Ashtavinayak Yatra – Part 7, The Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyandri Maharastra, India

Ashtavinayak literally means "Eight Ganeshas" in Sanskrit. Lord Ganesha is the Hindu deity of prosperity and learning.

Lenyadri is an Ashtavinayak temple located on the northwest bank of the River Kukadi in the state of Maharashtra in India. The temple is the only Ashtavinayak temple situated on a mountain, and the temple is also in the vicinity of Buddhist caves.

It is believed that Parvati (Shiva's wife) performed penance to beget Ganesha at this point. Girija's (Parvati's) Atmaj (son) is Girijatmaj. This temple stands amidst a cave complex of 18 caves of Buddhist origin. This temple is the 8th cave and known as Ganesh Gufa, or "Ganesh Caves". These are called Ganesh-leni as well.

The entire temple is carved out of a single stone hill and faces south. It is located on a mountain, which has 307 steps. The temple features a wide hall (main mandir hall) which has 6 stone pillars with cows, elephants and other animals carved on them. The temple hall is 53 feet long, 51 feet wide and 7 feet in height.

The idol faces east with its trunk to the left, and has to be worshipped from the rear of the temple. The temple faces south. The idol is carved out of the stone wall of the cave. This idol seems to be little different from the rest of the Ashtavinayak idols in a sense that it appears to be not very well designed or carved like the other idols. Only one of the idol's two eyes can be seen. The earlier idol was covered with armour, obstructing a full view of it. After the armour was removed, Girijatmaj's idol could be seen, with its neck turned to the left side. This idol can be worshipped by anyone. There is no electric bulb in the temple. The temple is constructed such that during the day it is always lighted up by the sun-rays!

The Divine Belief

Acoording to the legends Parvati desired to have Vinayak as her son and so performed penance for 12 years in the caves of Lenyadri. Ganapati was pleased by this and decided to grant her wish. On one Bhadrapada Shudh Chaturthi, while Parvati was worshipping an idol of Ganesh which she had made from a scarf, the idol came alive. It told Parvati that, as per her desire, Lord Ganesh had taken Avatar in her house. On the 11th day she named him Ganesh, meaning a person who keeps three qualities—Satva, Raja and Tama—under control. Lord Shiva gave him a boon that whosoever remembers Ganesh before starting a work, will successfully complete that work.

Ganesh grew up for 15 years at Lenyadri. The demon king Sindhu, who knew that his death would be at the hands of Ganesh, sent demons like Krur, Balasur, Vyomasur, Kshemma, Kushal, etc. to kill Ganesh in Lenyadri. Instead Ganesh killed all these demons in his childhood. Ganpati also performed many bal-leelas in this place. Hence Lenyadri is considered a holy place.

At the age of six, Ganesha worshipped Vishwakarma and pleased with his devotion Vishwakarma endowed Ganesha with Paasa (noose), Parasu (axe), Ankush (hook) and Kamal (Lotus).

Parvati's second name is "Girija," and "Aatmaj" means son, so one of Ganesh's names is "Girijatmaj."

The temple is situated 12 Km from Narayangaon, which is about 94 Km from Pune on the Pune-Nashik highway. Nearest railway station is Talegaon. From Junnar, Lenyadri is about 5 Km. Shivaneri castle is close by (5 to 6 Km) where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born.