Circuits

Ashtavinayak

Eight self-manifested Ganesha temples of Maharashtra

Eight Ganesha temples around Pune, Raigad and Ahmednagar, each enshrining a swayambhu (self-manifested) image with its own legend.

Each of the eight images is believed to have appeared on its own, and each temple tells a different story of Ganesha – as the remover of obstacles (Vighnahar), the fulfiller of wishes (Chintamani), the giver of boons (Varadvinayak).

Tradition says the yatra should begin and end at Moreshwar in Morgaon, visiting the others in a fixed order.

The temples

1. Moreshwar
2. Siddhivinayak
3. Ballaleshwar
4. Varadvinayak
5. Chintamani
6. Girijatmaj
7. Vighneshwar
8. Mahaganapati