VARADVINAYAK TEMPLE MAHAD

The Varadvinayak Temple Mahad, also known as the Mahad Temple, is one of the eight Ashtavinayak temples in Maharashtra, India. It is dedicated to the god Ganesha and is located in the small village of Mahad, about 110km from the city of Mumbai. The temple is considered to be one of the most sacred places of worship for devotees of Ganesha, and is said to be the only temple where Ganesha is worshipped in the form of “Varadvinayak” meaning the one who grants boons. ‘Vara’ means boon and ‘vinayak’ is another name of Lord Ganesha.

The temple is believed to have been built in the 18th century by a Maratha king named Ranoji Shinde. According to legend, the king had a vision of Ganesha in a dream, and built the temple on the spot where the god had appeared. The temple is built in the traditional Hemadpanthi style of architecture and has a central hall, a garbhagriha, and a shikhara. The garbhagriha houses a beautiful idol of Ganesha, which is said to be self-manifested and is said to be one of the eight self-manifested idols of Ganesha in Maharashtra. Varadvinayak temple Mahad is particularly famous for its annual festival of Ganesha Chaturthi, which is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm. On this occasion, large numbers of devotees from all over Maharashtra and other parts of India visit the temple to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

It is open to visitors on other days throughout the year, and is considered to be a must-visit for anyone interested in learning about the rich cultural and religious heritage of Maharashtra. The temple is surrounded by beautiful hills, small rivers, and beautiful sceneries which you can enjoy while visiting the temple. It is one of the most accessible temples among 8 Ashtavinayak temples, the temple is situated near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, so one can easily visit this temple along with the other Ashtavinayak temples if you are visiting Mumbai or Pune.