Ashtavinayaka Temples - Ballaleshwar Pali

Ashtavinayaka or eight Ganeshas is located in Maharashtra state of India, The Ashtavinayaka yatra or pilgrimage covers the eight holy temples of Ganesha .All the Eight  Ashtavinayak Templs are Swayambhu (self-originated) and Jagrut.There are various names of Lord Ganesh for various places. The various names of Lord Ganesh are Moreshwar, Mahaganpati, Chintamani, Girijatmak, Vighneshwar, Siddhivinayak, Ballaleshwar and Varad Vinayak . These Temples are situated at Morgaon, Ranjangaon, Theur, Lenyadri, Ojhar, Siddhatek, Pali and Mahad. These places are at Pune, Ahamadnagar and Raigad district. Of the 8 vinayakas, 6 are in Pune district area and 2 in Raigad district but still comparatively nearer to the Pune areas.

Ballaleshwar Pali :

Among the Ashtavinayakas, Ballaleshvara at Pali is the only Ganesha who is famous by the name of his devotee and who is dressed up as a brahmin.

Village Pali is situated between fort Sarasgad & river Amba flowing on the other side. On being pleased by devotion of Ballal, Shri Ganesh remained in the stone worshipped by Ballal & hence is called as Ballaleshwar of Pali.

Village Pali is situated in the Sudhagad taluka in the district of Raigad. This place is nestled between the fort Sarasgad and River Amba. The nearest railway station is Karjat, which is 30Kms away.

Legend of Balleleshwar :

In the Konkan Pallir village now known as Pali there lived a young boy Ballal who was a very sincere devotee of Lord Ganesh. Son of a rich businessman, his pre-occupation with worship at a young age displeased his father. Ballal spent a large part of his time in worship and influenced his friends to do so too. His friends' parents felt that Ballal was misleading their children by showing them the Bhaktimarg [the path of devotion] at such young age. They asked Ballal's father to restrain him. His father went to look for Ballal and found him in the forest engrossed in his worship of Lord Ganesh. He disrupted the puja, threw away the idol of Ganesh and beat his son. Not content with this he also tied him to a tree. He then left Ballal in the forest asserting that let Lord Ganesh himself come and rescue him. Ballal was in great pain but he kept calling upon Lord Ganesh who took the form of a Brahmin and appeared before him. He set Ballal free and then asked him to make a wish. Ballal entreated Lord Ganesh to reside in this region. The God acquiesced and, resided in a stone which is now believed to be the idol of Ballaleshwar Vinayak, that people worship at Pali. The idol that Ballal's father had desecrated too was placed in the temple. The idol of Dhundivinayak nearby is believed to be that idol.

Temple And Deity

The original temple was made of wood, which was renovated in 1760 and made of stone by Mr.Phadnavis . There are two ponds near the temple.

The temple faces East and is shaped like the letter Shree in the Devnagiri script. There are two lakes in the vicinity of the Temple.

Water from the lake on the right side is used for Lord Ganesha's worship and other auspicious ocassions. During southern declination of the sun, the rays of the Sun falls on the idol of Lord Ballaleshwar.

The temple has two sanctums. In the outer sanctum Mooshak the mouse faces the deity holding a modak in his paws.

In the inner sanctum is the idol of Ballaleshwar. It is 3feet high and it faces east and its trunk turns towards the left. The navel and eyes of the idol are studded with precious stones. Lord Ganesh in this aspect appeared as a Brahmin and so this is one of those rare statues where Ganesh is shown wearing clothes as Brahmins do. On both sides of the idol are statues of Riddhi and Siddhi.

The Dhundi Vinayak Temple is situated behind the main temple. The idol in this temple is believed to be swayambhu. The idol of Dhundivinayak faces west. Devotees first visit this temple before going to the main temple.

Puja Schedule

The inner sanctum is open to devotees in the morning from 5 am to 11:30am.

The outer sanctum is open to devotees till 10:30pm.

Festivals Celebrated

Two major festivals are celebrated in this temple.

In the month of Bhadrapad in the waxing period from the Pratipada to Panchami [first to fifth day]

And in Magh of the waxing period from Pratipada to Panchami [first to fifth day]

On these days festivities go on for five days. Kirtan, religious discourses and other cultural activities are organised.

On Chaturthi[fourth day] of Bhadrapad a Maha Bhog is offered to the deity. According to a poupular belief one can see the impression of God's fingers on the offerings. Thousands of devotees throng the temple on this day to witness this miracle.

On Panchami [fifth day] Dahikala and Anna samtarpan are carried out.

On the third day of Magh, a procession carries the Palkhi of the deity around the city.

HOW TO REACH :

1. It is 124 Kms away from Mumbai. One can reach Pali from Mumbai Via Panvel, Khopoli.

2. From Pune, Pali is 10 kms Via Lonavala & Khopoli

3. There are some direct buses from Pune & Mumbai to Pali.

4. One can go by train till Krajat and from Karjat buses are available from pali.

5. Buses are available from Khopoli & Panvel

6. From Mumbai one can go Dharatar by boat and from there buses are available till Pali.