Temple
Shri Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple Lenyadri is one of the important Ganesh temples and part of Ashtavinayaka Temples. Another name of this temple is Girijatmaj, which means The son of Girija (Devi Parvati). Among the eight temples of Ashtavinakas, this is the only one on a hillock.
Girijatmaj means Girija’s (Parvati’s) Atmaj (son). Since it is located on a small hillock, it gives the pleasure of trekking to those who love walking. Lenyadri Shri Varadvinayak is in the locale of Buddhist Caves. Therefore, it is also called Ganesh Gufa. According to the Shastrokt Sequence of Ashtavinayak Yatra, this temple is the sixth one. The manifestation of Bhagwan Ganesh in this temple is in his Bala Rupa or the form of a kid. That is why it is called Girijatmaja.
Lenyadri, sometimes called Ganesa Lena, Ganesh Pahar Caves, are a series of about 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves, located about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) north of Junnar in Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Other caves surrounding the city of Junnar are: Manmodi Caves, Shivneri Caves and Tulja Caves. The Lenyadri caves date between the 1st and 3rd century AD and belong to the Hinayana Buddhism tradition.
It is believed that Parvati (Shiva's wife) performed penance to beget Ganesha at this point. Girija's (Parvati's) Atmaj (son) is Girijatmaj. This temple stands amidst a cave complex of 18 caves of Buddhist origin. This temple is the eighth cave. These are called Ganesha-leni as well. The temple is carved out of a single stone hill, which has 307 steps. The temple features a wide hall with no supporting pillars. The temple hall is 53 feet long, 51 feet wide and 7 feet high.
The idol faces north with its trunk to the left, and has to be worshipped from the rear of the temple. The temple faces south. This idol seems little different from the rest of the Ashtavinayaka idols in a sense that it appears to be poorly designed or carved like the other idols. This idol can be worshipped by anyone. There is no electric bulb in the temple. The temple is constructed such that during the day it is always lighted by sunshine.
The temple is situated 12 km from Narayangaon, which is about 94 km from Pune on the Pune-Nashik highway. Nearest railway station is Talegaon. From Junnar, Lenyadri is about 5 km. Shivaneri castle is close by (5 to 6 km) where Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born.
Shri Varadvinayak Lenyadri is situated on the North-west bank of the Kukadi River. It is in the Junnar Taluka of Pune District in Maharashtra. The word Lenyadri means the hill of caves. Since it is part of the series of caves, people need to climb the hill to reach the temple. The temple's location is such that there is no need for artificial light. The sunlight always lights up the temple. There are references to this place as Jeerapur or Lekhan Parvat in the old literature.
Lenyadri Ganpati Road, At Post Golegaon, Taluka Junnar, District Pune, Maharashtra, 410502
Lenyadri,Junnar, Pune Dist, Maharashtra
How To Reach Lenyadri Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple?
By Road
The Shri Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple Lenyadri is around 100 kilometers from the district headquarters in the Pune district. Many buses regularly travel to the temple. It includes government and privately owned buses, cars, and taxis. One can easily go there in one’s car. The road is very good and properly maintained.
Girijatmaj Ashtavinayak is in Pune District. The Vighneshwara Ganpati Temple Ozar-Lenyadri distance is 15.1 km. Pune-Lenyadri distance is 96.0 km (2 hr 45 min) via NH60 Highway. There are many buses that travel on a regular basis to the Vigneshwara Temple Ozar to Lenyadri.
By Rail
The two nearest railway stations are Pune and Talegaon and after that another option is Kalyan Railway Station. However, not all trains stop at Talegaon. Therefore, Pune is a preferable choice. It is connected to all major cities in India. Hence, it is quite convenient.
By Air
Pune Lohegaon Airport, around 10-12 km from Pune is the nearest airport. This airport is connected to all the domestic airports in India. One can go to Mumbai Airport and book the Ashtavinayak Yatra By Car.
There is a Yatri Niwas, the place to stay for devotees, on the temple premises. The Temple Trust operates it, and good accommodation is available at nominal charges. Three hundred devotees can be accommodated, and the trust provides the bedding.
However, since the temple is conveniently located, people prefer returning to Pune after taking Darshan. The temple is covered on the second day of the Ashtavinayak Yatra.
Any decent outfit
no rules
Special
It is believed that Devi Parvati performed “Tapa” here. To beget Ganesha at this point. This is a very peculiar temple where Buddhist caves and a Hindu temple coexist. The architecture of this temple is typical Buddhist. And also, the temple is not in the form of a typical Hindu temple. That is why it is believed that the history of this temple goes back to the first to third century AD. It requires 300 or more steps to reach Shri Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple Lenyadri.
The Ganesha form worshipped here is called Girijatmaja (Sanskrit: गिरिजात्मज). The name is either interpreted as "mountain-born" or as "Atmaja of Girija", the son of Parvati, who herself is daughter of the mountain Himavan, a personification of the mountains of Himalayas. The features of the Ganesha icon, seen on the back wall of the cave, are the least distinct vis-a-vis the other Ashtavinayak temples. Though the temple faces the inauspicious south, - according to a local tradition - the deity faces north, with his back to his worshipper and his face visible on the other side of the mountain. The Peshwa rulers even tried in vain to locate the face of Ganesha on the other side. The central icon was covered with brass-plated wooden armour, given as a gift by Junnar. The armour is not present currently. After it was removed, Ganesha could be seen with his trunk turned to the left side, facing east, with one of his eyes visible. The icon is covered with sindoor and is directly formed/sculpted on the stone wall of the cave.
Like all Ashtavinayaka temples, the central Ganesha image is believed to be svayambhu (self-existent), a naturally occurring stone formation resembling an elephant-face.
According to the Ganapatya scripture Ganesha Purana, Ganesha incarnated as Mayuresvara or Mayureshwar (Mayūreśvara), who had six arms and a white complexion. His mount was a peacock. He was born to Shiva and Parvati in the Treta Yuga, for the purpose of killing the demon Sindhu.
Once Parvati (Girija) asked her husband Shiva who he was meditating on. He said he was meditating on "the supporter of the entire universe" - Ganesha, and initiated Parvati with the Ganesha Mantra "Gam". Desiring to have a son, Parvati underwent austerities meditating on Ganesha, for twelve years at Lenyadri. Pleased by her penance, Ganesha blessed her with the boon that he will be born as her son. Accordingly, on the fourth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month Bhadrapada (Ganesh chaturthi day), Parvati worshipped a clay image of Ganesha, which came alive. Thus, Ganesha was born to Parvati at Lenyadri. Later, he was named Gunesha by Shiva. Shiva gave him a boon that whosoever remembers him before starting a job, will successfully complete that task. For 15 years Gunesha grew up at Lenyadri. Sindhu, who knew that his death would be at the hands of Gunesha, sent demons like Krur, Balasur, Vyomasur, Kshemma, Kushal, and many more, to kill Gunesha, but all of them were instead killed by him. At the age of six, the architect-god Vishwakarma worshipped Gunesha and endowed him with the weapons Pasha (noose), Parashu (axe), Ankusha (hook) and Padma (Lotus). Once, little Gunesha knocked an egg from a mango tree, from which emerged a peacock. Gunesha mounted the peacock and assumed the name Mayuresvara. Mayuresvara later killed Sindhu and his army-generals at Morgaon, the most important Ashtavinayaka temple
5 AM - 8 PM
Panchamrit Pooja is performed at 8 AM
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