Siddhivinayak Siddhatek, Temple

Siddhatek Ganpati is a holy place where God Vishnu, Maharshi Vyas and Bhrushundi, Morya Gosavi, and Narayan Maharaj attained Siddhi.

The history of Siddhatek Ganapati says that Lord Vishnu built this auspicious temple. It was later destroyed over time. Once a cowherd got the darshan of this temple, and he ultimately found the idol of Siddhi Vinayaka. The cowherd began worshipping the deity from then on, and this temple became popular.

Sardar Haripant Phadke was the commander-in-chief and an official of the Peshwa rulers. He built the Nagarkhana, which was the place to store Nagaras. He also constructed a pathway to the Siddhatek Ganpati Mandir. He used to worship Bhagwan Ganesha for 21 days and had 21 pradakshina to the temple daily.

Ahilyabai Holkar, the great ruler of Indore, was very religious. She built the Siddhivinayak Temple Siddhatek in its present form. Saint Morya Gosavi and Narayan Maharaj worshipped at the temple where they attained Siddhi. They belonged to The Ganapatya Sect, a Sect of saints that worships Ganesha as the Supreme God.

It is believed that it is a place where Bhagwan Vishnu performed Tapasya to get a boon from Bhagwan Siddheshwar Ganesh. Sant Moraya Gosavi from Chinchwad and Sant Narayan Maharaj from Kodgaon also performed tapasya here. 

The place Siddhatek is believed to be the place where Vishnu ultimately achieved siddhi and thereby killed the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who he had been battling for a thousand years. Long ago, Deity Brahma thought of creating Nature and for that, he ceaselessly chanted the mantra “OM”. Ganesha was delighted with the penance and gave him the boon that he will fulfill the wish of creating Nature. When Deity Brahma was creating Nature, Vishnu fell asleep. Demons Madhu and Kaitabh emerged from Vishnu’s ears. They started harassing all the Gods and Goddesses. Deity Brahma realised that only Vishnu will be able to annihilate these demons. Vishnu tried his very best to kill them, but failed. He then stopped the battle and took the form of Gaankushal Gandharva and began singing. Shiva when he heard the celestial notes of the Gandharva, summoned him. Vishnu then told Lord Shiva about his unfinished battle. Shiva told him thatsince he had not sought the blessings of Ganesh his task had remained unfinished. Shiva asked Vishnu to recite the Shadakshar mantra (Ganeshaya Namah) and in order to achieve what he wanted.

Vishnu choose the Siddhkshetra to complete the ritual of propitiating Ganesh. Ganesh granted Him his wish. Vishnu then created a four-door temple on the hillock and installed the statue of Gajanan. Since Vishnu achieved siddhi here, Ganesh was called the Siddhivinayak and the place was called Siddhatek or Siddhkshetra.

Deity Brahma got the energy to create Nature with Ganesh’s boon. Lord Ganesh accepted the two daughters of Lord Brahma as his wives.

In time, the temple created by Vishnu perished. It is believed that a shepherd saw Ganesh here and started worshipping Him. He then found a priest to conduct the worship and ultimately it was during the rule of the Peshwas sometime that the present temple was erected. The Siddhivinayak Temple is along the Bhima River which flows southwards. One remarkable thing about the river is that however rapid its flow, it does not make any sound while flowing.

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