- Ganesh
Girijatmaj Vinayak Temple
- Goregaon,Maharashtra
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Overview
This is the sixth temple among the eight Ashta-vinayaka temples dedicated to Ganesh, and is located at Lenyadri, in Pune district of Maharashtra. The place Lenyadri, refers to mountain cave, which is also called as Ganesh Hill. Lenyadri represents a sequence of 30 rock cut Buddhist caves.
About the Temple
Girijatmaj Temple is the only Ashta-vinayaka temple located on a mountain, which is situated in cave 7 among the 30 rock cut caves. Ashta-vinayaka temples are the eight temples dedicated to Ganesh, situated around the state of Maharashtra. They are housed in a very determined sequence. Ganesh, the elephant headed god of wisdom, also the God of Unity, 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.
There are 283 stone steps leads to the temple indicating sensual pleasures which Ganesh has conquered. The temple contains the paintings of Ganesh which portrays the various actions of Ganesh such as childhood times of Ganesh, battles, wedding preparations etc. It also houses the portrayal of Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, and Goddess Devi. The temple has nine monuments of Sati, which refers to a ritual in which a widow commits suicide by jumping into the husband’s funeral pyre, on the walls of the temple with different attitude.
About the Deity
The presiding god of this temple is Girijatmaja (Ganesh), the mountain born, and who is also called as Atmaja of Girija.
Legend and Stories
Legend tells us about Goddess Parvathi’s creation of a child from the dirt of her body, Ganesh. She desired to see her child as an infant and undertook a severe penance to achieve this objective. Ganesh is said to have reincarnated himself as an infant and lived in the Lenayadri hills for 12 years.
Festivals
Ganesh Chaturthi or Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi – August or September
Magh Shuddha Chaturthi – January or February
Vijayadashami (Dasehara) – October
Significance
Domestic Issues, Fulfill Wishes, Unfavourable Influence (Dosha),
Nearby Place to Visit
Triambakeshwar Temple
Chintamani Vinayak Temple
Bhimashankar Temple
Grishneshwar Temple
Mumba Devi Temple
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
Mahalakshmi Temple
Accessibility
Road
State transport buses ply to Junnar from Pune and from Mumbai. Lenyadri is about 94 km from Pune, on Pune – Nasik Highway and Junnar is the nearby town, which is 5 km from Lenyadri.
Railways
The nearest railway station to Lenyadri Girijatmaja Temple is Igatpuri train station Junction which is 61 Km away from Lenyadri Girijatmaja Temple.
Airport
The nearest airport to Lenyadri Girijatmaja Temple is Lohegaon airport, Pune which is 73 Km away from Lenyadri Girijatmaja Temple.
Temple Address
Girijatmaj Temple,
Lenyadri,
Pune,
Maharashtra.
Significance
Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-
- To have desires fulfilled
- For wealth and fame
Shlokas
Vakratunda Mahakaaya Suryakoti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kuru Mey Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada
Meaning -I pray to thee O Lord, who has a curved trunk and a strong body, the shine of a million suns, to remove all the hurdles that may block me from all the tasks I intend to perform.
Agajaanana Padmaarkam Gajaananam Aharnisham Anekadantham Bhaktaanaam Ekadantam Upaasmahey
Meaning -The sun to Mother Parvati's lotus face, I worship Lord Ganesh, with the elephant face, the one who grants a lot of wishes, the one with the single tusk, I salute thee to grant my wish.
Gajaananam Bhoota Ganaadhi Sevitam Kapitta Jamboophaala Saara Bhakshitam Umaasutam Shoka Vinaasha Kaaranam Namaami Vighneswara Paada Pankajam
Meaning -Oh elephant-faced Lord, who is served by all the Ganas, who consumes the essence of Kapitta and Jamboophala, His favourite fruits, who is Uma's son, who destroys the gloom of His devotees, who handles hurdles, we worship your lotus feet.
Tatpurushaaya Vidmahe Vakratundaaya Dheemahe Tanno Danthihi Prachodayaat
Meaning -We meditate on the great power, we call upon the single tusked Ganesh, who grants wishes.
Timings
The temple is open from 07:00 AM to 11:30 AM 04:30 PM to 07:00 PM.