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Ashtavinayak


Ashtavinayaka (Marathi: अष्टविनायक) literally means "eight Ganeshas" in Sanskrit. Ganesh is the Hinduism/Hindu deity of unity, prosperity & learning and removes obstacles. The term refers to eight Ganeshas. Ashtavinayaka yatra trip refers to a pilgrimage to the eight Hindu temples in Maharashtra state of India that house eight distinct idols of Ganesha, in a pre-ascertained sequence. The Ashtavinayaka yatra or pilgrimage covers the eight ancient holy temples of Ganesha which are situated around Pune. Each of these temples has its own individual legend and history, as distinct from each other as the murtis in each temple. The form of each murti of Ganesha and His trunk are distinct from one another. However, there are other temples of eight Ganesha in various other parts of Maharashtra; the ones around Pune are more well known than the former. It is believed to be for completion of Ashtavinayak Yatra visit the first ganpati after visiting all the eight ganpati's again, to complete the yatra.अष्टविनायक हा सर्व गणेश भक्तांचा एक जिव्हाळ्याचा व श्रध्देचा ठेवा आहे. प्रत्येक गणेशभक्त ही यात्रा आयुष्यात एकदा तरी पूर्ण होईल अशी आशा करतो.

The eight temples/idols of the Ashtavinayak in their religious sequence are:

Temple

Traditionally, Moreshwar of Moregaon is the first temple visited by the pilgrims. The temples visited in descending order are Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Thevur, Lenyandri, Ozar, Ranjangaon. The pilgrimage is concluded with a second visit to Moregaon.

All these murtis are called Swayambhu effigies, or the self-existent in Sanskrit. This is to indicate that they were not sculpted but they were found formed by nature.


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