Moreshwar temple

Overview

Shri Moreshwar Temple, also called as Shri Mayureshwar temple is located at Morgaon, Pune district of Maharashtra. This temple is also known as ‘Morgaon Ganesh Temple’. Moreshwar Temple is considered as the first temple among the Ashta-vinayaka temples of Ganesh. The Ashta-vinayaka temples are eight temples dedicated to Ganesh, situated around the state of Maharashtra. The temples are housed in a very determined sequence.
Ganesh, the elephant headed god of wisdom, who is also considered as the God of Unity, Lord of obstacles, Prosperity and learning. Each temple has a specific history and more specifically, the trunk of Ganesh differs from each of the eight temples. The holy visit of Ashta-vinayaka temples is believed to be satisfied only after the Revisit to the first temple of Ashta-vinayaka temples. The following precedence of worship to Ashta-vinayaka temples is based on the Shashtra, a sacred Hindu scripture.

About the Temple

The pilgrimage to Ashta-vinayaka temples is believed to be unfulfilled if the pilgrims does not revisit Moreshwar temple. Moreshwar Temple is revered as the “India’s Foremost Ganesh Pilgrimage”. The most special feature of this temple is that Moreshwar Temple is appraised as one among the three significant abodes of Ganesh, where the only temple located on the earth (Bhuloka). The other two abodes are in Kailash, heaven. Moreshwar Temple has four gates with the depiction of Lord Ganesh in four Yugas, and each facing the cardinal directions. The entrance of the temple contains a six feet mouse, the vehicle of Ganesh and the temple also houses the image of peacock. The assembly hall of this temple contains 23 idols of Ganesh, each depicting different forms. It also portrays the eight avatars (incarnations) of Ganesh. The complete details about the construction of the temple are not available. It is said that Morya Gosavi, a prominent saint of the Hindu Ganapatya sect, is associated with this temple.

The eight incarnations of Ganesh:

Vakratunda (twisting trunk)
Ekadanta (single tusk)
Mahodara (big belly)
Gajavaktra (elephant face)
Lambodara (pendulous belly)
Vikata (unusual form “misshapen”)
Vighnaraja (king of obstacles)
Dhumravarna (grey colour) corresponds to Shiva
The temple locates a special image of Sakshi Vinayaga, who is believed as the observer of the prayers offered to Lord Mayureshwar.

About the Deity

The main deity of this temple is Lord Moreshwar (Ganesh) also called as Lord Mayureshwar, made of alloy of five metals, with His trunk towards left. Ganesh is bounded with Goddess Riddhi, and Goddess Siddhi, his consorts. The other important deities of this temple are Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Sita, the consort of Lord Rama, Lord Vignesha, Chintamani, Lord Brahnma, Nagna Bhairava, Nandi, etc. each symbolizes an epic. Morgaon city is considered as the pre-eminent centre of Worship for the denomination of Hinduism, worshiping Ganesh as the Saguna Brahman, formally known as Ganapatya sect, who considers Ganesh as the Vital force.

Legend and Stories

Morya Gosavi (Moroba), a prominent Ganapatya saint, worshipped at the Morgaon Ganesh temple before shifting to Chinchwad, where he established a new Ganesh temple. This temple and other Ganapatya centres near Pune enjoyed patronage from the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire, during the 18th century. The Peshwas, who worshipped Ganesh as their kuladaivat ("family deity"), donated in land and/or cash and/or made additions to these Ganesh temples.

Festivals

Ganesh Chaturthi or Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi – August or September
Magh Shuddha Chaturthi – January or February
Vijayadashami (Dasehara) – Octoberbr
Somavati Amavasya – September

Nearby Place to Visit

Triambakeshwar Temple
Girijaatmaja Vinayak Temple
Chintamani Vinayak Temple
Bhimashankar Temple
Grishneshwar Temple
Mumba Devi Temple
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
Mahalakshmi Temple

Accessibility

Road

There are frequent state transport service buses available from Pune to Baramati. The distance between Pune and Baramati is 64 km.

Railways

The nearest railway station to Ashta-vinayaka Moreshwar Temple is Uruli railway station Junction which is 29 Km away from Ashta-vinayaka Moreshwar Ganesh Temple.

Airport

The nearest airport to Ashta-vinayaka Moreshwar Ganesh Temple Morgaon is lohegaon airport, Pune which is 53 Km away from Ashta-vinayaka Moreshwar Temple.

Temple Address

Shri Moreshwar temple,
Morgaon,
Pune district,
Maharashtra.