During the period of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, there were three hundred and odd religious sects among Hindus worshipping different deities and following different practices. Due to their heterogeneous character, these sects caused a very great harm to Hinduism as a whole which was hence unable to face the onslaught of Buddhism based on sound logic. To protect Hinduism from such a situation, Sri Adi Shankaracharya rejected some of these sects and merged some other minor sects into some major sects. Finally si x religious sects were established by him. Hence he is called SHANMATHA STHAPANACHARYA. He also gave them a solid foundation through his works like PRAPANCHASARA, which describe their MANTRA, TANTRA & YANTRA.

These six sects are SHAIVA, VAISHNAVA, SHAKTA, GANAPATHYA, SOURA and SKANDA worshipping SHIVA, VISHNU, SHAKTA, GANAPATI, SURYA and SKANDA, respectively. Among them the worship of Lord Ganapati is prevalent right from the Vedic period. He is the one God who is worshipped throughout the length and breadth of India even by people belonging to other sects before beginning any auspicious function in order to ward off all obstacles and for attaining the decided goal. There are thousands of temples for Ganapati t hroughout India. Ganesa Purana and Mudgala Purana describe the various Avataras (Incarnations) of Ganesa and his brave deeds at various places.

Among these innumerous holy abodes of Lord Vinayaka, eight places are considered to be more holy and effective in fulfilling the desires of his devotees. These temples are called "ASHTA VINAYAKA" temples and are all situated in and around Pune district. Just as Shiva's 12 Jyothirlingas and 51 Peetas of Devi are considered important, similarly these eight abodes of Ganesa are also considered very ancient and Swayambhu (formed of its own). The names of these eight Kshetras (sacred places) are enumerated in t he following Sloka:

This is the most important of the eight temples and is considered as the Adya Peetha of the Ganapathya Sampradaya. The very fact that the entire sixth Khanda of the Mudgala Purana containing 20 chapters has been devoted to describing the greatness of this Kshetra speaks volumes about its value. According to Rishi Brushundi, Ganapathi has three main abodes Kailasa in Swarga, Seshamandiram in Patalam and Mayurapuri (Morgaon) in the earth. The temple has no beginning and no end. Even at the time of Pralaya, Vigneswara takes Yoganidra here. Brahma, Vishnu, Shankara, Devi and Surya once meditated here to know who created them and for what purpose. A Jyoti (flame) appeared before them in the form of 'Om'kara, ie Pranava Mantra. From this Pranava came out Lord Ganapati with the elephant face.

"PRANAVA SWAROOPA VAKRATHUNDAM" sings Muthuswamy Deekshithar. The relation between Pranava and Gajamukha (elephant face) has also been described by Sant Gyaneshwar.

Vinayaka blessed all of them and allotted them their respective duties with the instruction "before starting any endeavour first remember and worship me so that you will face no obstacles".

Dwara Yatra (going around the gates)

This temple has four gates. In the eastern gate are Lakshminarayana, the givers of Dharma. In the southern gate are Parvati and Shankara givers of Artha (desired goals). Then comes the western gate where Rathi and Kama (givers of Kama) reside. Lastly in the northern gate reside Mahivaraha (Earth and Sun). By their worship Moksha is attained. Devotees worship these gates during the first four days of Shukla paksha of any month particularly Bhadrapada or Magha. Thus all deities and all sages reside in this temple. By doing this Dwara Yatra and Ganesa Puja all good desires of the devotees are fulfilled and all sins destroyed.

By having Bhairava darshan, Neelakanta darshan and Kruttivas darshan in this temple, devotees achieve removal of ghost-effects in the body, cure from diseases, etc.

In all, there are 23 Parivar Murthis in this temple. In the eight corners, there are eight statues of Ganapathi called as EKADANTA, MAHODARA, GAJANANA, LAMBODARA, VIKATA, VIGNARAJA, DHUMRAVARNA, and VAKRATUNDA.

