🛕MereMandir

Ashtavinayaka

The eight self-manifested shrines of Lord Ganesha among the hills of Maharashtra.

8 Temples

The Ashtavinayaka — 'the eight Ganeshas' — are eight ancient and revered shrines of Lord Ganesha, all set within the Deccan landscape of Maharashtra around Pune. Each enshrines a swayambhu (self-manifested) idol with its own distinct form, legend and name.

Together they form a much-loved pilgrimage circuit. Devotees traditionally begin and end at Mayureshwar in Morgaon, visiting all eight in a set order — each murti differing in the turn of its trunk, its posture and the story of how Ganesha appeared there to vanquish a demon or bless a devotee.

The eight are Mayureshwar (Morgaon), Siddhivinayak (Siddhatek), Ballaleshwar (Pali), Varadvinayak (Mahad), Chintamani (Theur), Girijatmaj (Lenyadri), Vighnahar (Ozar) and Mahaganapati (Ranjangaon) — a garland of shrines binding the Ganesha devotion of Maharashtra.

Planning the darshan? See the route guide

The Pilgrimage Circuit

The traditional yatra begins and ends at Mayureshwar (Morgaon), visiting in order: Mayureshwar, Siddhivinayak, Ballaleshwar, Varadvinayak, Chintamani, Girijatmaj, Vighnahar and Mahaganapati.

Ashtavinayaka Temples

See all on the map →
Mayureshwar Temple, Morgaon, Pune

Mayureshwar, Morgaon

Morgaon, Pune, Maharashtra

The first and last bow of the Ashtavinayak yatra — where Ganesha, riding his peacock, slew the demon Sindhu at Morgaon on the Karha.

Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek, Ahmednagar

Siddhivinayak, Siddhatek

Siddhatek, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra

The only right-trunked Ganesha of the eight — Siddhivinayak on a hill above the Bhima, the giver of siddhi, attainment.

Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali, Raigad

Ballaleshwar, Pali

Pali, Raigad, Maharashtra

The only Ashtavinayak named for a devotee — the child Ballal — set between Sarasgad fort and the Amba, its prasad the besan laddoo.

Varadvinayak Temple, Mahad, Raigad

Varadvinayak, Mahad

Mahad, Raigad, Maharashtra

The boon-giver of the eight — Varadvinayak of Mahad village, where a Nandadeep lamp is said to have burned since 1892.

Chintamani Temple, Theur, Pune

Chintamani, Theur

Theur, Pune, Maharashtra

The Ganesha who stills the restless mind — the fifth Ashtavinayak, on the river-meet at Theur and a cherished shrine of the Peshwas.

Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri, Pune

Girijatmaj, Lenyadri

Lenyadri, Pune, Maharashtra

The only hill-and-cave Ganesha of the eight — Girija's son, enshrined in an ancient rock-cut Buddhist vihara above the Kukadi.

Vighnahar Temple, Ozar, Pune

Vighnahar, Ozar

Ozar, Pune, Maharashtra

The remover of obstacles on the Kukadi — the golden-domed Ozar shrine where Ganesha subdued the demon Vighnasura.

Mahaganapati Temple, Ranjangaon, Pune

Mahaganapati, Ranjangaon

Ranjangaon, Pune, Maharashtra

The mightiest of the eight — the Ranjangaon shrine where Shiva himself invoked Ganesha before facing the demon Tripurasura.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ashtavinayaka?+

The Ashtavinayaka are eight sacred, self-manifested shrines of Lord Ganesha in Maharashtra, each with a distinct idol and legend, visited together as a single pilgrimage.

Where are the Ashtavinayaka temples?+

All eight lie in Maharashtra, clustered around the Pune and Raigad districts in the Deccan.

In what order are the Ashtavinayaka visited?+

The yatra traditionally starts and finishes at Mayureshwar in Morgaon, covering all eight shrines in a set sequence.

What is special about each idol?+

Each Ganesha differs in the turn of the trunk, posture and legend; Siddhivinayak at Siddhatek, for instance, is the only one with a right-turned trunk.