Home >
Bharatavarsha >
Pilgrimages and Temples >
Maharashtra
Pilgrimages and Temples of Maharashtra
1. Pilgrimages and Temples associated with Sri Ganesha:
1.
Morgaon Mayureshwar:
Morgaon Mayureshwar (Pune district, Maharashtra):
Mayureshwar
◍
Greatness: Sri Ganesha killed demon Sindhu riding on a Mayura (Peacock).
Ashta Vinayaka.
◍
Sacred Geography: River Karha
◍
Puranic References: Ganesha Purana
2.
Siddhatek Siddhi Vinayak:
Siddhatek Siddhi Vinayak (Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra):
Siddhi Vinayak
◍
Greatness: Sri Ganesha blessed Lord Vishnu to be successful in the battle against demons Madhu and Kaitabha.
Ashta Vinayaka.
◍
Sacred Geography: River Bhima
◍
Puranic References:
3.
Pali Ballaleshwar:
Pali Ballaleshwar (Raigad district, Maharashtra):
Ballaleshwar
◍
Greatness: Sri Ganesha saved His boy-devotee Ballala when he was severely beaten up by his father for being engrossed in His worship.
Ashta Vinayaka.
◍
Sacred Geography: River Amba
◍
Puranic References:
4.
Mahad Varad Vinayak:
Mahad Varad Vinayak (Raigad district, Maharashtra):
Varad Vinayak
◍
Greatness: Sri Ganesha blessed sage Grutsamad when the sage meditated on Him and underwent a long penance.
Ashta Vinayaka.
◍
Sacred Geography: River Savitri
◍
Puranic References:
5.
Chintamani Vinayak:
Theur Chintamani Vinayak (Pune district, Maharashtra):
Chintamani Vinayak
◍
Greatness: Sri Ganesha killed Gana in a battle and returned the Chintamani jewel to sage Kapila.
Ashta Vinayaka.
◍
Sacred Geography: River Bhima, Conjoint
Rivers Mula-Mutha
◍
Puranic References:
6.
Lenyadri Girijatmak:
Theur Chintamani Vinayak (Pune district, Maharashtra):
Lenyadri Girijatmak
◍
Greatness: Sri Ganesha granted the boon to Devi Parvati to be born as her son.
Ashta Vinayaka.
◍
Sacred Geography: Lenyadri Caves
◍
Puranic References:
7.
Ozar Vigneshwar:
Ozar Vigneshwar (Pune district, Maharashtra):
Vigneshwar
◍
Greatness: Sri Ganesha defeated demon Vignashura and checked his atrocities.
Ashta Vinayaka.
◍
Sacred Geography: River Kukadi
◍
Puranic References:
8.
Ranjangaon Mahaganapati:
Ranjangaon Mahaganapati (Pune district, Maharashtra):
Mahaganapati
◍
Greatness: Sri Ganesha blessed Lord Shiva to be successful in the battle against demon Tripura.
Ashta Vinayaka.
◍
Sacred Geography:
◍
Puranic References:
2. Pilgrimages and Temples associated with Lord Shiva:
1.
Bhimashankar:
Bhimashankar (Pune district, Maharashtra):
Bhimashankar
◍
Greatness: Lord Shiva protected devotee Sudakshina (king of Kamarupa) from the atrocities of demon Bhima. Identified with
Jyotirlinga (
Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga).
◍
Sacred Geography: River Bhima originates from Bhimashankar
◍
Puranic References: Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 20 to 21
2.
Tryambakeshwar (Trimbakeshwar):
Tryambakeshwar (Nashik district, Maharashtra):
Tryambakeshwar
◍
Greatness: Lord Shiva relieved devotee sage Gautama from the false accusation of brahmanas and released river Ganga (Gautami Ganga or Godavari) from his matted hairs. Identified with
Jyotirlinga (
Tryambakeshwara Jyotirlinga).
◍
Sacred Geography: Brahmagiri Mountain,
River Godavari originates from Tryambakeshwar
◍
Puranic References: Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 24 to 27
3.
Parli Vaijnath:
Parli Vaijnath (Beed district, Maharashtra):
Vaidyanath
◍
Greatness: The Shiva Linga given by Lord Shiva to devotee demon king Ravana got fixed while carrying to Lanka. Identified with
Jyotirlinga (
Vaidyanatha Jyotirlinga).
