Pune.
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89
The above shloka (holy verse) is an apt description of the Ganesha temple of Ganeshgule. Very
often, it so happens that the presence of a very
famous place overshadows the places near it just
as it has happened to the Ganesha temple of Ganeshgule, owing to the presence of the world-renowned Ganapatipule which is in its vicinity.
Tourist attractions
A pity, for Ganeshgule is worth a visit. In fact,
there is folklore expressing the connection between Ganeshgule and Ganapatipule.
Malgund
Located to the north of Ratnagiri, Ganeshgule is
a mere two kms away from Shri Swarupanand
Swami’s village Pavas.
Ratnagiri
Built atop a tall mountain, the temple has existed
from the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s father, Shahaji. The ghumat or dome-like construction that
we see in the temple was the common style prevalent in Bijapur at that point of time.
Once again, there is no shortage of places to stay and
dine.
A long-standing belief is expressed through a
verse, which translated reads thus: “It is Gule’s
Ganapati who went to Ganapatipule, and yet reappeared in Gule…” Thus the devotees place all
their Faith in the Lord, and the fact that he will
never abandon them.
Historical records say that a rich trader called
Shri Tharval Sheth funded the sabhamandapa
(assembly hall) for the temple.
90
A huge district of the Konkan and home of the world
famous King Alphonso aka Hapus mango, Ratnagiri is
also noted as the birthplace of Lokmanya Balgangadhar
Tilak. The ‘must-see’ list here includes: The Patitpavan
Shriram Mandir, Thiba Raja Palace apart from a host of
museums, forts, Deepagriha, and ‘black and white’
beaches.
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The Chaturthi that falls in the month of Magh
sees a three day festival in the name of the Lord.
Ashutosh Bapat
Photographs © Hitendra Karambelkar
Author is an avid trekker and history enthusiast and
can be reached at [email protected]
The birthplace of the famous poet Keshavsut, Malgund
also offers you a lovely coastal view. A well-equipped
museum stands in his memory today. Just 20 kms from
Ratnagiri and 2 kms from Pavas, it has fine resorts and
eateries on offer.
This village is blessed with both the companionship of the sea and the presence of tall mountain
ranges, and most visitors are simply mesmerized
by the sheer awesomeness of the spectacle! Despite the existence of other temples dedicated to
Adityanath, Vadeshwar and Lakshminarayan,
this Ganapati temple stands out for the uniqueness of its location and history.
The front door of the temple has a huge stone
on it which prevents the door from closing. This
sculpture itself is worshipped as Ganesha. There
is the impression of a Ganesha like figure on it.
Shrikshetra
Ganeshgule
The much revered pilgrim spot Ganapatipule is only
about 3 kms from here. Surrounded by the sea and
possessed of rich and vibrant coastal beauty all its own,
Ganapatipule offers you plenty of good places to stay
and eat but your finest option, are the state run MTDC
resorts. However, the sea here is not fit to swim.
Namaha Kalimalapagham | Bhaktanamishtadam Prabhum |
Gawharam Sunibaddha tam | Shilavigrahinenamaha ||
Salutations to thee, O Gajanan, the destroyer of sin and wrong doings, thee who fulfills
thy devotees’ dream; thee, the remover of the
world’s obstacles..thee who lives deep in the
heart of the mountains of Gule; thee who is
visible to his devotees in the form of a black
stone…..
91
Serene, sedate and unspoiled – these are the
words often used to describe Ganapatipule, a
place that not only beckons the faithful to seek
the blessings of Lord Ganesha but also provides
for a perfect holiday because of its beach with
an almost endless stretch of silver sand and the
sparkling blue waters of the ocean. In addition
to that, the town itself has lots to offer by way of
its typical Konkani culture and cuisine.
Approximately 375 kilometers south of Mumbai along the Konkan Coast, the name of this
picturesque town is derived from the temple of
Lord Ganesha or Ganapati which is built on the
fine white sand of the beach. The idol of Ganesha, carved from a massive rock, is ‘swayambhu’
(self-originated) and the temple itself is almost
400 years old. What makes the temple all the
more interesting is that the sanctum sanctorum
is daily lit by the golden rays of sunrise and sunset that also illuminate the idol.
The beach at Ganapatipule is one of the most
relaxing getaway places to spend a weekend in
peace. With the temple adding an amazing backdrop to the beach, this is where spirituality and
nature come together in a harmonious whole.
This experience grows upon you even as you
travel by road to Ganapatipule with the Western
Ghats forming a chain of green hills along the
coastline. Situated in the evergreen ranges of the
Sahayadri, Ganapatipule is rich in flora and has
an abundance of trees like the mango, cashew,
betel nut, jackfruit, coconut, palm and casuarinas, to name just a few.
Ganapatipule
Vandana Joshi
Photographs © Sachin Naik
The author is a lecturer in travel & tourism, M.S.I.H.M.C.T., Pune
The tiny town with just about 100 houses is mainly marked by neatly drawn roads, red soil and
roofed houses with clean boundaries. Apart from
the beach and backwaters, Ganapatipule offers
many other interesting spots. Also, MTDC offers
a variety of water sports like row boats, motorboats, aero boats, pedal boats, etc. for recreation.
Tourists can even enjoy paragliding. Meanwhile,
the cuisine too is what adds to the appeal. Fish
curries and the ‘kokam kadhi or sol kadhi (a
pink–coloured digestive drink) are the specialty
of the region. ‘Modak’, a sweet (and a favourite of
Lord Ganesha), is a ‘must try’ delicacy.
Excursions
Study the History
‘Pracheen Konkan’ is a museum in Ganapatipule worth a visit
for it depicts life as it was in the earlier years on this coastal
belt. Set up by Vaibhav Sardesai with the help of the state
government, it imparts information about the region to the
tourists.
Visit Ratnagiri
The birth place of the great freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar
Tilak, Ratnagiri is located about 25 kilometers away from
Ganapatipule. Tilak’s house, now called ‘Tilak Smarak’, is
a landmark and open to visitors. Also of importance is the
Patit Pawan Mandir. It was the first temple built for the nonBrahmins by revolutionary leader Swatantryaveer Savarkar.
Some of the other attractions are the Bhatye Beach, The
Coconut Research Center, Ratnadurg Fort, Bhagwati Bunder
(sea port), the Seafood Processing Centre at Mirya and Thiba
Palace which was built for the exiled king and queen of Burma
(now Myanmar) in 1910-11, which is now converted into a
museum.
Trek up a Fort
Located 35 kms away from Ganapatipule is the Jaigad Fort,
situated at the entrance of the river Sangameshwar. This 17th
century fort offers a commanding view of the sea and is also
famous for a unique view of Konkan’s village life.
Do Some Shopping
Ganapatipule offers a variety of local preparations like
‘ambapoli’ and ‘phanspoli’ (thin dried pancakes of mango /
jackfruit pulp). In summer, tourists can buy the world famous
‘Devgad Hapus’ mangoes.
The variety of fish preparations are a ‘must have’ as is the
‘modak’ – a sweet dumpling which is lord Ganapati’s favorite
dish.
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93

Famous Ganesha - Maharashtra Tourism

Transcription

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