Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Ballaleshwar,Pali

Ashta Vinayaks are the Swayambu Ganapathies of Maharashtra, any Hindu should have visited atleast once in his/her life time.They are the Varadana Prabhus of this Kaliyuga, anyone going with a specific prayer to them, is always blessed with. There are plenty of package tours by bus, cars etc. from Pune or from Mumbai which devotees can avail of to visit these eight Ganapathy Temples and the Majestic Ganapathy Idols residing in them. There may be some religious sequences of visiting these Dieties, but when we start from Mumbai the nearest Ganapathy is at Pali,in the Sudhagad Taluka of the Raigad district of Maharashtra.This place is nestled between the fort of Sarasgad and the river Amba. The nearest railway station is Karjat, 30 Kms away. By road,from Mumbai one can take the Bombay-Goa road to Pali,it's about 110 Kms., and may reach in two and half hours drive.

Named after Ballal. the son of Kalyan Sreshti,from whose "Tapasya". lord Ganesh appeared here at Pali,the diety is known as Ballaleshwar. Earlier there was a woodden temple,whose construction was such that the Sun's rays directly fall on the Diety from the two equinoxes of the temple. This temple was later renovated by the Morobadada Phadnis in 1770. The Ganesh Idol is of 3 feet hieght. There is another Ganesh Idol called Dhundi Vinayak at the rear temple of this Balleleshwar. The Peshwas had installed a big bell in the temple which is Portugese make.The temple hall is very beautiful with 8 pillars resembling Cyprus throne tree, and it is big 40 ft. long and 20 ft. broad. The idol of Vinayaka is sitting on a stone throne facing the east, and its trunk is left turned. The shining eyes and the naval are embedded diamonds and in the silver back ground they are very attractive. In back ground Riddhi and Siddhi are waving the Chamaras.

This Ganesha Moorthy is a Swayambu one and it is in the form of a Brahmin. The legend says that Ballal the son of Kalyan and Indumati was worshiping a big stone as Ganesha with all his friends and they all knew no hunger,thurst day or night. Their parents were worried about the children and went to Kalyan and complained about Ballal.Then Kalyna started to beat Ballal and threw all the stones worshipped by the children and tied up Ballal on to a tree and went back home saying let me see how your Ganesha saves you. Ballal started praying the Ganesha and He appeared before him in the form of a Brahmin, and asked him what boon he wants from Him, when Ballal requested the Lord to stay in Pali for ever and to bless all the people coming to see Him. The Ganesha asked Ballal to worship the stone as Him and agreed to stay in Pali for ever. The stone thrown out by the father of Ballal has become the Dhundi Ganapathy and the main stone transformed itself as Ballaleshwar, the only Lord to appear on the request of His Bhakltha, Ballal and known by His Bhaktha's name. Thus Ballaleshwar, a swayambu Vigraha blessing all the devotees as per the wishes of Ballal, is the Bhaktha Paradeenaha.Ballal had requested the Lord to Bless us in the Krityuga itself and He is continuing it even today, in this Kaliyuga. The legend further adds that one should visit the Dhundi Ganapathy first and then take His permission to visit the Ballaleshwar.

The temple opens at 5 am and at 530 am one can see and worship the Lord. At 5 am there is Kakad Aarati and Panchopachara Puja,(with sandalwood,flowers,red lead,dhoop and light deep)done by the temple priest. Before 12 noon there is Shodasa Upachara Puja. After Sunset there is Panchopachara puja again and at night there is Dhoop Aarati and the temple closes at night after the last prayers.There are festivals in the 6th Hindu calendar Month of Badrapada from 1st day to 5th day and also in the month of Magha the 11th month,from 1st to 5th day. There is a story that one can see the Lords finger marks on the offerings on the Maghi Chaturthi day at night and there will be lot of Devotees on that night to see this miracle. But the other Miracle that Ballaleshwar blesses every devotee with his wishes is there for all to see on any day of visit.Jai Sree Ballaleshwarji.
GANAPATHY BAPPA MORYA, MANGALA MOORTHY MORYA.