◍
Sacred Geography: River Brahma,
River Venu and
River Saraswati flows near Parli village
◍
Puranic References: Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 28
4.
Aundha Nagnath:
Aundha Nagnath (Hingoli district, Maharashtra):
Nageshwar
◍
Greatness: Lord Shiva protected devotee merchant Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka. Identified with
Jyotirlinga (
Nageshwara Jyotirlinga).
◍
Sacred Geography: Daruka Vana (Puranic),
Aundha Lake
◍
Puranic References: Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 29 to 30
5.
Grishneshwar (Ghushmeshwar):
Grishneshwar (Aurangabad district, Maharashtra):
Grishneshwar
◍
Greatness: Lord Shiva revived the son of devotee housewife Ghushma who was killed by his step-mother. Identified with
Jyotirlinga (
Grishneshwara Jyotirlinga).
◍
Sacred Geography: Lake Shivalaya (Puranic)
◍
Puranic References: Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 32 to 33
6.
Jejuri Khandoba:
Jejuri Khandoba (Pune district, Maharashtra):
Khandoba
◍
Greatness: Sri Khandoba vanquished demons Mani and Malla (considered as a form of Lord Shiva).
◍
Sacred Geography:
◍
Puranic References:
3. Pilgrimages and Temples associated with Devi:
1.
Kolhapur Mahalakshmi:
Kolhapur Mahalakshmi (Kolhapur district, Maharashtra):
Devi Mahalakshmi
◍
Greatness: Where the Trinetra (Three Eyes) of Devi had fallen. Devi is known as
Mahishamardini and the Bhairava is called
Krodhisa. Identified with
Shakti Peetha (
Karavira Shakti Peetha).
◍
Sacred Geography: River Panchaganga
◍
Puranic References: Peetha Nirnaya Tantra (SP-2)
2.
Vani Saptashrungi:
Vani Saptashrungi (Nashik district, Maharashtra):
Devi Saptashrungi
◍
Greatness: Where the Civuka (Chin) of Devi had fallen. Devi is known as
Bhramari and the Bhairava is called
Vikritaksha. Identified with
Shakti Peetha (
Janasthana Shakti Peetha).
◍
Sacred Geography: Saptashrungi Hills
◍
Puranic References: Peetha Nirnaya Tantra (SP-40)
3.
Tulja Bhavani:
Tulja Bhavani (Osmanabad district, Maharashtra):
Devi Tulja Bhavani
◍
Greatness: Anubhuti got the darshan of Devi Tulja Bhavani.
◍
Sacred Geography:
◍
Puranic References:
4.
Mahurgad Renuka:
Mahurgad Renuka (Nanded district, Maharashtra):
Devi Renuka
◍
Greatness: A famous temple of Devi Renuka.
◍
Sacred Geography:
◍
Puranic References:
4. Pilgrimages and Temples associated with Sri Rama:
1.
Panchavati:
Panchavati (Nashik district, Maharashtra):
Ram Kund,
Panchavati,
Kalaram,
Sita Gufa
◍
Greatness: Sri Rama stayed during forest exile. Sri Rama encountered Surpanakha. Sri Rama slayed Khara and Dushana. Sri Rama went after the golden deer. Ravana abducted Devi Sita. Sri Rama searched for Devi Sita.
◍
Sacred Geography: Panchavati forest (Puranic),
River Godavari
◍
Puranic References: Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 15 to 63
5. Pilgrimages and Temples associated with Sri Krishna:
1.
Pandharpur:
Pandharpur Panduranga (Vitthal) (Solapur district, Maharashtra):
Panduranga (Vitthal),
Devi Rukmini
◍
Greatness: Devotee Pundalik got the darshan of Sri Panduranga standing on a brick.
◍
Sacred Geography:
◍
Puranic References:
6. Others:
1. Nashik is a
Place of Kumbha Mela (Nashik district, Maharashtra)
Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:
1. Stotras
2. Scriptures
3. Pilgrimages
4. Festivals
5. Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana
6. Sadhana
7. Sanskrit
8. Nature