Morgaon Moreshwar Ganpati Temple – Ashtavinayak Darshan

Moregaon is a village located at a distance of about 50 km from Pune, en-route to Aurangabad in Maharashtra, and it houses a shrine to Mayureshwar Vinayak. Moregaon Mayureshwar / Moreshwar Ganpati Temple is considered to be one of the Ashta Vinayak shrines of Maharashtra, celebrating eight instances of legends related to Ganesha.

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The Story

Legend has it that a demon by name caused untold hardship to the inhabitants of the Universe, and that responding to the pleas of the Gods, Ganapati came down to the earth on a peacock mount, waged a battle against Sindhu and vanquished him. The peacock rider Ganapati assumed the name Mayureshwar or Moresh. The original image of Ganesha made of precious metal was installed by the creator Bhrahma. The Pandava princes are said to have installed a copper image, when they visited Moregaon in the course of their pilgrimage.

The name Moresh or Moregaon arises from the fact that this region once abounded in peacocks. The name Mayureshwar also arises from the legend that Vinayak rode a peacock mount in a battle against evil demons.

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Moreshwar Morgaon Temple

An east facing image of Ganesha flanked by brass images of his consorts Siddhi and Riddhi is enshrined in this temple. Ganesha is depicted armed with a spear, while a cobra encircles his head. Interestingly, the peacock mount, the cobra and the spear (Vel) are all considered to be attributes of Kartikeya (his brother). The temple is a well visited one, fortified with lofty walls.

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Divine Ascetics

Shreemad yogindracharaya appeared in Morgaon in Shaliwahan Shake 1499 & took samadhi in shake 1727. He spent his long 228 yrs life in worshipping & propitiating Ganeshyog. It is said that Shree Mayureshwar, himself in the guise of Bhramin gave him 9 parts of Mudgal purana & he had written his exposition on it. Importance of Ganapatis, yogaswaroop & Yogageeta is described in it.

Samadhi Mandir of Shree Ganesha Yogindracharya on the south coast of Kerela river is a place of tourist interests. In the same mandir there are samadi’s of Shri Ankushdhari Maharaj & Shreemad Herambh Maharaj. Festivals & death anniversaries of this sect is in Morgaon near the temple.

Morgaon is a birthplace of famous hermit Morya Gosawi. He found Ganesh idol in Brahma Kamandalu Tirth. He consecrated this idol in the temple at Chinchwad. Morya Gosawi’s Palkhi comes from Chinchwad to Morgaon on Bhadrapad & Magh Shudh Chatruthi. He took samadhi at Chinchwad in 1655 A.D.

Sukhakarta Dukhaharta Varta Vighnachi …… A great saint Samarth Ramdas Swami wrote above said Aarti instantaneously after taking Mayrushwar’s Darshan. This Aarti has become immortal in Maharashtra.

At the left side of Mayureshwar there is one small room called Vighneshwar’s owari (owari means place
reserved for meditation) At the end of seventeenth century a great Ganesh devotee known as Ganesh Yogindra used to stay in this owari. He had performed penances for 12 years. He had written his comments on Sanskrit Ganesh Purana. He took samadhi at Morgaon in 1727 A.D.

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Moreshwar Morgaon Temple Festivals

As with all other Vinayak temples, Ganesha Chaturti is celebrated in great splendour here. Vijaya Dasami is celebrated commemorating Ganesha’s victory against the demons.

Moreshwar’s Ganpati Pooja is done thrice a day. In the morning at 5’Oclock Prakshal Pooja is done. This pooja is done by Gurav poojari. ‘Shodopachar Pooja’ is done at 7’Oclock in morning & at 12’Oclock in the afternoon. These pooja’s are done by Brahmin poojari. At the time of pooja Ganesh Atharvashirsha’s Aavarthana (Repetitive cycles) are made.

In the morning pooja, Khichadi & Chapiti, in the afternoon pooja full meal & in the night milk & rice are offered as Naivaidyam to Mayureshwar. Temple remains open for darshan from 5 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Two festivals on Bhadrapada Shudda Chaturti & Magh Shuddha Chaturthi are celebrated on grand scale in Morgaon.

Besides this Vijayadashami (Dasehara) & Somavati Amavasya are also celebrated on big scale. On Vijayadashami Mayureshwar’s Palanpuin begins at 11’Oclock in the night.

Palanquin procession is worth seeing. Fire crackers made in the village are burst on a large scale. Palkhi procession goes round the village for the whole night & at the break of dawn palkhi reaches at the Someshwar’s temple. At that time, names villagers are read according to their ancestral hierarchy. Programme called Annasantarpana. It means naivaidyam from different houses is gathered & it is distributed among devotes as mahaprasad. Nearly 10-15 thousand devotees come for such yatra.

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Route Guide to Ganesha Temple Moreshwar, Morgaon

By Bus: State transport buses are available from Pune’s swargate bus depot.

By Road: On Pune-Solapur highway 56kms from Pune,Morgaon lies on the right side of chaufula. Moregaon Via pune-Hadpasar-loni-chaufula-supa is at a distance of 79 km.

• Another route leading to Morgaon via Hadapsar-saswad-jejuri covers 64kms.
• On the way to Morgaon have darshan of God Khandoba of jejuri & then go to Morgaon bu bus which is at a distance of 15 km from jejuri.

By Train: On Pune-Solapur railway line, get down at Neera railway station & go to Morgaon by bus.

• On Pune-Daund railway line, get down at Kedgaon & go to Morgaon by S.T.

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Where to Stay at Moreshwar Morgaon

Clean rooms are available at Maheshwari Bhakta Niwas (Tel: 02112-279236 & Tariff: Rs 200 for 4 persons; Rs 40 for unlimited thali), located near the temple. The Brahmins in the village provide good meals to visitors. Temple officials or even roadside shopkeepers can direct visitors to their homes. One has to inform them at least half an hour in advance (Rs 30 for a filling home-made Maharashtrian meal).

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Additional Infromation

• Morgaon Ganapati Devasthan Trust is under control of Chinchwad Devasthan Trust.
• On taking appropriate donations from devotees, various types of rituals such as Pooja-Abhishek, Ekadashani, Sahastravartan, Japayagna, etc, are performed by temple trust.
• 64 villages are donated to Morgaon. One fourth part of the revenue collected from these villages is given to temple district magistrate trustees look after the administration of temple.
• Shree Mayureshwar has many ornaments of gold, silver and diamond.

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Address: Morgaon, Maharashtra. Pin: 412304. – Phone No.: +91-9657254563

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Nearest Places to Visit

Devotees coming to Morgaon should definitely visit Saswad, Samadhi place of Sopandev Maharaj. Sangameshwar and Changawateshwar are also places of Pilgrim’s interest.