Ashta Vinayakas

Ashta Vinayakas are 8 incarnations of Sri Ganesha abiding in his 8 famous pilgrimages in Maharashtra.

स्वस्ति श्रीगणनायकं गजमुखं मोरेश्वरं सिद्धिदम् ॥
बल्लाळं मुरुडे विनायकमहं चिन्तामणिं थेवरे ॥
लेण्याद्रौ गिरिजात्मजं सुवरदं विघ्नेश्वरं ओझरे ॥
ग्रामे रांजणनामके गणपतिं कुर्यात् सदा मङ्गलम् ॥
- Ashta Vinayaka Sloka

1. Morgaon - Mayureshwar:

► Morgaon Mayureshwar (Ashta Vinayak)
(Pune district, Maharashtra)

▬ River Karha flows
(Maharashtra Plateau)

- Sri Ganesha killed demon Sindhu riding on a Mayura or Peacock, and abides as Sri Mayureshwar.

2. Siddhatek - Siddhi Vinayak:

► Siddhatek Siddhi Vinayak (Ashta Vinayak)
(Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra)

▬ River Bhima flows
(Maharashtra Plateau)

- Sri Ganesha blessed Lord Vishnu to be successful in the battle against demons Madhu and Kaitabha, and abides as Sri Siddhi Vinayak.

3. Pali - Ballaleshwar:

► Pali Ballaleshwar (Ashta Vinayak)
(Raigad district, Maharashtra)

▬ River Amba flows
(Maharashtra Coastal Plain)

- Sri Ganesha saved boy-devotee Ballala who was severely beaten up by his father, and abides as Sri Ballaleshwar.

4. Mahad - Varad Vinayak:

► Mahad Varad Vinayak (Ashta Vinayak)
(Raigad district, Maharashtra)

☗ Sahyadri Mountains fringe (Konkan region surrounded by Sahyadri Mountains)
▬ River Savitri flows
(Maharashtra Coastal Plain)

- Sri Ganesha blessed sage Grutsamad who was performing penance, and abides as Sri Varad Vinayak.

5. Theur - Chintamani Vinayak:

► Theur Chintamani Vinayak (Ashta Vinayak)
(Pune district, Maharashtra)

▬ ◉ Bhima - Mula-Matha Sangam
(Maharashtra Plateau)

- Sri Ganesha killed Gana and gave back the Chintamani jewel to sage Kapila, and abides as Sri Chintamani Vinayak.

6. Lenyadri - Girijatmak:

► Lenyadri Girijatmak (Ashta Vinayak)
(Pune district, Maharashtra)

☗ Lenyadri Caves
(Maharashtra Plateau)

- Sri Ganesha granted boon to Devi Parvati to be born as her son, and abides as Sri Girijatmak.

7. Ozar - Vigneshwar:

► Ozar Vigneshwar (Ashta Vinayak)
(Pune district, Maharashtra)

▬ River Kukadi flows
(Maharashtra Plateau)

- Sri Ganesha defeated demon Vignashura and checked his atrocities, and abides as Sri Vigneshwar.

8. Ranjangaon - Mahaganapati:

► Ranjangaon Mahaganapati (Ashta Vinayak)
(Pune district, Maharashtra)

▬ River Ghod flows (through Shirur 17 km away)
(Maharashtra Plateau)

- Sri Ganesha blessed Lord Shiva for victory against demon Tripura, and abides as Sri Mahaganapati.

Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:

• Stotras

• Scriptures

• Pilgrimages - by Groups - by Deities - by States - by Geography

• Sacred Geography - Mountains - Rivers

• Festivals

• Sages - Hermitages - Penances

• Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana

• Sadhana

• Sanskrit

• Nature

• Arts and Sciences

• Bharatavarsha - Puranic History - Puranic Lineage