Chintamani, Theur Temple

Ashtavinayak temples are one of the most significant temples in Maharashtra. They are eight sacred temples dedicated to Bhagwan Ganesh, the most popular deity in India. These temples are located around Pune city and can be visited in two or three days. 

Chintamani Ganpati Temple Theur is the fifth temple to be visited per the traditional sequence of the AshtavinayakYatra. It is located around 30 kilometers from Pune in the Haveli Taluka. The temple is at the union of River Bhima and the conjoint of rivers Mula and Mutha.

Ganesha is believed to have got back the precious Chinatamani jewel from the greedy Guna for sage Kapila at this spot. However, after bringing back the jewel, sage Kapila put it in Vinayaka's (Ganesha's) neck. Thus the name Chintamani Vinayak. This happened under the Kadamb tree, therefore Theur is known as Kadambanagar in old times.

The lake behind the temple is called Kadambteertha. The temple entrance is North facing. The outer wooden hall was built by Peshwas. The main temple is supposed to have been built by Dharanidhar Maharaj Dev from the family-lineage of Shri Moraya Gosavi. He must have built this around 100 years before Senior Shrimant Madhavrao Peshwa built the outer wooden hall.

This idol also has a left trunk, with carbuncle and diamonds as its eyes. The idol faces east.

Theur's Chintamani was the family deity of Shrimant Madhavrao I Peshwa.[citation needed] He suffered from tuberculosis and died at a very young age (~27 years). He is supposed to have died in this temple. His wife, Ramabai committed Sati with him on 18 November 1772.

The temple is located 22 km from Pune, off the Pune-Solapur highway, and is hence the nearest from Pune. The village of Theur sits at the confluence of three major regional rivers—Mula, Mutha & Bhima.

Though Theur is believed to a Ganapatya (sect which considers Ganesha as the Supreme Being) pilgrimage centre since ancient times,the current temple was built by the Ganapatya saint Morya Gosavi or his descendant Dharmadhar (Dharanidhar).

Morya Gosavi often visited the temple on his trips between his home town Chinchwad and Morgaon, the foremost of the Ashtavinayaka temples.[1] On every fourth lunar day after the full moon, Morya used to visit the Theur temple.According to a story, as per his guru's orders, Morya performed penance at Theur by observing a strict fast for 42 days, within this period, he is believed to have "divine revelations".[7] Ganesha is believed to have appeared in the form of a tiger to Morya and granted him siddhi (spiritual powers).

The Theur temple along with other Ganapatya centres near Pune, enjoyed royal patronage from the Brahmin Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire during the 18th century. The Peshwas, who worshipped Ganesha as their kuladaivat ("family deity"), donated in land and/or cash and/or made additions to these Ganesha temples, especially Theur and Morgaon.[3] The Theur temple has been a spiritual magnet of the Peshwas, especially Madhavrao I.Madhavrao, who also renovated the temple, used to visit before engaging in any battle and after a battle to thank for the success in battle. Madhavrao spent his last days in the precincts of the temple. In the period of extreme illness that led to his death, Madhavrao tried to please the Lord by performing Him a perennial abhisheka of milk.[8] Chimaji Appa, brother and military commander of the Peshwa Baji Rao I, donated a large European bell, which still hangs in the temple. He had acquired it as war booty from the Portuguese after seizing the Vasai Fort.

Currently, the temple is under the administration of the Chinchwad Devasthan Trust, which also governs Morgaon and Siddhatek Ashtavinayak temples.

Chitamani Ganpati is considered a "Jagrut Devsthan," which means he is a powerful deity that blesses his devotees and fulfills his wishes. The idol of Bhagwan Ganesh has precious gems in the eyes.