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Ashtavinayak
Information
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DagaduSeth ( Pune )
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Ballaleshvara
Among the Ashtavinayakas, Ballaleshvara at Pali is the only Ganesha who is famous by the name of his devotee and who is dressed up as a brahmin. Village Pali is situated in the Sudhagad taluka in the district of Raigad. This place is nestled between the fort Sarasgad and River Amba. The nearest railway station is Karjat, which is 30Kms away |
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Chintamani
At Theyoor in the Haveli Taluka of Pune district in Maharashtra is the temple dedicated to Chintamani Vinayak. The village is along the river Mulamutha. Ganesh as Chintamani is god who brings peace of mind and drives away all perplexities of the mind. It is believed that Brahma the creator once felt tharva that is restive. To still his mind he called upon Lord Ganesh. The place where Brahma achieved the quietude he was looking for is known as the Sthavar region or as Theur |
Maha Ganpati
The Maha Ganpati is the most powerful representation of Lord Ganesh. Maha Ganpati 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 |
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Moreshwar
The Mayureshwar or Moreshwar temple is along the Karha river in the Morgaon village. A temple that looks like a tiny fort from a distance, is situated in the Baramati Taluka of Pune district in Maharashtra. This region is also known as the Bhuswananda. Shaped as a peacock, this region has in the past seen an abundance of peacocks and is therefore known as Morgaon (Mor - peacock) |
Siddhivinayak
Siddhtek is a remote little village along the river Bhima in the Ahmednagar district and Karjat tehsil in Maharashtra. The Siddhivinayak at Siddhtek is considered an especially powerful deity. It is believed that it was here on the Siddhtek Mountain, that Vishnu acquired Siddhi. |
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Varad Vinayak
Mahad is a pretty village set in the hilly region of Konkan in the Raigarh district and the Khalapur Taluka of Maharastra. Ganesh as Varad Vinayak fulfills all desires and grants all boons. This region was known as Bhadrak or Madhak in ancient times. A nandadeep has been lit in this temple which has been continuously lit since the 1892 |
Vighneshwara
On the banks of the Kukdeshwar river, Ozhar is where Lord Vighneshwar resides. Lord Ganesh is known as Vigneshwara or the remover of all obstacles, this he achieved by vanquishing the demon Vighnasura |
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Girijatmaj
Lenyadri is to the North of Pune, along the Kukdi river. The Ganesh Puran calls this place as Jirnapur or Lekhan Parbat. Girijatmaj Vinayak refers to the Ganesh as the son of Parvati. Girija is another name for Parvati and Atamaj means son. This is the only temple of the Ashtavinayak which is on a mountain and is set in a Buddhist cave-temple |
Ganesh symbolizes
About Ganesha's body structure.
Ganapati is a Lord of intellect and higher knowledge. Each part of Lord Ganesh symbolizes the intellect:- The big ears, nose, small eyes, big belly and head are the signs of a "MAHAPURUSH." The 'Big Head' symbolizes lots of knowledge. The 'Big Ears' symbolizes the ability to hear well and that listening makes you a better person. 'Small Eyes' symbolizes the ability to see the future and the reality instead of the fake outside. 'Big Trunk' symbolizes the ability to smell good and the bad in the person from far away. The Large belly is meant to convey that a man of perfection can consume and digest whatever experiences he undergoes.
