Ashtavinayak Yatra: Part Two

Day One: 13.08.2022 continues

Shri Vighneshwar Ganpati, Ozar

This temple is also located in the Junnar Taluka, on the Pune-Nashik Road, on the banks of Kukadi River close to the Yedagaon dam. It was built by Chimaji Appa in 1785, after he conquered the fort of Vasai from Portuguese. Like all Ashtavinayaka shrines, the central Ganesha image is believed to be svayambhu (self-existent), naturally occurring in the form of an elephant-faced stone. The central icon of Ganesha faces east and is flanked with brass images of his consorts Siddhi and Riddhi. He has a left-turning trunk and is covered with sindoor (vermillion). His eyes are emeralds and his forehead and navel is also adored with diamonds. 

The temple features a "spacious courtyard, a grand entrance, sculptural and mural work". It is surrounded by a walled compound with a large gateway flanked by two large stone Dvarapala. Two large stone Deepamalas (lamp towers) stand near the gateway in front of a fine corridor of seven cusped arches.

We reached the venue at 6PM. The bus was parked in the parking lot along with a lot of vehicles. Then we walked our way to the temple passing by the Vighneshwar Udyaan and the route map detailing on the complete Ashtavinayak journey. Have a look:

There were many shops selling oti (means coconut, modak, durva and shoeflower). We bought the same for worship, kept our shoes at the shoe-stand and queued up at the entrance gate. We walked into the courtyard, walked through the left edge, upstairs and downstairs, doing a full parikrama. There was a coconut cutting machine at the back of the temple. There was hardly any queue for darshan. We also got a chance to perform the aarati. We spent some time sitting in the open area. Then we purchased modaks, pedhe, etc from the shops outside. We had tea-coffee and washroom break post the worship. We also spent few minutes on the banks of river Kukadi. Then we drove ahead to the next ganpati in the Ashtavinayak series.

Shri MahaGanpati, Ranjangaon

The name MahaGanpati means the powerful ganpati. The temple is located in the Shirur Taluka, on the Pune-Ahmednagar road. Managanpati is portrayed, seated on a lotus, flanked by his consorts Siddhi (spiritual power) and Riddhi (prosperity). The idol of Lord Ganesha is also named as 'Mahotkat', and it is said that the idol has 10 trunks and 20 hands. Mahaganpati is depicted as having eight, ten or twelve arms. It is after invoking this form of Ganpati that Shiva vanquished the demon Tripurasur and so he is also known as Tripurarivade Mahaganpati.

We reached the venue at 9:15PM and the temple was to close by 10PM. So, we bought the VIP pass worth Rs. 50 for direct darshan. We hurriedly kept our shoes at the shoe rack, got the flower garlands and walked the VIP lane to the inner entrance. We passed by the Datt Mandir. 

The courtyard was spacious. We had the darshan and then explored the outer area for a few minutes. There was a hustle going on so that all devotees get the darshan before 10PM. It did not feel much like a peaceful darshan of ganpati bappa. But we were happy with the fact that at least we did not miss it.

We drove ahead to Noorya Hometel, Chinchwad for the night stay. It was a tiring journey from 10PM to 12:30AM. Finally, we reached the hotel, got the room keys and headed for dinner. Though I felt too much tired, I had the dinner because I needed strength for the next 2 days. Dinner was tasty, consisted of rice, dal, roti, sabzi, papad and gajar ka halva. I checked into the room at 1AM. 

The room was spacious, there was a king bed, study table with lamp and kettle, small cupboard, wall painting of ganesha. I freshened up and got the things ready for tomorrow (or should I say today because it was already 1:30AM) and dozed off. Three ganpati darshan was completed.

Read next: Ashtavinayak Yatra: Part Three