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Ashtavinayaka Mantras For Prosperity

Chant ashtavinayaka mantras to attain prosperity also read to know about the famous Ashtavinayaka temples in India.

By Subodini Menon

Out of all the temples dedicated to Lord Vinayaka, eight temples in Maharashtra deserve special mention. They are called the Ashtavinayaka temples. Like Lord Shiva has 12 Jyotirlingas, Goddess Parvati has 52 Shakti Peeths and Lord Vishnu has 108 Divya Deshams, Lord Ganesha has Ashtavinayaka temples.

The word 'Ashtavinayaka' is derived from two words. 'Ashta' means eight and 'Vinayaka' is a name of Lord Ganesha. The interesting fact about these eight temples is that the Ganesha idols in these temples were not sculpted by man.

These were found as such in nature and are called 'Swayambhu'. Another thing to know is that none of the idols has their trunks shaped in the same way. Each temple has a legend associated with it.

A visit to all these temples in a pre-determined order pleases Lord Vinayaka.

The devotees who go on a pilgrimage to the Ashtavinayaka temples are absolved of all their sins and are blessed by the Lord Vinayaka. The Pilgrimage takes the devotees on a trip starting from the Moreshwar temple and ending with Mahaganapati temple of Ranjangaon.

Sri Ashtavinayaka Vandana

Sri Ashtavinayaka Vandana

Before looking at the individual Temples and the mantras for each of them, we must know the Sri Ashtavinayaka Vandana. The Sri Ashtavinayaka Vandana is a hymn that pays homage to all the eight forms of Ganesha. It is as follows.

Swasthi Sri Gananayakam Gajamukham Moreshwara Siddhidam Ballalam Murudum

Vinayaka Maham Chintamanim Thevaram|Lenyadrim Girijatmajam Suvaradam

Vighneshwara Ojharam Grame Ranjananamake Ganapatihi
||Kuryat Sada Mangalam||

Moreshwar

Moreshwar

The distinct feature of the idol here is that Lord Ganesh is seen to be sitting on a peacock. It is said that Lord Ganesha slayed the demon Sindhu here in the avatar of mayureshvar.

The trunk of the idol points to the left and has a cobra or Nagaraj protecting it. The two wives of Lord Ganesha, Riddhi and Buddhi are also present here.

The unique thing about this temple is that there is an idol of Nandi sitting at the entrance of the temple. The legend has it that a Nandi statue was being taken to a Shiva temple and was accidently dropped here.

The statue couldn't be moved again and stayed there forever. Pray to Moreshwar with the following mantra-
||Om Mayureshvaraya Namah||

Siddatek

Siddatek

The idol is three feet in height and faces the north. The trunk is turned to the right hand side. This is a feature unique to the Siddatek Vinayaka.

Another feature seen only in this idol is that the stomach is not large as compared to the usual depictions of Lord Vinayaka. Riddhi and Siddhi are seen sitting on one of the laps of the God.

To perform pradikshina of the idol, one has to walk around the hill on which the temple is situated. It takes almost 5 kms to complete a single pradikshina.

The pradikshina is found to be very fruitful. The legend has it that even Lord Vishnu has performed padikshina here for the fulfillment of his wishes. Chant the following to please the Siddatek Vinayaka-
||Om Siddhivinayakaya Namah||

Ballaleshwar

Ballaleshwar

Ganesha is seen sitting on a throne of stone and faces the east with his trunk to the left. His eyes and navel habe diamonds embedded in them.

The Ballaleshwar Ganesha is known by the name of his greatest devotee named Ballal.

The temple is shaped like the Sanskrit word ‘Shri' and is built in a way that during Dakshinayan, the light of the sunrise falls directly on the idol. The Mantra to please the deity is-
||Om Ballaleshwaraya Namah||

Varadavinayak

Varadavinayak

This temple is situated near Khopoli. The idol is said to have been found in a lake nearby and sports a weathered look.

There is an oil lamp that has been burning since the 18th century. This is the only temple where the devotees can perform pooja by themselves.

It is said that if an issue-less couple visits the temple during Maghi Chathurthi and receives coconut as prasad, they would be blessed with a child. The Mantra for Varadavinayaka Vighneshwara is-
||Om Varadavinayakaya Namaha||

Chintamani

Chintamani

The next temple, Chintamani is located in the village of Theur. It has a lake behind it called the Chintamani Sarovar.

It is believed that Lord Ganesha got back the gem Chintamani from Guna to present it to sage Kapila. The Sage in turn places the gem in Vinayaka's neck.

The east facing Vinayaka is a refuge to all devotees plagued by a wavering mind and calamities. Please Lord Chintamani with the following Mantra.
||Om Chintamanye Namaha||

 Girijatmaj

Girijatmaj

This temple is situated on the mountains near Buddhist caves. The 307 steps that lead to the Girijatmaj temple have monkeys raiding them at all times. The temple is carved out of a single rock and faces the south.


Magha Chathurthi and Bhadrapada are the biggest celebrations here. The prayer to Girijatmaja Ganapati is-
||Om Girijatmajkaya Namaha||

Mahaganapati

Mahaganapati

The temple of Mahaganapati is situated in the village of Ranjangaon.

The most powerful Ganapati is depicted with eight, ten or twelve arms. It is said that Lord Shiva had prayed here before slaying Tripurasur.

The east facing idol is in a cross-legged sitting position. The legend has it that the real idol of Mahaganapati is being kept in the basement.

This idol has twenty hands and ten trunks and is known as Mahotkata. The last Mantra invokes the Mahaganapati.
||Om Mahaganapataye Namaha||

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