70 kms from Pune, in a land once abundant with peacocks, exists the Moreshwar temple, the beginning and the end of the Ashta Vinayak yatra to appease Lord Ganesha. This temple is the premier centre of worship of the Ganapatya sect.  It attracts the greatest number of pilgrims in the Ashtavinayak circuit. The idol is "Swayambhu" and is believed to have made by Lord Brahma. The Pandavas are said to have enclosed the idol in a tin sheet, to check its destruction. It is believed that layers of sindoor, applied on the deity over the years, peels off on its own every 100 or 150 years, revealing the actual idol. The temple was built sometime before the 17th century by Morya Gosavi. The Peshwas of Maratha empire who worshipped Ganesha as their family deity are supposed to have donated land, cash etc. Currently, the temple is under the administration of the Chinchwad Devasthan Trust.

Location Maharashtra, Pune, Mumbai

Legend

Legend has it that a demon, Sindhu, who by the blessing of Sun God, achieved immortality with the help of the nectar in his stomach. With his new found power he attacked the Gods and unleashed destruction. Responding to the pleas of the Gods, Ganesha ,on a peacock, came down to earth and defeated the demon by cutting open his body to empty the nectar. Ganesha, as he rode a peacock in the war, earned the name Mayureshwar or Moreshwar.

This Temple is part of famous Ashtavinayak Yatra

Architecture

The Muslim influence on the temple architecture can be detected in the four minarets at the four corners of the boundary wall, giving it an image of a mosque from afar. The main temple is made of black stones. A huge stone pillar for oil lamps and the structure of a mooshika(mouse) are present in the front of the shrine while Nandi stands outside the premise facing the Lord. The main entrance of the temple faces north and there are sculptures of the eight avatars of Ganesha in different parts of the shrine. The Vinayaka image in the sanctum is depicted in a seated posture with its trunk turning to the left, four arms and three eyes. He is flanked by Riddhi and Siddhi. On the pradhikshana path and in the courtyard are sacred trees where many saints underwent penance.

Picture courtesy: commons.wikimedia.org

Culture

Morgaon is situated by the banks of river Karha. The temple is the epicentre of the place, with every house in the village contributing food offering to the God on Magh Shuddh Panchami day. The people of the village offer thali lunch to the visitors of the temple at their house. Pune, the closest city, is known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra and epitomises the heritage of the Marathas

Darsan Info

Temple timings : 5.00 am to 10.00 pm

On request, the temple priests will perform Abhishek, Pooja and Sahastravartan and send the prasad by post.

Darsan Dresscode

Devotees are advised to wear clean and conservative attire.

Famous Festival

January - Magha shukla Chaturthi (Jan/Feb)

September - Ganesha Chathurthi

October - Vijayadashami

Temple Rituals

At Moreshwar Mandir, puja is done thrice a day. During the time of puja, Ganesh Atharvashirsha Aavarthana is performed. Food (Naivedya) is offered to the deity three times in a day.

Special Rituals

It is customary to first take darshan of Nagnabhairava before taking darshan of Mayureshwar.

Additional Info

 

Siddhi Restaurant at Jejuri

Hotel Malhargad