Shri Siddhivinayak, Siddhatek

Ashtavinayaka or eight Ganeshas are located in Maharashtra state. The Ashtavinayaka yatra or pilgrimage covers the eight holy temples of Ganesh. All the eight Ashtavinayak Temples are Swayambhu(self-originated) and Jagrut.

History

The place Siddhatek is believed to be the place where Vishnu ultimately achieved siddhi and thereby killed the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who he had been battling for a thousand years. Long ago, Deity Brahma thought of creating Nature and for that, he ceaselessly chanted the mantra “OM”. Ganesha was delighted with the penance and gave him the boon that he will fulfill the wish of creating Nature. When Deity Brahma was creating Nature, Vishnu fell asleep. Demons Madhu and Kaitabh emerged from Vishnu’s ears. They started harassing all the Gods and Goddesses. Deity Brahma realised that only Vishnu will be able to annihilate these demons. Vishnu tried his very best to kill them, but failed. He then stopped the battle and took the form of Gaankushal Gandharva and began singing. Shiva when he heard the celestial notes of the Gandharva, summoned him. Vishnu then told Lord Shiva about his unfinished battle. Shiva told him thatsince he had not sought the blessings of Ganesh his task had remained unfinished. Shiva asked Vishnu to recite the Shadakshar mantra (Ganeshaya Namah) and in order to achieve what he wanted.

Vishnu choose the Siddhkshetra to complete the ritual of propitiating Ganesh. Ganesh granted Him his wish. Vishnu then created a four-door temple on the hillock and installed the statue of Gajanan. Since Vishnu achieved siddhi here, Ganesh was called the Siddhivinayak and the place was called Siddhatek or Siddhkshetra.

Deity Brahma got the energy to create Nature with Ganesh’s boon. Lord Ganesh accepted the two daughters of Lord Brahma as his wives.

In time, the temple created by Vishnu perished. It is believed that a shepherd saw Ganesh here and started worshipping Him. He then found a priest to conduct the worship and ultimately it was during the rule of the Peshwas sometime that the present temple was erected. The Siddhivinayak Temple is along the Bhima River which flows southwards. One remarkable thing about the river is that however rapid its flow, it does not make any sound while flowing.

Siddhatek

Siddhatek is a remote little village along the river Bhima in the Ahmednagar district and Karjat tehsil in Maharashtra. The Siddhivinayak at Siddhatek is considered an especially powerful deity. Near the temple there are small temples of other Gods like Shiva, Goddess Shitala, Vishnu. The deity is flanked on both sided by large statues of Jay and Vijay.

The temple is set on a hillock and faces North. The garhbhagriha, the sanctum of the temple is five feet high and ten feet in length. The threshold of the sanctum is made of brass.The deity of this temple is swayambhu, three feet high and two and a half feet wide, facing north. The trunk of the deity is turned towards the right. A Ganapati with the trunk turned to the right is considered to be the destroyer form of Ganapati.

Yatra : Bhadrapada Shukla 4 and Magha Shukla 4

By road : Off the Pune-Solapur Highway. 48 km from Srigonda; 19 km from Daund.

Railway : Boribyal is nearest railway station on the Pune-Solapur line. The temple stands about Eleven km from this station, across the river Bhima. Regular State Transport buses ply from the station. One could also alight at Daund and take a bus.