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Ganapati (Ganesha) Festival
It was in Pune in 1894 that Lokmanya Tilak initiated the concept of the "Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav" - the collective communal celebration of the festival of Lord Ganesha. During the month of August or September each year, the city celebrates the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Almost every neighborhood puts up a pandal with an idol of Lord Ganesha, often amidst a mythological setting, complete with decorative lights and festive music. The 10-day festival culminates in a carnival-like procession along the busy thoroughfares of the city, with every pandal leading the idol on a float to finally immerse (visarjan) it in the local rivers. This is one of the most important yearly events in the city. |
108 NAMES OF GANAPATI (GANESH NAMAWALI)
"OM SHREE VIGHNESHAYA NAMAHA""
"OM SHREE VIGHNAVARDAYA NAMAHA""
"OM SHREE VISHVACHKSHUSHEYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE JAGATPRABHAVE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE HIRANYARUPAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SARVATMANE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE DNYANARUPAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE JAGANMAYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE URDHVARETASE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE MAHABAHAVE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE AMEYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE AMITVIKRAMAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VEDVEDYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE MAHAKALAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VIDYANIDHAYE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE ANAMAYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SARVADNYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SARVAGAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SHANTAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE GAJASYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE CHITTESHVARAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VIGATJVARAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VISHVAMURTAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE AMEYALMANE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VISHVADHARAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SANATANAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SAMGAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE PRIYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE MANTRINE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SATVADHARAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SURADHISHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SAMASTASAKSHINE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE NIRDVANDVAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE NIRLOKAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE AMOGHVIKRAMAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE NIRMALAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE PUNYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KAMADAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KANTIDAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KAMARUPINE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KAMAPOSHINE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KAMALAKSHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE GAJANANAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SUMUKHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SHARMADAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE MUSHAKADHIPAVAHANAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SHUDDHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE DIRGHATUNDAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE "OM SHREEPATAYE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE ANANTAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE MOHAVARJITAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VAKRATUNDAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SHURPAKARANAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE PARAMAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE YOGISHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE YOGADHAMNE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE UMASUTAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE AAPADVANTRE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE EKADANTAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KAHAGREEVAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SHARANYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SIDDHASENAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SIDDHAVEDAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KARUNAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SIDDHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE BHAGAVATE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE AVYAGRAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VIKATAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KAPILAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE DHUNDHIRAJAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE UGRAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE BHIMODARAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SHUBHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE GANADHYAKSHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE GANESHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE GANARADHYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE GANANAYAKAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE JYOTISWARUPAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE BHUTATMANE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE DHUMRAKETAVE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE ANUKULAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KUMARGURAVE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE ANANDAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE HERAMBAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VEDASTUTAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE NAGAYADNYAPAVITINE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE DURDDHARSHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE BALDURVANKURAPRIYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE BHALCHANDRAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VISHVADHATRE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SHIVPUTRAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VINAYAKAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE LILSEVITAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE PURNAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE PARAMSUNDARAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VIGHNANDHKARAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SINDURVARDAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE NITTYAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE VIBAHVE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE PRATHAMPUJITAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE DIVYAPADABJAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE BHAKTAMANDARAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SHURAMAHAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE RATNASINHASANAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE MANIKUNDLAMANDITAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE BHAKTAKALANAYA NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE KALYANGURAVE NAMAHA"
"OM SHREE SAHASTRASHISHNE NAMAHA" |
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Durva
Once upon a time, there used to be a demon called "Analasur". He had the ability to spit flames. The demon used to trouble all the Gods. The Gods were distressed by Analasur's terror and tried their best to get rid of him. When all of them failed, they appealed to Ganesha for help. Ganesha had a long battle with the demon that went for a long time. At the end, Ganesha swallowed the demon. But since the demon was made of flame, the heat became unbearable for the God. Various Gods turned to the rescue of Ganesha, prescribing their own methods, but to no avail. The sacred water from Vishnu's lotus was administered to Him. This gave the Lord some respite, although he was still in pain. The snake of Lord Shiva was then tied around his waist. This also helped but the pain still persisted. As a last resort, 21 durvas were given to him and the Lord was finally cured. Ever since, 21 durvas are offered to the Lord as a token of devotion. |
Tiny Mouse
Ganpati was sent to sage Parashar for his formal education. He was a very able student and loved by one and all. He used to obey his elders, help the sage's wife in the kitchen and do what he was told to do. The ashram was a very beautiful place. A river flowed past it. Food was aplenty and everyone lived peacfully. One thing however troubled them. There was a rat in the ashram. He would eat all the food in the granary and run around the place. The sage's wife complained to her husband. He told Ganesha, "beta Ganesha, you are very intelligent, why don't you find a way to rid the ashram of this menace". Ganpati said, "give me two days, I will restore peace and sanity to the ashram". The very next day, Ganpati started running after the rat. He ran after him the whole day and finally managed to corner him. The rat was very scared. He knew that Ganpati would now kill him. He begged for mercy and began recounting his tale of woe. He was a yaksha who had been cursed by a sage for laughing at him. He told Ganpati not to kill him and said that he would become his vehicle if saved. Ganpati agreed. This is how the mouse became Ganesha's vehicle.
Mouse is considered to be Lord Ganesha's vehicle for transportation. The mouse is chosen for his speed because mouse runs around all the time, it needs a heavy person like Ganesha to sit on it. This symbolizes your thoughts and hopes which runs around in any direction and you need to control them.
At the feet of the Lord Ganesh is spread an abundance of food. Food represents the material wealth, power and prosperity. There is food before the tiny mouse, even though it does not touch the food but waits for the Master's (Lord Ganesha's) sanction for consuming it. The mouse represents desire. |
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