Ashta Vinayak Darshan-Mayureshwar,Morgaon

Moreshwar,Morgaon

Mayureshwar,or Moreshwar temple is along the Kartha river in the Morgaon village. A temple that looks like a tiny fort from a distance, is situated in the Baramati Taluka of Pune district of Maharashtra. This region is also known as Bhusvananda. Shaped like a peacock this region has seen an abundance of peacocks in the past and hence it's named as Mayurgaon or Morgaon. This temple is at about 56 Kms. from Pune and about 70 Kms. from our last Ganapathi at Theur, and at about 30 Kms. from Main Solapur road.

This is the most important Ganapathi of our Ashtavinayak Tour. This temple built on a black stone during the Bahamani reign, has four gates.This temple is situated at the centre of the village and is covered from all sides with four Minarets, and gives the feeling of a Mosque from a distance. This might have been done with the idea of preventing attacks from the Moghul empire. There is a wall of 50 feet tall surrounding the temple. Like in a Shiva temple, there is a Nandi statue at the entrance of the temple. However, the story says that this Nandi statue was beeing carried to some Shivamandir during which the vehicle carrying the statue broke down and the Nandi statue could not be moved from it's present position. The Idol of Lord Ganesha, riding a peacock, in the form of Mayureshwara, is believed to have slain the demon Sindhu at this spot. The Idol with it's trunk turned to the left, has a Cobra poised over it, protecting it. The idol has also got two statues of Siddhi and Buddhi with it. However, this is not the original Idol which is supposed to have been consecreated by Brahma twice,once before and once after the killing of the Demon Sindhu. The original Idol which is smaller in size and made of atoms of sand,iron and diamonds was enclosed in copper sheet by the Pandavas and is kept behind the present Idol.
The legend has it that the demon Sindhurasur caused immence trouble to the people on earth and the Devatas prayed to Lord Ganesha for a way to get rid of him. And Ganapathi came down on a peacock mount and waged a battle againt demon Sindhu and vanquished him. Then the peacock rider Ganapathi assumed the name of Mayureshwar or Moreshwar. As with other Ganapathi temples, the Vinayak Chathurthi is celebrated with great splendor here, and Vijaya Dashami is also celebrated comemmorating Ganesha's victory over Sindhu Demon. According to Shastra and according to the Religious beliefs this Moreshwar Ganapathi has to be visited first during the Ashta Vinayaka tour. Perhaps the chant Ganapathi Bappa Morya originated from the temple of Moreshwar.

Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Mangala Murthi Morya.