Ashtavinayak literally means "Eight
Ganeshas" in Sanskrit. Lord Ganesha is the Hindu deity of prosperity and
learning.
The Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek
God Vishnu is
supposed to have vanquished the asuras Madhu and Kaitabh after propitiating
Ganesha here. The shrine is particularly popular during the festivals of Ganesh
Jayanti, Vijayadashami and Somvati Amavasya.
This is the only
murti (Idol) of these eight with the trunk positioned to the right.
It is believed
that the two saints Shri Morya Gosavi and Shri Narayan Maharaj of Kedgaon
received their enlightenment here.
The temple is
North-facing and is on a small hillock. The main road towards the temple was
believed to built by Peshwa's general Haripant Phadake. The inner sanctum, 15
feet high and 10 feet wide is built by Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar. The idol
is 3 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. The idol faces North-direction. The stomach
of the murti is not wide, but Riddhi and Siddhi murtis are sitting on one
thigh. This murti's trunk is turning to the right. [An
idol of Ganapati with the trunk curved towards the right is called dakshinmurti
or dakshinabhimukhi murti (the idol facing the south). Dakshin means the
southern direction or the right side. The southern direction leads to the
region of Lord Yama (Yamalok), the deity of death while the right side belongs
to the Surya nadi (Sun channel). One who is able to face the direction of the
region of Yama is powerful ]. To make one
round (pradakshina) around the temple one has to make the round trip of the
hillock. This takes about 30 minutes with moderate speed.
Peshwa general
Haripant Phadake lost his General's position and did 21 Pradakshina around the
temple. On the 21st day Peshwa's court-man came and took him to the court with
royal honor. Haripant promised the God that he will bring the stones of the
castle which he will win from the first war he will fight as the general. The
stone pathway is built from the Badami-Castle which was attacked by Haripant soon
after he became the general.
Siddhatek is a
town in the Ahmednagar District of the western part of India located on the
Bhima River. This temple is situated off the Pune-Solapur highway about 48 Km
from the town of Srigonda in Ahmadnagar district. The temple is situated next
to Bhima river. On Pune-Solapur railway, Daund Railway station is 18 Km from
here.
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