Pilgrimages and Temples of Maharashtra

1. Ashta Vinayakas:

Mayureshwar: Morgaon - Mayureshwar Temple (Pune district): An Ashta Vinayaka Temple (AV-1)
- Where Sri Ganesha killed demon Sindhu riding on a Mayura (Peacock).

Siddhi Vinayak: Siddhatek - Siddhi Vinayak Temple (Ahmednagar district): An Ashta Vinayaka Temple (AV-2)
- Where Sri Ganesha blessed Lord Vishnu to be successful in the battle against demons Madhu and Kaitabha.

Ballaleshwar: Pali - Ballaleshwar Temple (Raigad district): An Ashta Vinayaka Temple (AV-3)
- Where Sri Ganesha saved His boy-devotee Ballala when he was severely beaten up by his father for being engrossed in His worship.

Varad Vinayak: Mahad - Varad Vinayak Temple (Raigad district): An Ashta Vinayaka Temple (AV-4)
- Where Sri Ganesha blessed sage Grutsamad when the sage meditated on Him and underwent a long penance.

Chintamani Vinayak: Theur - Chintamani Vinayak Temple (Pune district): An Ashta Vinayaka Temple (AV-5)
- Where Sri Ganesha killed Gana in a battle and returned the Chintamani jewel to sage Kapila.

Girijatmak: Lenyadri - Girijatmak Temple (Pune district): An Ashta Vinayaka Temple (AV-6)
- Where Sri Ganesha granted the boon to Devi Parvati to be born as her son.

Vigneshwar: Ozar - Vigneshwar Temple (Pune district): An Ashta Vinayaka Temple (AV-7)
- Where Sri Ganesha defeated demon Vignashura and checked his atrocities.

Mahaganapati: Ranjangaon - Mahaganapati Temple (Pune district): An Ashta Vinayaka Temple (AV-8)
- Where Sri Ganesha blessed Lord Shiva to be successful in the battle against demon Tripura.

Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga: Bhimashankar Temple (Pune district): A Jyotirlinga [Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga] (JL-6) mentioned in Shiva Purana and other ancient texts.
• Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga was situated in Kamarupa according to Shiva Purana. King Sudakshina of Kamarupa worshipped Lord Shiva there in a Parthiva Linga inside the prison of demon Bhima. Lord Shiva appeared there and protected Sudakshina from demon Bhima.
- Sudakshina made a Parthiva Linga and started worshipping Lord Shiva in the prison with stotras, mudras, asanas and the Panchakshari Mantra, after mentally bathing in river Ganga. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 20 to 21)
- Bhima threw his sword towards the king. Instantly Lord Shiva appeared there and declared that he was Bhimeshwara who has come to protect the devotees and destroy the evil. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 20 to 21)

Tryambakeshwara Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeshwar Temple (Nashik district): A Jyotirlinga [Tryambakeshwara Jyotirlinga] (JL-8)
- Where Lord Shiva relieved devotee sage Gautama from the false accusation of brahmanas and released river Ganga (Gautami Ganga or Godavari) from his matted hairs. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 24 to 27)

Vaidyanatha Jyotirlinga: Parli - Vaijnath Temple (Beed district): A Jyotirlinga [Vaidyanatha Jyotirlinga] (JL-9)
- Where the Shiva Linga given by Lord Shiva to devotee demon king Ravana got fixed while carrying to Lanka. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 28)

Nageshwara Jyotirlinga: Aundha Nagnath Temple (Hingoli district): A Jyotirlinga [Nageshwara Jyotirlinga] (JL-10)
- Where Lord Shiva protected devotee merchant Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 29 to 30)

Grishneshwara Jyotirlinga: Grishneshwar Temple (Aurangabad district): A Jyotirlinga [Grishneshwara Jyotirlinga] (JL-12)
- Where Lord Shiva revived the son of devotee housewife Ghushma who was killed by his step-mother. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 32 to 33)

Jejuri - Khandoba Temple (Pune district)
- Sri Khandoba vanquished demons Mani and Malla.
(considered as a form of Shiva)

Karavira Shakti Peetha: Kolhapur - Devi Mahalakshmi Temple (Kolhapur district): A Shakti Peetha [Karavira Shakti Peetha] (SP-2)
- Where the Trinetra (Three Eyes) of Devi had fallen. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
- Devi is known as Mahishamardini and the Bhairava is called Krodhisa. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

Janasthana Shakti Peetha: Vani - Devi Saptashrungi Temple (Nashik district): A Shakti Peetha [Janasthana Shakti Peetha] (SP-40)
- Where the Civuka (Chin) of Devi had fallen. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
- Devi is known as Bhramari and the Bhairava is called Vikritaksha. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

Tuljapur - Devi Tulja Bhavani Temple (Osmanabad district)
- Anubhuti got the darshan of Devi Tulja Bhavani.

Nashik - Panchavati (Nashik district): Ancient Panchavati.
- Where Sri Rama stayed during forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 15 to 63)

Pandharpur - Panduranga Temple (Solapur district)
- Devotee Pundalik got the darshan of Sri Panduranga standing on a brick.