The Varadavinayak Temple, Mahad

The Varadavinayak Temple, Mahad

Varadvinayak is one of the Asthavinayak temples of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh. This is in Mahad village situated in Khalapur taluka near Karjat and Khopoli of Raigad District, Maharastra, India.

Now MVPPL is working on a project of over Eco homes & Serviced Apartments at Khalapur. Khalapur is a census town in Panvel, ideally located on Old Mumbai-Pune National Highway giving access to Karjat, Khopoli and Pali and it very close to Varadvinayak temple Mahad village situated in Khalapur taluka near Karjat and Khopoli of Raigad District, Maharastra, India.

Story of  Varadvinayak 

The handsome Prince Rukmangad refused sage Vachaknavi's wife Mukunda's illicit call, and was cursed to suffer from leprosy. Mukunda was satisfied by Indra who deceived her as Rukmangad and she bore a child by name Grutsamad. When Grutsamad came to know about the real story he cursed his mother Mukunda to become the tree of Bori and she in turn cursed him to bore a demon son named Tripurasur, the one who was defeated by Shiva after praying the Ranjangaon Ganesha. Grutsamad after getting cursed went to the forest of Pushpak and worshipped Ganesha. Sage Grutsamad is famous for the mantra Gananan Tva. He founded the temple and called this Ganesha: Varada-Vinayak.

Ganesha is said to reside here in the form of Varada Vinayaka, the giver of bounty and success. The idol was found in the adjoining lake (to Mr. Dhondu Paudkar in 1690 A.D.), in an immersed position and hence its weathered look. In 1725 A.D. the then Kalyan subhedar, Mr. Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar built the Varadavinayak temple and the village of Mahad.

The idol faces the east, has its trunk to the left and has been in the constant company of an oil lamp - said to be burning continuously since 1892. There are 4 elephant idols on 4 sides of the temple. The hall is 8 feet by 8 feet. The dome is 25 feet high and is golden at the top. The dome has designs of cobra.

This is the only temple where devotees are allowed to personally pay their homage and respects to the idol. They are allowed in the immediate vicinity of this idol to perform their prayers.

The Divine Belief

According to the legends King, Bhima of Koudinyapur and his wife had had everything in life except a child. The king and his wife went to the forest to carry penance. Sage Vishwamitra gave king, Ekashar Gajana Mantra to chant and thus prince Rukmaganda was born. Rukmaganda grew up into a beautiful young prince.

Rukmanganda during his hunting trip stopped at the hermitage of Rishi Vachaknavi. Mukunda, Rishi's wife fell in love with prince's beauty and asked him to fulfill her desire. He flatly refused and left the ashram. Mukunda became very much lovesick. Knowing her plight, Indra took the form of Rukmaganda and had pleasure with her. Mukunda became pregnant and gave birth to a son Gritsamada. Gritsamada curses his mother on knowing truth of his birth to become a throny plant bearing Bhor fruits.

Mukunda in turn cursed Gritsamada, that a cruel rakshas (demon) will born from him. Suddenly a heavenly voice said 'Gritsamada is Indra's son' leaving both of them shocked. Then Mukunda gets converted to Bhor plant and ashamed Gritsamada, leaves to Pushpak forest for penance. Lord Ganesha contented by Gritsamada's penance tells him that he will get a brave son who cannot be defeated by anybody other than Shankara. Gritsamada asks for the forest to become holy and so devotees get attainment of their aims here. He urged Ganapati to stay there permanently and asked for knowledge of Brahma. The forest is called Bhadraka today. Gritsamada built a temple there and the idol installed there is called Varadavinayaka.

It is said that if the coconut received as prasad during Maghi Chaturthi is consumed one will be blessed with a son. Hence there is heavy rush during Maghi Utsav.

The Temple has been recently renovated by the trustees. The old temple used to look like a house with a tiled roof. There is a Gomukh towards the north. Holy Water comes out of this gomukh. The Temple is 8 feet long and 8 feet broad. The Dome is 25 feet high with a golden pinnacle.

The original idol of the varadvinayak is visible from outside the sanctum. Since the idol was in bad  condition, temple trustees immersed that idol and consecrated a new idol. However this decision taken by the trustees was objected by a few people and a law-suit was filed in the district court.T wo stone idols of Siddhi and Riddhi are visible in the sanctum. Two ganesh idols are situated in the two corners. The Idol in the left corner is smeared in vermillion and idol in the right is made up of white marble with its trunk bent toward the right. The idol is in a sitting position, with it's trunk bent to the left. The idol faces toward the east. 

|| Shreemad Varad Vinayako Vijayate ||