The main statue of Mayureshwara is very attractive. It is in the sitting posture facing east with the trunk turning left. In its eyes and navel, diamonds are embedded. On its head is the hood of Nagaraja. On the left and right are the brass murtis of Siddhi and Buddhi. In front of the idol are the Mooshaka (rat) and Mayura (peacock).

There are also various Tirthas in this temple, bathing in which all sins are destroyed. Important among them are Ganesa Tirtha, Kapila Thirtha, Vyasa Thirtha, Bhima Tirtha and Rshi Tirtha.

On the eastern side of the Mandap, there is a tree of Shami and Bilva. On the west is a tree of Tharti which is called Kalpavruksha. Devotees meditate under this tree and attain their desired goal.

The various types of worships performed here are Abhishek Pooja, Sahasravartana, Japa Yagna, Pradakshina, Nityayatra, Mahadwaryatra, etc.

The deity here is called as Mayureshwar, because he came here on a peacock and destroyed demons like Sindhu and Kamalasur. Hence the village is also called Morgaon.

Sindhu was the son of King Chakrapani and his wife Ugra, born after performing the upasana of Surya for a month starting from RATHA SAPTHAMI. He learnt Surya Mantra from Shukracharya and performed penance for two thousand years. Lord Sun was pleased and gave him Nectar telling him that as long as this remains in your stomach death will not come to you. Moreover you cannot be killed by gods, men, animals, serpents, etc, during day, night, dawn and dusk.

Sindhu came back and took over the kingdom from his father. But he behaved like a demon. He wanted to conquer the entire world. He brought many kingdoms under his control. Seeing his valour many demons joined his army. Soon Sindhu attacked Amaravati and defeated Indra, Vishnu and others, and imprisoned them in the city of Gandaki.

All these Gods assembled together secretly and on the advice of Brihaspati meditated upon Vinayaka mounted on a lion and having 10 hands. Ganapati appeared before them and promised them that he would be born as the son of Parvati and destroy Sindhu. The Gods were relieved and waited for the event.

There, in the Mandara Mountain, Shiva was staying with Parvati and some sages. He taught Parvati the one-lettered Mantra of Ganapati and asked her to chant the same for twelve years.

With the desire of having Vinayaka as her son, Parvati performed penance for 12 years in the caves of Lenyadri. Ganapati became pleased and gave her the boon she wanted. Shankar and Parvati were daily meditating upon Ganesa and waiting for the day. On one Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi, Parvati made an idol of Ganesa of clay and performed its pooja. Suddenly that idol become alive and told Parvati that as desired by her he has taken Avatar in her house on a Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi, Somavar, Swati Naksha tra, Sima Lagna. On the 11th day he was named Ganesa. Sages also gave him the boon that whosoever remembers Ganesa before starting a work, will successfully complete the work.

Ganesa grew up for 15 years at Lenyadri. The messengers of Sindhu told him about Ganesa Vinayaka's birth at Lenyadri. Sindhu sent so many demons to kill Ganesa. Even as a child Ganesa killed all of them like Krur, Balasur, Vyomasur, Kshema, Kushal, etc. Ganapati also performed many bala leelas at this place. Hence Lenyadri is considered very holy.

The temple is reached after climbing 283 steps. The entire temple is carved out of stone and is facing south. In front of the main Mandir, there is a huge and beautiful sabha mandap. It has eight stone pillars with cow, elephant, etc carved on them.

The idol is facing north. Hence there is no MUKHA POOJA for Girijatmaja (Son of Parvati). The cave in which Ganesa appeared before Parvati is said to be behind the temple.

But as the route is not proper nobody has dared to go there. On the right and left of Ganesa are Hanuman and Shiv Shankar.

Coming back to the story of Girijatmaja or Ganesa, Parvati requested Marichi Rishi to find a way out to protect Ganesa from demons. Marichi asked why it would be necessary to protect Ganapati, whose Namasmarana (remembering the name) itself destroys all obstacles. Still to satisfy Parvati he taught her Ganesa Kavacha and said that if any child had fear of Rakshasas or Pishachas this kaacha may be tied around his neck.

