Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek

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Siddhivinayak Temple or Siddhi Vinayak Temple is one of the eight Ashtavinayak Temples of Maharashtra, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Located on the banks of river Bhima, this Ashta Vinayaka Temple of Ganapati is situated in the remote village of Siddhatek, about 200 km east of Pune, in the Karjat Taluka of Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra.The iddhivinayaka (Ganesha) enshrined in the Siddhivinayak Temple is said to be the one who is capable of granting Siddhi. It is believed that it was here on the Siddhatek Mountain, that Vishnu acquired Siddhi and as such the idol of Lord Ganesh here is called as Siddhivinayak.

Shree Siddhivinayak’s temple is on hill top facing north. The swayambhu idol of Shree Siddhivinayaka is placed in brass frame. Brass idols of Jay & Vijay are placed on both sides of Siddhivinayaka. In the Sanctum itself there is a Shivapanchayatan & goddess Shiva’s small temple. Hall of the temple was previously built by Baroda’s landlord late Shri Mairal. It was broken in 1939 & was rebuilt by all Ganesh devotees in 1970. The idol is swayambhu, three feet tall, facing north with his trunk turned right. Idol is Gajmukh, however belly of the idol is not big. Riddhi & Siddhi are sitting on one lap of Vinayaka. Face is very calm & serene. The pradakshana (circumnavigation) of this God is said to be very fruitful. One has to travel 5 k.m. to comple one pradakshana as the idol is attached to the hill itself.

The Siddhivinayak Temple at Siddhatek is located on a hill top facing north. It is believed that the original temple was built by Lord Vishnu and a new temple was built during the reign of Peshwa. A Nagarkhana is seen on the main gate. The idol of Siddhivinayak (Siddhi Vinayaka) is swayambhu, with his trunk turned towards the right. This form (with trunk turned to the right) is considered to be the most vibrant form of Lord Ganesh. Placed in a brass frame, the deity is flanked by the idols of Jay and Vijay on both sides. He is enshrined in a sitting posture, with his consorts, Buddhi and Siddhi, sitting on his lap. There is a shivapanchayatan and goddess Shivai’s small temple in the sanctum. Besides, the temple houses the idols of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Moving towards the Siddhivinayak shrine, there is a place where sage Veda Vyasa had performed yadnya (sacrifices). This place is now covered by water.

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Legend says that Lord Brahma, with the blessings of Lord Ganesh, was busy in creating the world. While this was going on, Lord Vishnu felt asleep and the two demons, Madhu and Kaitabh, emerged from Vishnu’s ears. They started troubling all gods, goddesses and sages. On realizing that only Lord Vishnu could kill the demons, Brahma and other gods requested him to kill them.

Though Lord Vishnu fought for about 5000 years, he failed in defeating the demons. On the advice of Lord Shiva, Vishnu worshipped Lord Ganesh. Vishnu was then successful in killing the demons with the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Hence, the place where Vishnu performed penance and gained Siddhi, is known as Siddhatek and Lord Ganesh, who conferred Siddhis, is known as Siddhivinayaka. Hall of the temple was previously built by Baroda’s landlord late Shri Mairal. It was broken in 1939 & was rebuilt by all Ganesh devotees in 1970.

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Siddhivinayaka:
Located at Siddhatek(Ahmednagar District) about 19 km from Daund.Swayambhu (self-generated) idol with the trunk to the right. The temple situated next to Bhima river,faces the north and has idols of other gods like Vishnu, Shiva and Parvati.Vishnu vanquished the demons Madhu and Kaitab after propitiating Ganesha here. A dharmashala for travelling pilgrims has been built here.

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Bhimashankar:
It is a picturesque spot around 95 kilometres from Pune with deep forests, temples, rivers and other attractions. The place is most famous for the temple of Lord Shiva, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. It is also the source of the river Bhim. Bhimashankar is a must-visit for those interested in trekking, nature watching and bird watching.

Jejuri:
Generally known as Khandobachi Jejuri, Jejuri is a famous Mararashtran temple. It is dedicated to Mhalsakant or Malhari Martand, worshipped by the Dhangars, one of the oldest tribes of Maharashtra. The temple is situated on a hill and can be reached after braving 200 odd steps. Jejuri is around 40 kilometres south-east of Pune, towards Phaltan.

Raigad:
It is the place where Shivaji was crowned in 1648 and died in 1680. The fort on an isolated hilltop gives a breathtaking view of the Western Ghats. It is a steep climb to the hilltop, but well worth the effort. Raigad is at a distance of about 126 kms from Pune.

Sinhagad:
The Lion Fort or Sinhagad which is around 25 kms south-west of Pune is atop a steep hill. Almost ruined now, it has an interesting history. In the year 1670, Tanaji Malusre, a general of Shivaji, scaled the steep hill in the dark with his troops and defeated the forces of Bijapur. Legend has it that the Maratha forces used trained lizards for carrying the ropes up the hill. It is here that Mahatma Gandhi met another stalwart of the Indian freedom struggle, Bal Gangadhar Tilak for the first time, in 1915.

Parvati Hill temples:
It is a splendid temple built by Balaji Baji Rao and occupies a significant place for the pilgrim tourists. You have to climb 108 steep and narrow steps in order to reach the hill top temple. Formerly it was the private shrine of the Peshwas. It also houses Parvati museum featuring portraits of Peshwas, ancient manuscripts and coins. From the top of the temple you can get the awe-inspiring views of the town.

Bund Garden:
This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Pune and is also known as Mahatma Gandhi Udhayan. It is located on the right bank of the Mula-Mutha Rivers and was built by Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy to provide the poor with water during hot months of the summers. The adventure enthusiasts can indulge here in boat rides and horse rides.

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