abodes of ganesha

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Abodes of Ganesha

Most worship services in India commence with a brief invocation to Ganesha,

believed to be the remover of obstacles and the source of good luck. There are

several modern shrines to Ganesha across the length and breadth of the Indian

subcontinent, especially in the southern state of Tamilnadu. All Saivite temples

bear several shrines to the elephant faced Ganesha. SAMRATCHANA

takes you on a tour of prominent Ganapati shrines, some of which have been held

in reverence for centuries.

 

All about Ganesha: Ganesha the elephant faced God is usually worshipped first

before any other worship service is carried out to any other deity.

 

Pillayaarpatti near Karaikkudi in Tamilnadu houses an ancient temple with a rock

cut shrine to Ganesha, Karpaka Vinayakar. It is rich in festivals and

traditions.

 

The Ashta Vinayak shrines: The State of Maharashtra holds Ganapati in great

reverence. 8 of these shrines around Pune are collectively referred to as the

Ashta Vinayak temples.

 

The Siddhi Vinayak temple in Bombay is a modern shrine visited by thousands

throughout the year.

 

Vatapi Ganapati is an image of Ganapati said to have been brought back by the

Pallava King during his conquest of Badami, formerly known as Vatapi.

 

Moreshwar in Moregaon, is one of the most popular of the Ashta Vinayaka shrines

in Maharashtra depicting Ganapati on a peacock mount.

 

Ranjangaon in Maharashtra enshrines Mahaganapati depicting the legend of Shiva

invoking Ganesha during his battle with the demons.

 

Mahad in Maharashtra enshrines Varadvinayak associated with the legend of

Rukmangada, Indra and the Bhadravana forest.

 

Girijaatmaja Vinayak at Lenyadri hills in Maharashtra is a representation of

Ganesha in the form of an infant.

 

Ballal Vinayak at Pali in Maharashtra is associated with the legend of a young

lad Ballal's devotion to Ganapati.

 

Chintamani Vinayak in Maharashtra is associated with the legend of the

Chintamani gem and Kapila Muni.

 

Siddhi Vinayak in Siddhatek in Maharashtra commemorates the legend of Vishnu

invoking Ganesha, during his battle with the demons.

 

The hill temple dedicated to Taayumanavar - Shiva of the 1st millennium CE, is

popularly reffered to as the Ucchi Pillayar temple (Rock Fort - Malaikkottai

temple complex) and is associated with legends from the Ramayana.

 

The Tiruvalanchuzhii Shiva temple near Kumbhakonam in Tamilnadu is known more

popularly for its shrine to Sweta Vinayakar, said to be made of the foam of the

milky ocean (Ksheera Sagaram).

 

 

 

The Gokarana Shivastalam in Karnataka and the Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple at

Deogarh in Bihar are prominent centers of Shiva worship. Ganesha is said to have

been the cause of the origin of these worship centers.

 

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