Chintamani Temple Theur – The most famous and largest Ashtavinayak Temple

The Ashtavinayak temple of Shri. Chintamani is located in Theur Village, which falls in Haveli taluka of Pune district near the confluence of river Bhima and the conjoint river Mula-Mutha. Of all the Ashtavinayak temples, Shri. Chintamani temple Theur is “one of the larger and more famous” Ashtavinayak temple. Chintamani temple Theur is prescribed to the fifth temple to be visited in the Ashtavinayak circuit.

About Chintamani temple Theur

Though Theur is prescribed to the fifth temple to be visited in the Ashtavinayak circuit, pilgrims often visit Theur second in the circuit after Morgaon, as it is a more convenient route. However, we visited it as the first temple on day 2 of our Ashtavinayak temple tour. Like other Ashtavinayak temples, there are small shops selling lords idol, garlands, toys, books leading to the entrance of the temple.

Once you enter the Temple premises through the small main gate, you get to see a 350 years old temple. It is said that, the famous Peshwa Madhavrao, a well know devotee of Shri. Chintamani renovated and made additions to the temple structure. He build the wooden Sabha-mandapa (assembly hall). The hall also has a black stone water fountain in it. 

Like other Ashtavinyaka icons, Ganesha idol is considered swayambhu (self-manifested) and hardly any features are visible except the head, studded with jewel, eyes and trunk, which turns to his left. The Ganesha is seated in cross-legged posture. The idol is smeared with sindur like rest of the Ashtavinyak idols.

After taking the darshan of Shri. Chintamani (the main shrine), we visited many other temples in the premises that are dedicated to various other god and goddess like Mahadeva Mandir, Vishnu-Lakshmi Mandir, and Hanuman Mandir. Right behind the Shri. Chintamani temple Theur, there is Peshwa Wada, which was once the residence of Peshwa Madhavrao.

During our trip to Shri. Chintamani Theur, Ashtavinayak temple we also visited to Sati Ramabai Vrindavan (Garden). Peshwa Madhavrao died in Theur and his wife Ramabai performed Sati on his funeral pyre and was burnt with him. So in their memory a garden (Vrindavan) has been build on the bank of river Mula-Mutha

The legend of Shri. Chintamani, Theur

There are three tales that relates to the Chintamani temple, Theur. As per one of the tale. While lord Bhrama was creating the universe, he became egoistic that ‘nothing can happen without him’. Lord Bhrama was attacked by the five enemies namely kaam (anger), krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Madha (ego), Moh (attachment) and Matsar (jealousy). As a result lord Bhrama got depressed. So, Narad Muni told him to worship Shri. Chintamani Ganesha.

Lord Bhrama stood on one leg in the river Mula- Mutha and meditated. Finally, lord Ganesh was pleased by Lord Bhrama’s meditation. He blessed him and made him free of all his worries (Chinta). Latter Lord Bhrama established a Ganesha’s idol at this place and offered it a necklace of Chintamani jewels. Ganesha here is know as Chintamani because it was here that Bhrama became free of all the Chintas (Worries).

As per another tale. Ganasura, the son of king Abhijit and his wife Gunavati, was a strong, greedy and hot-headed king. He had pleases the god Shiva and was granted kingship of the three worlds – heaven, earth and underworld by lord Shiva. Once, Ganasura and his army arrived at sage Kapila place. Sage Kapila owned the wish-granting jewel Chintamani. With the help of the jewel, Kapila serves the prince and his army with food.

The greedy prince desires to acquire the jewel, however the sage refused. However, Gana seizes it from the sage. Kapila, a devotee of Ganesha, prayed to Ganesha to retrieve the gem. Lord Ganesha and his army fought with Ganasura and beheaded him. Ganesha returned the jewel to Kapila, however, the sage choosed to have his Lord instead of the jewel itself. So, Ganesha stayed on in Theur with Kapila, and took the name of the jewel Chintamani.

According to the third tale, the lord Indra worshipped Ganesha here under the Kadamba tree to get rid of the sage Gautama’s curse. The place was thus known as Kadamaba-Nagar, the town of Kadamba trees.

Insider tips:

1. How to reach
   1. By bus: There are frequent MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) as well as state transport buses for Theur. From Pune Swargate station take bus towards Solapur and get down at Theur phata. The Asthavinayak temple is 5 k.m from here.
   2. By train: The nearest railway station to Theur, is Loni Railway Station which lies on the Pune Miraj route. The Asthavinayak temple is 7 k.m from the Loni Railway Station.
   3. By air: Pune airport is the nearest airport to reach Shri. Chintamani Theur Asthavinayak Temple. From the airport one can take the state transport buses or hire a Taxi to reach this Ashtavinayak temple.
2. Best time to visit: Festival celebration during the Ganesha Prakatostav, Maghotsav festival, and Rama-Madhav Punyostav are the best time to visit the Chintamani Temple in Theur. Hence the temple is especially full with devotees during this time. So if you don’t like crowd then you can visit this Ashtavinayak temple anytime.
3. Distance to other Ashtavinayak temples: 
   1. Shri Chintamani temple Theur to Shri Varad Vinayak temple Mahad – 104 k.m via Bengaluru – Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Expy – (approximately 2 hour 40 mins)
   2. Shri Chintamani temple Theur to Shri Mayureshwar Ganpati temple, Morgaon – 63 k.m via NH65 – Pune Expy and NH 48 (approximately 1 hour 20 mins)
   3. Shri Chintamani temple Theur to Shri Mahaganapati temple, Ranjangaon – 125 k.m via Aurangabad – Ahmednagar – Pune Hwy/Beed – Ahmednagar – Pune Rd/Kopargaon – Shirdi – Ahmednagar – Pune Hwy/Parner – Pune Hwy/Pune – Ahmednagar Hwy (approximately 1 hour 5 mins)
   4. Shri Chintamani temple Theur to Shri Vigneshwara temple, Ozar – 98 k.m via NH60 (approximately 2 hours 40 mins) 
   5. Shri Chintamani temple Theur to Shri Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri – 101 k.m. via NH60 (approximately 3 hours)
   6. Shri Chintamani temple Theur to Shri Ballaleshwar, Pali – 177 k.m. via Bengaluru – Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Expy (approximately 4 hours 30 mins)
   7. Shri Chintamani temple Theur to Shri Siddhivinayak, Siddhatek – 83 k.m. via NH65 (approximately 2 hours 5 mins)

In Nutshell

The Ashtavinayak temple of Shri Chintamani Theur is “one of the larger and more famous” Ashtavinayak temple among all the Ashtavinayaka. It is prescribed to the fifth temple to be visited in the Ashtavinayak circuit. The temple is also linked with Saint Morya Gosavi swami. This Ashtavinayak temple was renovated by the Peshwa rulers Madhavrao Peshave. In short, it is a calm place which gives positive vibrations to its devotees. Ever years many devotees visit this place, to get their wishes fulfilled and to take darshan of Shri Chintamani Ganesha.