GANAPATYAM

The worship of Ganapati (Ganapatyam) as a remover of all impediments, is one of the six forms of worships(Shanmatha) established by Adi Sankara.

Ganapati is the primordial deity in Ganapatyam. Temples dedicated to Ganpati according to Vastu texts, should find a separate place in the village layout, be it a Saivaite settlement or a Vaishnavite one. Ganesa also appears as a Parivara Devata in the temples of Siva or Vishnu. In the latter, he goes by the name Tumbikkai Alwar. Ganapati is also the primordial scribe, dedicated to writing the entire Mahabharata-at the dictate of sage Vyasa. Ganapati images have portrayed either standing, seated, or dancing. (Nrittya Ganapati).

Vatapi 'Ganapati is a popular deity in Tamil Nadu. Most of the Carnatic musical concerts begin with the song Vatapi Ganaptim Bhaje. Ganapati is essentially conceived mostly as a Brahmachari, but also with his consorts Siddhi-Buddhi, or Vallabh. There are various forms of Ganapati. Among the Upanishads, the one named Ganapati Upanishads extols the greatness of the Ganapati Cult. The worship of Ganapati is not only popular among the Hindus, but also among Buddhists. Ganapati worship is popular in far eastern countries like Indochina, Cambodia, Japan and other adjacent countries.

Ganapati Pooja is a precondition for the performance of any religious function or rite, individualistic or congregational. Pooja for Vinayak is called Vishvaksena Aradhanam, among Vaishnavites.

Volumes can be written about Ganesh's birth, how he came to have the elephant hand, why he holds a broken tusk in his hand, his powers of blessings. He is the personification of OM, the Pranavamanthra. Whatever may be the origin of the elephant's head, the elephant is ever attractive and pleasing to children and elders. The pot-bellied, elephant-headed Ganesha has a rat for his vehicle and is the benevolent deity of the Hindu Pantheon.

In the South Indian villages, there are many temples exclusively for the worship for Vinayaka but there is no village where he does not exist. You can see him on the river banks, under a banyan tree, without a temple, without canopy-people worship the riverside Ganapathi's-the first thing after their bath.

Ganapati has taken greater roots in Maharastra and the Western parts of India. The propagation of Ganapati worship by Lokmanya Tilak boosted Ganapatyam and revived the spirit. There is a prescribed pilgrimage to the eight seats of Ganapathi's in and around Pune-That is the life's ambition of every Ganapati devotee.

The eight seats are:

Sri GIRIJATMAJA, Lenyadri

At Lenyadri, a short distance to the north of Pune, on the banks of the river Kukdi, is a temple for the Lord, called Girijatmaja. The entire temple is carved out of stone with a Sabha Mandap in front. It is exciting to climb the 283 steps to have his darshan and puja. 

Sri MORESHWAR-Mayureshwar

Morgaon Morgaon, the village of peacocks in the Baramati district about 64 kns from Pune, on the basis of a river called Karha. The beautiful Ganesha is in a sitting posture, with diamond studded in his eyes and navel, with Siddhi-Buddhi on his side. Though rat is his normal vehicle has a peacock for his vehicle in this temple. Hence the name Mayureshwar (Moreshwar).

Sri BALLALESHWAR-Pali

40 km from Khopoli is the main shrine of Ballaleshwar at Pali, at the foot of a hill, on the top of which is Fort Sarasgod.

Sri CHINTAMANI-Theur

23 km away from Pune on the basis of the Mula-Mutha river is the Chintamani Vinayaka Temple, thronged by devotees. Chintaman Vinayaka is full of compassion and benevolence to his Bhaktas

Sri VIGNESWARA-Ojhar

The Vigneswara shrine at Ojhar is on the banks of the river Kukdi in Junnar Taluk, in Pune Dist. 8 Kms away from Junnar. The Sculpture of Vigneswara is beautifully carved out of granite, rubies studded in the eyes, and a diamond on the forehead.

Sri SIDDHIVINAYAK-Siddhatek

13 km away from Daund, on the Bombay-Madras line, is the village Siddhatek, where the temple is located. It is said that the Ganapati is Swayambhu and worshipped by Shri Vishnu. The Bhima river flows nearby in the vicinity of the temple.

Sri VARADA VINAYAK-Mahad

Nearer to PALI(about 40 Kms from Khopoli) on the Bombay-Pune highway is the small hamlet-where Ganesh is popular as Varada-giver of booms to the devotees. The idol was found in a pond and installed in the shrine there. As part of the 8 centers, he is visited by devotees in large numbers.

Sri MAHAGANAPATHI-Ranjangaon

50 kms from Pune and about 16 Kms from Uruli, the Mahaganapathi temple at Ranjangaon attracts large crowds, built by the Peshwa Raja Madhavaro. The rays of the sun fall on the murthi exactly at noon.