Shri Moreshwar Ganpati temple or Shri Mayureshwar Ganpati temple of Morgaon has great importance among the Ashtavinayak (pilgrimage of eight Ganesha temples) temples of Maharashtra. Infact, Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple is one of the most popular Ashtavinayak temple. This small and beautiful temple is located on the bank of river Karha in Baramati Taluka of Pune district and is just 65 km from Pune city. This place also happen to be an adhya Peeth – foremost centre of worship of he Ganapatya sect, which considers Ganesha as the Supreme Being. The saint Morya Gosavi, a famous devotee of Ganesha was also born here. This religious significance of the temple attracts many devotees to the Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati temple every year making it an amazing weekend getaway near Pune.
We were on a Baramati trip and trying to explore the places in and around Baramati. This is how we decided to visit the Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati temple the first time.
About Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple
The Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple is among the Sade teen adhya Peeth (three and half prominent seats of load Ganesha) in Maharashtra. It is believed that, the Ashtavinayak Yatra is complete only if one starts and ends the Ashtavinayak Yatra (pilgrimage of eight Ganesha temples) from and at the Shri Mayureshwar Ganpati temple. This place also happens to be the birth place of saint Morya gosavi who is popular as the most famous devotee of Ganesha. The demon Sindhu was killed by Ganesha at this place. The Nandi infront of the temple and the eleven steps of the temple also have significance.
The Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple
When we visited the temple twice. The first time was when we were on Baramati trip. The temple is surrounded by tall stone boundary wall with minarets at each of the four corners which indicates Muslim influence on the architecture of the temple. One of the pundits at the temple told us that once a Muslim chieftain was patron of the temple Hence the temple architecture has Muslim influence.
Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati Temple also has four gates that are said to be the symbol of four Yugas, Tretayuga, Satyuga, Kali Yuga as well as Dwaparyuga. One find many shops outside the temple entrance selling various offering for Ganesha like garland, idols of Ganesha, Prasad (a devotional offering made to god).
We were surprised to see a huge Nandi (bull) at the entrance of the temple facing the Ganesha idol. Nandi is considered to be lord Shiva’s vehicle and hence is found in Shiva temple. This is the only temple which has a Nandi in lord Ganesha’s temple. As per one of the tales, it is said that the Nandi was transported to be installed at one of the nearby Shiva temple. But when the vehicle reached this place it broke down and the Nandi felt down. Latter, that night Nandi came in dreams of one of the devotee and told him to installed him at this place. Also, the Nandi refused to move from the place. Hence, since then the Nandi is installed at the entrance of the place as if it is guarding the entrance.
The main entrance of the temple faces north. Once we entered the temple we saw two Deepmalas (lamp towers with niches to light lamps) housed in the quadrangular courtyard. There is a sculpted 6 foot mouse (the vehicle of Ganesha) in front of the temple. From the quadrangular courtyard one enters in a recently built sabha-mandapa (assembly-hall) that has idols of god Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. From the sabha-mandapa we entered in a central hall built by the Patwardhan Rulers of Kurundwad. It is said that the ceiling of this hall is formed from a single stone.
The garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) houses the idol of Ganesha as Shri Mayureshwar or Shri Moreshwar, facing the North. The Ganesha idol is depicted in a seated posture with its trunk turning to the left, four arms and three eyes. He holds a noose (pasha) and elephant goad (ankusha) in his upper hands, while his lower right rests on his knee and the other one holds a modaka (a sweet). The navel and the eyes are embedded with diamonds.
A cobra hood raised over Ganesha’s head, shelters the Lord. Simple looking at the Ganesha idol got enchanted and felt peaceful. It was then that we decided to do a Ashtavinayak tour in next month. And this is how we visited the Morgaon Mayureshwar temple once again as the last Ashtavinayak of our tour.
Tale behind the name Morgaon
Omkar Ganesha had the wish of creating the universe. He became very happy with the thought of creating the universe. So, before giving the responsibility of creating the universe to Lord Brahma, Lord Ganesha wanted to amplify his happiness. Hence, lord Ganesha created a place for himself on the earth and appeared at this place. Since then this place is also known as Swanandapur. At that time many peacocks use to live at the place. Also, the place where Ganesha appeared was of peacock shape. Hence the place because known as Morgaon ( village of peacock).
Before beginning the work of creating the universe, lord Ganesha appeared at this place first. Hence this place is considered as adhya Peeth.
The legend of Mayureshwar
Before starting the work of creation of universe, Shri Vishnu, Shri Shiva, Shri Ganesha, Aadishakti and Shri Surya narayan started chanting the mantra Om. Hearing the chant, lord Ganesha got pleased and appeared in front of the Panch dev (five gods) on the day of Bhadrapada Sudha Chaturthi (fourth day of Bhadrapada month). So on this day all the five gods installed the idol of omkar Ganpati at Morgaon.
The demon Sindhu was given the full bowl of Amrita (elixir of life) as a boon from the Sun God. However, Sindhu was warned that he could drink from the bowl as long as the bowl remain intact. So the Sindhu swallowed the bowled. Latter, Sindhu terrorized the three worlds, so all the Gods asked Lord Omkar Ganesha for help. Lord Ganesha defeated Sindhu’s army, cut his general Kamalasura into three pieces and then cut open Sindhu’s body, emptying the Amrita bowl and thus killing the demon.
