One of the Ashtavinayak, Shri Moreshwar is at Morgaon. Morgaon is situated on the banks of river Karha which comes in Baramati Taluka in Pune District.It is said that the shape of this place is like a peacock and that once upon a time there were many peacocks in this region and therefore this place is called as 'Morgoan'.

The idol is believed to be "Swayambhu" as was found or not sculpted by human hands. Morgaon is at the distance of 64 kms from Pune. This is also known as Shri. Mayureshwar. The temple was built in 14th century by Moraya Gosavi. According to the legend Ganpati took birth as Mayureshwar riding a peacock to kill Sindhu ( who was son of Chakrapani ) also had powerful by worshipping Surya and was attacking Gods and imprisoned them. This is the place where head of Sindhu fell. It is believed that one Should start the "Ashtavinayak" yatra from Morgaon.

Thus all Deities & all sages resides in this temple. In the eight corners, there are eight statues of Ganapati called EKDANTA, MAHODARA, GAJANANA, LAMBODAR, VIKATA, VIGHARAJA, DHUMRAVARNA & VAKRATUNDA. In this temple complex there are tress of Shami, Mandar & Tarati. The tree of Tarati is also called as Kalpavruksha. Devotees meditate under this tree & attain desired goals. Before taking darshan of Mayureshwar, first take darshan of 'nagnabhairava' on the left side of Mayureshwar & offer him naivaidya of coconut & jaggery.

The deity 'Moreshwara' inside the sanctum is a very attractive. It is in sitting posture, facing east with the trunk turning left & smeared with vermillion mixed in oil. In its eyes & navel, diamonds are embedded. On its head is the hood of Nagaraja. On left & right are brass idols of Siddhi & Buddhi. In front of the idol are the Mooshaka(Rat) & Mayura(peacock).

The original idol of Moreshwar was small in size. As many layers of vermillion are applied on it, it looks bigger. Sometimes after 100& 125 years this armour of vermillion casts off & original beautiful idol inside this armour is seen again. It has been heard that Mayureshwar's armour had been cast off in 1788 & 1822 A.D.

How to Reach :

• Pune is the most convenient city to reach Morgaon. Pune itself is well connected by road as well as by rail. There are daily buses, trains and flights between Mumbai and Pune. Morgaon is at a distance of 79 km from Pune via the village Chaufala on the Pune-Sholapur Highway. State Transport buses known locally as S.T. buses are available at the Swargate Bus Depot in Pune.

• The other way a pilgrim can take is to go to Jejuri from Pune and from Jejuri can proceed to Morgaon which is 15 km away from Jejuri. By this route the distance between Pune and Morgaon is 64kms.

• Jejuri is a well-known pilgrim center for worshippers of Khandoba.

• On the Pune –Daund rail route one can get down at Kedgaon and take a bus from there to Morgaon.

• ON the southern rail route one can get off at the railway station called Nira and then take a bus from there to Morgaon.

Legends of Temple :

It was predicted by Lord Brahma that Lord Ganesha would incarnate as Vinayak in the Kritayug, as Mayureshwar in Treta yug, as Gajanan in the Dwaparyug and as Dhumraketu in the Kalyug. All these incarnations are related to certain legends of Lord Ganesha killing various demons.

In the Gandaki Nagari of Mithila, a king named Chakrapani was ruling. He and his wife Queen Ugra were unhappy, as they did not have a child. The couple worshipped God Surya and the queen with the blessings of the Sun God became pregnant. But soon released the embryo in the sea as she could not bear the brilliance and the radiance of the embryo. From that embryo, brilliant son was born. The sea in the disguise of a Brahmin approached King Chakrapani with the child and gave the child to the King. As the child was born in the sea the king named him sindhu. Sindhu, after growing old and strong became more powerful by worshipping the Sun God as advised by his Guru Shukracharya. Lord Surya, as a boon gave the nectar to Sindhu and said that as long as the nectar remains near his navel he will not die. Sindhu thus received immortality and started attacking Gods like Indra, Vishnu etc. he defeated all of them and kept them in prison in his kingdom. The remaining gods worshipped Lord Ganesh and requested him to rescue them from the demon king sindhu. Ganesha pleased with their prayers, promised to take birth as Devi Parvati’s son and kill the demon.

Parvati recited the ekakshari ‘OM’ mantra to please the Lord and made a clay idol of Ganesha on the Bhadrapada shuddha Chaturthi Day and worshipped. The idol soon turned into a real child. When the child was ten years old, Shiva and Parvati along with their son decided to leave the mountain Meru and on their way to mountain kailash, Lord Ganesha defeated the demon Kamalasura with the help of Siddhi(the personified shakti) and Buddhi(the personified Intelligence). After this incident on their way, lord Ganesha found the Gandaki Nagari of the demon king Sindhu and decided to attack him with all the army of Shiva’s attendants. He thus attacked Sindhu and at first killed the two sons of Sindhu. Sindhu was advised to release the Gods and Goddesses in prison and leave the battlefield by his father. But he did not listen to it and continued the battle. Lord Ganesha removed the nectar from his navel with his Parashu and killed him. During this battle, Lord Ganesha was riding a peacock and therefore he got the name ‘Mayureshvar’, the one who rides a peaco

Schedule of Puja at Temple

• The temple is open to pilgrims from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Prakshalpuja - The first puja of the day at 5 a.m. comprising the water abhisheka and flower offerings.

• Shodoshpchar Puja – It is conducted twice a day at 7 a.m. and at 12 noon. At both these this time the Ganpati Atharvashirsh is recited.

• Panchopchar Puja – This is performed at 8 p.m.

• The temple closes for the devotees after the Shejarti at 10 p.m.

• Naivedya – The food is offered to the deity thrice a day:

• In the morning Khichadi (made of Rice) is offered.

• In the afternoon the whole meal with sweets is offered.

• At night milk and rice is offered.