It was predicted by Lord Brahma that Lord Ganesha would
incarnate as Vinayak in the Kritayug, as Mayureshwar in Treta yug, as Gajanan
in the Dwaparyug and as Dhumraketu in the Kalyug. All these incarnations are
related to certain legends of Lord Ganesha killing various demons.
In the Gandaki Nagari of Mithila, a king named Chakrapani
was ruling. He and his wife Queen Ugra were unhappy, as they did not have a
child. The couple worshipped God Surya and the queen with the blessings of the
Sun God became pregnant. But soon released the embryo in the sea as she could
not bear the brilliance and the radiance of the embryo. From that embryo,
brilliant son was born. The sea in the disguise of a Brahmin approached King
Chakrapani with the child and gave the child to the King. As the child was born
in the sea the king named him Sindhu. Sindhu, after growing old and strong
became more powerful by worshipping the Sun God as advised by his Guru
Shukracharya.
Lord Surya, as a boon gave the nectar to Sindhu and said
that as long as the nectar remains near his navel he will not die. Sindhu thus
received immortality and started attacking Gods like Indra, Vishnu etc. he
defeated all of them and kept them in prison in his kingdom. The remaining gods
worshipped Lord Ganesh and requested him to rescue them from the demon King
Sindhu. Ganesha pleased with their prayers, promised to take birth as Devi
Parvati'sson and kill the demon.
Parvati recited the Ekakshari ‘OM’ mantra to please the
Lord and made a clay idol of Ganesha on the Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi Day
and worshipped. The idol soon turned into a real child. When the child was ten
years old, Shiva and Parvati along with their son decided to leave the mountain
Meru and on their way to mountain kailash, Lord Ganesha defeated the demon
Kamalasura with the help of Siddhi (the personified shakti) and Buddhi (the
personified Intelligence).
After this incident on their way, Lord Ganesha found the
Gandaki Nagari of the demon king Sindhu and decided to attack him with all the
army of Shiva's attendants. He thus attacked Sindhu and at first killed the
two sons of Sindhu. Sindhu was advised to release the Gods and Goddesses in
prison and leave the battlefield by his father. But he did not listen to it and
continued the battle. Lord Ganesha removed the nectar from his navel with his
Parashu and killed him. During this battle, Lord Ganesha was riding a peacock
and therefore he got the name Mayureshvara, the one who rides a peacock.
Puja Schedule of Mayureshwar Temple
The temple is open to pilgrims from 5 A.M. to 10 P.M.
Prakshal Puja - The first puja of the day is done at 5 A.M.
comprising the water abhisheka and flower offerings.
Shodoshpchar Puja – It is conducted twice a day at 7 A.M.
and at 12 Noon. At both these this time the Ganpati Atharvashirsh is recited.
Panchopchar Puja – This is performed at 8 P.M.
The temple closes for the devotees after the Shejarti at 10
P.M.
Naivedya – The food is offered to the deity thrice a day
In the morning Khichadi (made of Rice) is offered.
In the afternoon the whole meal with sweets is offered.
At night milk and rice is offered.
Location
The temple is situated at a distance of 55 Km from Pune,
next to the river Karha in the village of Moregaon. The village derives its
name from the Marathi name of the bird peacock - also the national bird of
India; there used to be a lot of peacocks in this village in the ancient time,
and the village is also set out in the shape of a peacock.
Pune is the most convenient city to reach Morgaon. Pune
itself is well connected by road as well as by rail. There are daily buses,
trains and flights between Mumbai and Pune. Morgaon is at a distance of 79 km
from Pune via the village Chaufala on the Pune-Sholapur Highway.
State Transport buses known locally as S.T. buses are
available at the Swargate Bus Depot in Pune.
The other way a pilgrim can take is to go to Jejuri from
Pune and from Jejuri can proceed to Morgaon which is 15 km away from Jejuri. By
this route the distance between Pune and Morgaon is 64kms. Jejuri is a
well-known pilgrim center for worshippers of Khandoba.
On the Pune –Daund rail route one can get down at Kedgaon
and take a bus from there to Morgaon.
On the southern rail route one can get off at the railway
station called Nira and then take a bus from there to Morgaon.
----->coming up story of Siddhivinayak temple ,Siddhatek in new post