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Lord Ganesha Temples

Siddhi Vinayak Ashtavinayak Temple, Siddhatek

 

Introduction :

"Sthitho Bhimatire Jagadvan Kamen Harina

Vijetu Daityo Tachuti Malbhavou Kaitabhmadhu

Mahavighnarten Prakhar Tapasa Seitpado

Ganesh Siddhisho Girivarapu Panchjanak"

Meaning : Lord Shri Hari Vishnu , who was surrounded by fierce calamities , performed penance on mountain Siddhatek which is on the bank of river Bhima . On receiving boon from Lord Shri Ganesh, Lord Vishnu killed two demons Madhu & Kaitabh . Oh! Lord Siddheshwar Shri Ganesh accept my salutation .

 

Legends of Temple

The place Siddhtek is believed to be the place where Vishnu ultimately achieved siddhi and thereby killed the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who he had been battling for a thousand years.Long ago Lord Brahma thought of creating Nature and for that he ceaselessly chanted the alphabet "OM". Lord Ganesha was delighted with the penance and gave him the boon that he will fulfill the wish of creating Nature.When God Brahma was creating Nature, Lord Vishnu fell asleep.Demons Madhu and Kaitabh emerged from God Vishnu's ears. They started harassing all the Gods and Goddesses.God Brahma realised that only Vishnu will be able to annihilate these demons. Vishnu tried his very best to kill them but failed. He then stopped the battle and took the form of Gaankushal Gandharva and began singing. Shiva when he heard the celestial notes of the Gandharva summoned him. Vishnu then told Lord Shiva all about his unfinished battle. Shiva said that since he had not sought the blessings of Ganesh his task had remained unfinished. Shiva asked Vishnu to recite the Shadakshar mantra[the Ganeshaya Namah] and said he would achieve what he wanted.

Vishnu chose the Siddhshetra to complete the ritual of propitiating Ganesh. Ganesh granted him his wish. Vishnu then created a four-door temple on the hillock and installed the statue of Gajanan. Since Vishnu achieved siddhi here Ganesh was called the Siddhivinayak and the place was called Siddhtek or Siddhshetra.

God Brahma got the energy to create Nature with Lord Ganesha's boon. Lord Ganesha accepted the two daughters of Lord Brahma as his wives.

In time the temple created by Lord Vishnu perished. It is believed that a shepherd saw Lord Ganesh here and started worshipping him. He then found a priest to conduct the worship and ultimately it was during the rule of the Peshwas sometime that this temple was erected.

Temple and Deity :

At Siddhatek Lord ganesh gave Darshan to God Vishnu.The temple is said to have been built by Lord Vishnu.The Siddhivinayak Temple is along the Bhima River which flows southwards. One remarkable thing about the river is that however rapid its flow it does not make any sound while flowing.

The temple is set on a hillock and faces North. The garhbhagriha, the sanctum of the temple is five feet high and ten feet in length. The threshold of the sanctum is made of brass.

Near the temple there are small temples of other Gods Like God Shiva, Goddess Shitala, Lord Vishnu.

The deity is flanked on both sided by large statues of Jay and Vijay.

The deity of this temple is swayambhu, three feet high and two and a half feet wide, facing north. The trunk of the deity is turned towards the right. A Ganpati with the trunk turned to the right is considered to be the dynamic form of Ganpati. The statue is in one corner of a hillock. Devotees who wish to circumambulate the temple have to go round the entire hillock. This takes about thirty minutes.

Schedule of Temple

The doors of the Siddhivinayak temple open at 4am.

From 4:30am to 5am the Saharan puja is carried out.

At 10am the god is offered Khichdi

11am is the Panchamriti Puja.

At 12:30pm the Mahabhog is offered.

The third puja commences after sunset.

From 8:30pm to9: 15pm the Dhooparti is carried out. After this the deity rests and the temple is closed to the devotees.

Festival Celebrated at Siddhivinayak

In the month of Bhadrapad and Magh from the Pratipada to Panchami of the waxing priod of the moon, of both these months celebrations are held in the temple.

In these days after the Mahapuja and Mahabhog a procession of the palkhi is carried around the town in the evening from 8 pm. From 10pm to 12 midnight bhajans are sung and Dhooparti and Shejarti are conducted. In the morning at 5 am the palkhi is again carried out in a procession and brought back by 8am when the Kapoor arti on behalf of the local jagirdar is conducted.

How to Reach :

On the Pune- Sholapur Railway Daund is the station from where one can reach Siddhtek which is 18km away.

State Transport buses from Pune and Daund come to the village called Shirapur. Siddhtek is a kilometer away from there and one has to walk the distance. Then board a boat to reach the temple.

In the morning some buses from Pune bring devotees right up to Siddhtek.

       

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