The demon Sindhu was given the full bowl of Amrita (elixir of life) as a boon from the Sun God. However, Sindhu was warned that he could drink from the bowl as long as the bowl remain intact. So the Sindhu swallowed the bowled. Latter, Sindhu terrorized the three worlds, so all the Gods asked Lord Omkar Ganesha for help. Lord Ganesha defeated Sindhu’s army, cut his general Kamalasura into three pieces and then cut open Sindhu’s body, emptying the Amrita bowl and thus killing the demon.
According to the Ganesha Purana, lord Omkar Ganpati killed the demon Shindhu and his senapati Kamlasur while sitting on a peacock. Hence, Omkar Ganesha at this place became famous as Mayureshwar or Moreshwar. The original idol installed by the five gods at this place was made up of soil, iron and jewels. However, with the passage of time the original idol of lord Ganesha started getting corrupt. So the pandavas hid the idol and installed a new idol of lord Ganesha at this place.
The 17th-century saint Samarth Ramdas composed the popular arati song Sukhakarta Dukhaharta, seeing the Morgaon icon. Like all Ashtavinayaka shrines, the central Ganesha image is believed to be svayambhu (self-existent)
Insider tips:
- How to reach
- By bus: There are frequent state transport buses for Morgaon from Pune Swargate bus depo. There are two routes to reach Morgaon from Pune. One route goes through Hadapsar- Leni- Chaufula-Supe which is about 79 km from Pune. The other route takes about 64 k.m and goes through Hadapsar- Saswad- Jejuri.
- By train: By rail there are three routes. The first one is to get down at Jejuri railway station which is situated on the Pune-Miraj route. Many express and passenger trains stop at Jejuri Railway Station. Morgaon is about 18 k.m from Jejuri. From Jejuri one can take bus for Morgaon.
One can also reach Morgaon via Pune -Daund rail route. On this route you have to get down at Kedgaon and take a bus from there to Morgaon.
On the southern rail route, one can get off at the Nira railway station and then take a bus from there to Morgaon. - By air: Pune airport is the nearest airport to reach Morgaon. From Pune airport one can take the state transport buses or hire a taxi for Morgaon.
- Best time to visit: Festivals like Ganesh Jayanti and Ganesh Chaturthi are the best time to go for a visit the Morgaon Mayureshwar ganpati temple. On both occasion, a procession of pilgrims arrives from Mangalmurti temple, Chinchwad (established by Morya Gosavi) with the palkhi (palanquin) of Ganesha. Vijayadashami, Shukla Chaturthi, Krishna Chaturthi and Somavati Amavasya are also a good time to go for a visit to Mayureshwar temple. However, Morgaon is overly crowded during this time. So if you don’t like crowd then you can visit Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati temple anytime.
- Distance to other Ashtavinayak temples:
- Morgaon Mayureshwar Temple to Chintamani Temple, Theur – 56.3 k.m via NH65 (approximately 1 hour 30 mins)
- Morgaon Mayureshwar Temple to Siddhivinayak temple, Siddhatek – 58 k.m via MH SH 67 (approximately 1 hour 50 mins)
- Morgaon Mayureshwar Temple to Mahaganapati temple, Ranjangaon – 70 k.m via Shirur Satara road (approximately 1 hour 50 mins)
- Morgaon Mayureshwar Temple to Vigneshwara temple, Ozar – 135 k.m via Shirur – Satara Road (approximately 3 hours 20 mins)
- Morgaon Mayureshwar Temple to Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri – 143 k.m. via Shirur – Satara Road (approximately 3 hours 30 mins)
- Morgaon Mayureshwar Temple to Varad Vinayak Temple, Mahad – 163 k.m. via Bengaluru – Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Expy and NH 48 (approximately 3 hours 30 mins)
- Morgaon Mayureshwar Temple to Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali – 198 k.m. via Bengaluru – Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Hwy/Mumbai – Pune Expy (approximately 4 hours 30 mins)
- Near by attraction: Along with Jejuri there are three nearby tourist destinations you can visit.
1. Jejuri – The golden temple of Maharashtra is about 18 k.m from Morgaon. Jejuri is a place of religious and historic importance and is famous for it Khandoba temple. Lord Khandoba is considered as kuladevat (family god) of entire Maharashtra and hence Jejuri is a popular pilgrimage site.
2. Bhigwan famous for migratory bird watching especially flamingoes is around 80 k.m from Jejuri. Don’t forget to check my blog on Bhigwan.
https://inmyi.com/travel/bhigwan-a-paradise-of-migratory-birds https://inmyi.com/image-gallery/birds-at-bhigwan
3. Mayureshwar Wildlife sanctuary – the smallest wildlife sanctuary is around 30 k.m from Jejuri. Mentioned below is the link to this tiny sanctuary which is full of surprises. https://inmyi.com/travel/mayureshwar-wildlife-sanctuary
In nutshell
Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati temple has great importance among the Ashtavinayak temples of Maharashtra. This small and beautiful temple is also an adhya Peeth. The saint Morya Gosavi, a famous devotee of Ganesha was also born here. This religious significance of the temple attracts many devotees to the Morgaon Mayureshwar Ganpati temple every year making it an amazing weekend getaway near Pune.
