Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Mahaganapathi, Ranjangaon

Mahaganapathi of Ranjangaon

Ranjangaon is a small village on the Pune Ahamednagar Highway, about 50 Kms. away from Pune.This Ganapathi at Ranjangaon is called the Mahaganapathi, one of the important Ashtavinayak Temples in Maharashtra. The original Idol is believed to have ten heads and 20 hands and it is believed to be in the basement of the present temple, and the Idol was known as "Mahotkat", though the temple authorities deny this. Lord Shiva is believed to have worshipped this idol before fighting the Tripurasura at this place in Ranjangaon. The temple was constructed by Shiva Himself at the exact place where he worshipped the Ganesha and the town He had set up was called Manipur earlier before the present name of Ranjangaon. The Idol faces East and it's sitting cross-legged with a broad forehead, with it's trunk turned to the left. The present temple is constructed such a way that the Sun Rays directly enter the temple and falls on the Idol when the Sun moves southwardly. The temple architecture seems to be of the 9th or 10th century period and it faces the east. Shri Madhavrao Peshwa used to visit this temple regularly and he built the stone sanctum around the Idol and in 1790 Mr. Anyaba Dev was authorized to worship the Idol.

The Legend has it that the Demon Tripurasura built three powerful citadels, the evil Tripuram forts, with aboon of invincibility granted to him by Lord Shiva. But he caused lot of sufferings to the people on earth and the devas on the heavens. All the Devatas made fervent appeals to Shiva to intervene in this matter and help them. But Shiva realised that He could not kill the Demon and so he started worshipping the Ganesha on the advise of Narada Maharshi. And with Ganesh's wishes Lord Shiva sent an arrow towards the Tripurasura and it piercves the three citadels and struck the demon and killed him. Then Shiva built this temple for Ganesha and then He Himself got enshrined in the nearby Bhimashankar as the slayer of the Tripura citadels. Ganesh Chaturthi is the main festival at this temple of Mahaganapathi. He is Mahaganapathi because He helped His father Shiva to destroy the Deman and thus brought peace to the Earth and the Heavens.

GANAPATHI BAPPA MORYA, MANGAL MURTHI MORYA.