Varadvinayak, Mahad Temple

Bhagwan Ganesha is the most respected deity not just in Maharashtra, but all over the world. However, in the state, there are eight Ganesha temples, which are called Ashtavinayakas, or eight important Ganesha temples.Shri Varadvinayak Ganpati Temple Mahad is among them.

The Varadvinayak Mahad Ganpati Mandir is the seventh Ganesha mandir in the list of Ashtavinayak that devotees visit during the Ashtavinayak Yatra. The temple is also called Math. The design of the temple is very simple. It has a dome with a height of 25 feet and a simple, tiled roof. On the top of the roof, there is a golden Kalasha. It is a square temple, and the size is very small—8 feet wide, and 8 feet long. Devotees are allowed to go inside the garbhigriha and do pooja.

Varadvinayak, also spelt as Varadavinayaka, is one of the Ashtavinayak temples of the Hindu deity Ganesha. It is located in Mahad village situated in Khalapur taluka near Karjat and Khopoli of Raigad District, Maharashtra, India.The temple was built (restored) by Peshwa General Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar in 1725AD.

The handsome Prince Rukmangad refused sage Vachaknavi's wife Mukunda's illicit call, and was cursed to suffer from leprosy. Mukunda was satisfied by Indra who deceived her as Rukmangad and she bore a child by name Grutsamad. When Grutsamad discovered the truth, he cursed his mother Mukunda to become the tree of Bori and she in turn cursed him to bear a demon son named Tripurasur, the one who was defeated by Shiva after praying the Ranjangaon Ganesha. Grutsamad after being cursed went to the forest of Pushpak and worshipped Ganesha. Sage Grutsamad is famous for the mantra GaNanaN Tva. He founded the temple and called this Ganesha: Varada-Vinayak.

The idol of this Shri Varadvinayak Ganpati Temple is considered swayambu, or self-originated.Ganesha is said to reside here in the form of Varada Vinayaka, the giver of bounty and success. The idol was found in the adjoining lake (to Mr. Dhondu Paudkar in 1690AD), in an immersed position and hence its weathered look. In 1725AD the then Kalyan subhedar, Mr. Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar built the Varadavinayak temple and the village of Mahad.

The idol faces the east, has its trunk to the left and has been in the constant company of an oil lamp - said to be burning continuously since 1892. There are four elephant idols on four sides of the temple. The hall is 8 feet by 8 feet. The dome is 25feet high and is golden at the top. The dome has designs of cobra.

This is the only temple where devotees are allowed to personally pay their homage and respects to the idol. They are allowed in the immediate vicinity of this idol to perform their prayers.

The temple is located three kilometers off the Mumbai-Pune highway near Khopoli (80 km from Pune), and is thus closest to Mumbai city. Karjat Railway Station, Karjat on Mumbai-Pune railway is 24 km from this place and 6 km from Khopoli.

Significance of this temple is that the Varad Vinayak idol is Swayambhu or self-created. Another thing is that Ganesha is called Varad Vinayaka because he fulfils the wishes of his devotees. The temple faces east, and the serene surroundings and peaceful environment give a spiritual experience to devotees.