| Ganesh
Chaturti is celebrated with an extra measure of grandeur in the state of Maharashtra.
The Siddhi Vinayak temple in Mumbai
is visited by hundreds of thousands of devotees throughout the year. Also
in Maharashtra are eight temples dedicated to Ganesha, related to various episodes
from the puranas and other legends - and these deities are collectively known
as Ashta Vinayak. Moregaon
enshrines Ganapati as Mayureshwar (Moresh) or the
peacock rider, who slew the demon Sindhu in response to pleas from the Gods. Mahaganapati
at Ranjangaon is believed to have come to the aid of Shiva in destroying the citadels
of the demon Tripurasura. Mahad
enrhsines Varadvinayak (the bestower of boons),
in commemoration of a legend related to Rukmangada. Chintamani
Vinayak relates to the legend of Kapila Muni and the Chintamani gem that he
had obtained from Shiva. Girijaatmaja
Vinayaka is enshrined on Lenyadri Parvat, and is believed to be a manifestation
of Ganapati as an infant. Vigneshwara
at Ozar is regarded as the slayer of the demon Vignaasura. Ballal
Vinayak at Pali, is associated with a legend where Ganapati is said to have
come to the aid of a young lad, who was a fervent devotee of Ganapati. |