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Hindu Temples :-
Lord
Ganesha Temples
Shri Mahaganapati Ashtavinayak Temple
Ranjangaon is located on the Pune-Ahmednagar Highway at a distance of 50 kms only from Pune. It's easy to approach thanks to frequent bus services.
Mahaganapati at Ranjangaon is believed to have come to the aid of Shiva in destroying the citadels of the demon Tripurasura.
The legend
This is a story of Treta Yuga. There was a great and intelligent Sage Gritsamada. Once, Rishi Gritsamada got a very big cough. From that, came alive a reddish child. His ambition was to conquer the three worlds and also to defeat Indra. To turn his mind towards devotion, Rishi Gritsamada told him to worship Ganesh. The child chanted Mantra given by Gritsamada for years. Penance of the child pleased Ganesh and he offered the child boons saying "Only Lord Shivshankara will be able to defeat you, I give you three cities made of iron, gold and silver. As long as they are, there you can not be defeated by anyone. You will be called Tripura. All your desires will be fulfilled. And through one arrow from Shankara all your three cities will be destroyed". Tripura came back and defeated all Kings on earth and all Gods of heaven. He had two sons. He gave kingdom of Brahmaloka (Lord Brahma's abode) to one son and Vishnulok (Lord Vishnu's abode) to another son. Narada adviced grief-stricken Gods to worship Lord Ganesh to get rid of the calamity. Lord Ganapati getting contented with prayers of all Gods promised to bring about Tripura's defeat through Shankara's hands. Then Lord Ganpati in the guise of Brahmin went to Tripura's abode and told him :"O king! I have mastery over 64 arts. So I am called as "Kaladhar". I have come to meet you from far hearing your brave stories". Tripurasur replied : "Hey, Kaladhar, you show me your art, if I am pleased, I will give away my life also'. Kaladhar said :"O King, I will give you three aeroplanes. You can go anywhere in the world by this planes. You will get anything you desire. Except Lord Mahadev, nobody can destroy these planes". Tripurasur on being pleased asked Kaladhar to demand anything in the world. Kaladhar demanded idol of Chintamani which was in the possession of Lord Shankar. Shiv Shankara refused to give it to Tripurasur and a war ensued between Shiv Shankara and Tripurasur. All gods started off for the war in a hurry forgetting to worship Ganesh before leaving. Therefore, the Gods lost the battle and Tripurasur found the idol of Chintamani. While returning back to his kingdom, Chintamani suddenly disappeared from the hands of Tripurasur. Thinking it to be ill omen, he returned back with a heavy heart. Sage Narada told Shankara the true reason of defeat of not worshipping Ganesh before beginning the war. Lord Shankara on getting convinced went to Dandakaranya. He performed Pranayam and chanted six letters Mantra of Ganapati. Ganapati emerged at that time from his face with a peculiar form. He had five faces, ten hands, moon on the crest, garlands of heads on the neck and also the ornament of serpents. He looked both Shankara and Gajanana. He told Shankara : "In future, when ever you will remember me, I will appear to remove obstacles. After chanting my Bījāmantra, send an arrow on the aeroplanes of Tripurasur. By that time all these three cities will be burnt. Then you can kill Tripurasur". He also gave Sahasranam Stotra by chanting which one gets victory everywhere, enemies are destroyed and wishes are fulfilled. At that place, Shiva established a Ganesh Temple and around it a city called Manipur, which is presently called as Ranjangaon. The deity here is hence rightly called as Mahaganapati. Shankara went to fight. This time, Prithvi became the chariot, the Sun and Moon the wheels. Brahma Deva was the charioteer. Meru became the bow, Vishnu the arrow. Ashwinikumar become the horses. Shivshankara chanted the Ganesh Sahasranama. To destroy Tripurasura when he released arrow, there was light everywhere. Tripurasura fainted, fell down dead and his three cities were burnt. The demons life came out of his body in the form of Jyoti and entered Shiv Shankar's body. Thus, Gods got their posts and Sages started studying Vedas. All three worlds were happy.
Lord Ganesha Murti
Facing east, the mūrti is in the cross-legged sitting position with broad forehead and the trunk turned towards the left. Riddhi and Siddhi are on the both the sides of Mahaganapati. The god image taken out in procession on festivals is made of five metals.
The temple
Temple facing east has huge and beautiful entrance gate. Statues of two doorkeepers namely Jay and Vijay are present near the gateway. Nagarkhana is situated above the entrance gate. Main temple looks like temple from Peshwa's period. It is so constructed that sun rays fall directly on Shri Ganesha's image.