At the age of six, Vishwakarma worshipped Ganesa and endowed him with Paasa, Parasu, Ankusa and Kamala. At the age of seven, his Upanayana was performed by sages like Gautama.

At the age of ten, a demon called Kamalasur came with an army twelve crore strong and had war with Ganesa, who was mounted on a peacock. The demons' army was defeated. From Kamalasur's blood many more demons were created. Siddhi and Buddhi ate away all demons. Al last Kamalasur was cut into two pieces with Ganesas Trishul. The place where the head of Kamalasura was thrown is the Morgaon Kshetra. Vishwakarma constructed a city and a temple in that place.

Then Shankar, Parvati and Ganesa started towards Gandaki city where the gods were imprisoned. First as a matter of courtesy Nandi was sent to meet demon Sindhu to ask him to release the gods. Sindhu refused and war ensued. Nandi, Veerabhadra, Kartikeya and other Shiva Ganas fought with the demons. On the second day his two brothers-in-law Kala and Vikala were killed and on the third day his sons Dharma and Adharma were destroyed by Kartikeya.

Sindhu's father Chakrapani advised him to release the gods. But he refused. He came running towards Mayureshwara with his sword held high. Suddenly Ganesa took a small form, got down from the peacock and sent an arrow which pierced Sindhu's navel and broke it. Out came the nectar given by Surya to Sindhu. Sindhu fell dead.

Ganesa was seated on the Simhasana by Chakrapani and all gods. Brahma's daughters, Siddhi and Buddhi were married to him. Ganesa lived there for many years. After that he took leave of everybody and disappeared. Before doing so he gave his peacock to Kartikeya.

Whoever hears the story of Mayureshwar has all his desires fulfilled. His wealth and fame increases.

The Story of Mayuresa and Girijatmaja are vividly described in Genesa Purana Kreeda Khanda from 73 to 126.

(Mudgala Purana - Fourth Khanda - 15th Chapter)

The king of Hemavati, Shri Abhinandana, once performed a great sacrifice. Indra thought that this sacrifice if completed would deprive him of his post. Hence he ordered Kala to create obstacles in the Sacrifice and then destroy it. The fierce-looking Kala not only destroyed that Sacrifice but also other sacrifices and created obstacles for sages and others. Hence people called him Vigna. Slowly all Vedic rites were reduced and dharma disappeared from earth. Then all Gods worshipped Gajanana and requested h im to save the world from Vignasura.

Then Ganapati took his Avatar as the son of Parshva and Deepavatsala. At the age of five, Gods headed by Shankara came to Parshva and requested him to relieve Ganapati for having a war with Vignasura. Parshva was reluctant but Ganapati convinced him and with his permission proceeded to the Asura's abode. He sent his Ankusa, which caught hold of Vignasura and brought him before Devas. But the Asura assumed many forms like cyclone, flood, fire, etc. Vinayaka destroyed all such Maya (illusions). Finally when he found that his power and tactics will not succeed Vignasura fell at the feet of Ganapati and asked for refuge. He requested that Ganapati should take his name along with his own. Vinayaka accepted his request and is hence called Vigneshwara or Vignaraj. Ganapati also ordered him as follows. "Whoever chants this name of mine will attain what he desires. Wherever I am not remembered before beginning a work you bring obstacles in their work. If any creature inclusive of Shiva and Vishnu gets proud and egoi stic, you take away their post. You never harass my devotees but obstruct their offenders."

The idol of Vigneshwara of Ojhar is facing east. His trunk is left turned. Different types of diamonds are embedded in the two eyes, on the forehead and in the navel. On the two sides are the brass idols of Riddhi and Siddhi. In addition to festivals of Bhadrapada and Magha Shuddha Chathurthi, there is another festival of five days from Kartika Pournima to Chaturthi. There are beautiful lighting (deepamala) arrangements during that period.

(To be continued)