AshtaVinayak7-Shri Ballaleshwar - Pali.

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Pali is 110 Kms. from Pune and 30 Kms. from Karjat. Buses from Pune are Karjat

are available to reach Pali.

The temple is situated at one end of the village and is facing east. The idol is

about 3 feet high. The special attraction here is a big bell in the temple which

is made of "Panchadhatu" (alloy of five metals). This big bell was manufactured

in Europe and was brought to India and installed in the church of Vasai-Sasti

in Konkan. One Chimajee Appa of the Peshva regime defeated the Portugese and

brought the bell from the church and fixed it up in the temple. There is a

small temple of Dhundi Vinayaka claimed to be "Swayambhu" behind Balleleshwar

temple. This Vinayaka is offered the first worship every day, before worship is

done in the Ballaleshwar temple.

The story about this place goes as under: (Ganesh Purana)

Once upon a time there lived a grocer named Kalyan with his wife. They had a son

named Ballal. He was very fond of worship of Lord Vinayaka. His sincerity was so

transparent that even his friends started following him. This worried the

villagers, because they thought that their children would become lazy and not

do any useful work for their families. They complained to the grocer. He got

wild with anger and went into the forest in search of Ballal to teach him a

lesson. Ballal was in deep meditation when his father came. His friends

deserted him and ran away. His father, Kalvan broke the idol of Ganesha in

front of the meditating Ballal, beat him mercilessly, tied him to a tree and

went home. Lord Ganesha took the form of a Brahmin and freed Ballal and heeled

all the wounds sustained at the hands of his father. Ballal intuitively

recognised the true form of the Brahmin and prostrated to him. Pleased by the

devotion, the Lord asked as to what boon he wanted. Ballal requested the

Lord to stay there permanently in the forest. The Brahmin thereupon disappeared

and there stood in his place a big black rock with the form of Ganesha carved

on it.

This idol came to be known after the devotee, as Sri Ballaleshwar Vinayaka.

 

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