3.ASHTAVINAYAK (part I)

 ASHTAVINAYAK

I. MAYURESHWAR TEMPLE

Ashtavinayak yatra starts from Mayureshwar temple it is said that the coconut should be offered to god that single coconut should be carried while visiting the temples Ashtavinayak. After completion that coconut should be taken again to Mayureshwar temple after that one can take coconut to their respective homes and prepare some sweet or use that coconut for preparing food. 

The significance of Morgaon Ganapati Temple is that a huge stone boundary encloses the place of worship with minarets at four corners of the temple. The four gates which depict four ages of life face a cardinal direction with an image of Ganesha. Each form relates to the aim of life. It is an Asthavinayaka temple and is made up of a single stone and the Garbhagriha houses a central image of the Lord facing the north direction.Stone boundaries are an unique feature of the Morgaon Ganpati temple.

The history states that there was a prominent Ganapatya saint named Morya Gosavi . He worshiped at the Morgaon Ganesha temple before relocating to Chinchwad. There, he built a new shrine. This temple along with other temples near Pune enjoyed royal patronage from the Brahmin Peshwa rulers.

According to Ganesha Purana, Lord Ganesha incarnated as Mayureshwar who had six arms and a white complexion. He was born in the Treta Yuga for the purpose of killing the demon named Sindhu. The Lord came down on a peacock mount and waged a battle against Sindhu and later defeated him.

Another significant Ganapatya legend states that Lord Brahma along with Vishnu, Shiva, the Divine Mother Devi, and Surya meditated at Morgaon to gain knowledge about their creator and the purpose of existence. Then Lord Ganesha appeared before them in the form of an Omkara flame and blessed them.

Moreshwara is the other name for Morgaon Ganpati temple behind the saint Morya Gosavi

 

Some of the festivals celebrated at Morgaon Ganapati Temple:

• Ganesh Jayanti – The festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha sees thousands of devotees assembling in the temple premises. It is one of the most important festivals that take place during the month of January or February.

• Ganesh chaturthi – It is a major festival in this temple. It takes places in the month of August or September. It is often celebrated for a period of five days and marks the beginning of a series of Hindu celebrations.

• Bhadrapada Month Celebrations – Every year people from distant places gather in this place to offer prayers and seek blessings from the Almighty. It falls in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, August/September and the celebrations last for more than a month. Devotees can offer a donation to the Chinchwad Deosthan Trust and collect the receipt. The Prasad can be sent to the pilgrims by post.

• Vijayadasami – Vijayadasami is another major festival in Morgaon Ganpati temple. It is celebrated in the month of September or October along with Navaratri, a major Hindu festival.

Some other festivals observed in this temple include Shukla Chaturthi, Krishna Chaturthi, and Somavati AmavasyaAll of these festivals depend on the positions of the moon and the sun. They usually take place between January to September.

Morgaon Ganpati temple witnesses the majority of its crowd from January to September

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