Ashtavinayak literally means "Eight
Ganeshas" in Sanskrit. Lord Ganesha is the Hindu deity of prosperity and
learning.
Varadvinayak is one of the Asthavinayak temples
of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh. This is in Mahad village situated in Khalapur
taluka near Karjat and Khopoli of Raigad District, Maharastra, India.
The handsome Prince Rukmangad refused sage
Vachaknavi's wife Mukunda's illicit call, and was cursed to suffer from
leprosy. Mukunda was satisfied by Indra who deceived her as Rukmangad and she
bore a child by name Grutsamad. When Grutsamad came to know about the real
story he cursed his mother Mukunda to become the tree of Bori and she in turn
cursed him to bore a demon son named Tripurasur, the one who was defeated by
Shiva after praying the Ranjangaon Ganesha. Grutsamad after getting cursed went
to the forest of Pushpak and worshipped Ganesha. Sage Grutsamad is famous for
the mantra Gananan Tva. He founded the temple and called this Ganesha:
Varada-Vinayak.
Ganesha is said to reside here in the form of
Varada Vinayaka, the giver of bounty and success. The idol was found in the
adjoining lake (to Mr. Dhondu Paudkar in 1690 A.D.), in an immersed position
and hence its weathered look. In 1725 A.D. the then Kalyan subhedar, Mr. Ramji
Mahadev Biwalkar built the Varadavinayak temple and the village of Mahad.
The idol faces the east, has its trunk to the
left and has been in the constant company of an oil lamp - said to be burning
continuously since 1892. There are 4 elephant idols on 4 sides of the temple.
The hall is 8 feet by 8 feet. The dome is 25 feet high and is golden at the
top. The dome has designs of cobra.
This is the only temple where devotees are
allowed to personally pay their homage and respects to the idol. They are allowed in the immediate vicinity
of this idol to perform their prayers.
According to the legends King, Bhima of
Koudinyapur and his wife had had everything in life except a child. The king
and his wife went to the forest to carry penance. Sage Vishwamitra gave king,Ekashar
Gajana Mantra to chant and thus prince Rukmaganda was born. Rukmaganda
grew up into a beautiful young prince.
Rukmanganda during his hunting trip stopped at
the hermitage of Rishi Vachaknavi. Mukunda, Rishi's wife fell in love with
prince's beauty and asked him to fulfill her desire. He flatly refused and left
the ashram. Mukunda became very much lovesick. Knowing her plight, Indra took
the form of Rukmaganda and had pleasure with her. Mukunda became pregnant and
gave birth to a son Gritsamada. Gritsamada curses his mother on knowing truth
of his birth to become a throny plant bearing Bhor fruits.
Mukunda in turn cursed Gritsamada, that a cruel
rakshas (demon) will born from him. Suddenly a heavenly voice said 'Gritsamada
is Indra's son' leaving both of them shocked. Then Mukunda gets converted to
Bhor plant and ashamed Gritsamada, leaves to Pushpak forest for penance. Lord
Ganesha contented by Gritsamada's penance tells him that he will get a brave
son who cannot be defeated by anybody other than Shankara. Gritsamada asks for
the forest to become holy and so devotees get attainment of their aims here. He
urged Ganapati to stay there permanently and asked for knowledge of Brahma. The
forest is called Bhadraka today. Gritsamada built a temple
there and the idol installed there is called Varadavinayaka.
It is said that if the coconut received as
prasad during Maghi Chaturthi is consumed one will be blessed with a son. Hence
there is heavy rush during Maghi Utsav.
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