Karmandir Shri Mayureshwar, Morgaon
Morgaon, Baramati taluka, Pune district, Maharashtra
About
Shri Mayureshwar of Morgaon is the first temple in the traditional Ashtavinayak yatra, and the yatra also ends here, so pilgrims visit it twice. The village sits on the bank of the Karha river, about 65 km from Pune. 'Mor' means peacock, and here Ganesh ji is worshipped as Mayureshwar, the lord who rides a peacock. The Ganapatya tradition, which worships Ganesh ji as the Supreme, counts Morgaon as its foremost seat. The murti is believed to be swayambhu (self-formed). Ganesh ji is seated, with the trunk turned to the left, a cobra hood above the head and diamonds set in the eyes and navel.
The story
The Ganesha Purana tells that a demon named Sindhu once troubled all three worlds. He had received a bowl of amrit as a boon from Surya dev and kept it hidden inside his own body, so he was very hard to defeat. The devtas prayed to Ganesh ji. Ganesh ji came as the son of Parvati Maa and Shiv ji, and as a boy he mounted a peacock and took the name Mayureshwar. At Morgaon he defeated Sindhu's army and ended the demon, and peace returned. Devotees believe Brahma ji himself set up the shrine here.
A second story explains the big Nandi that sits in front of the temple, which is unusual for a Ganesh temple. Nandi was being carried on a cart to a nearby Shiv temple, but the cart broke down right here, and no one could move Nandi again. People came to believe that Nandi himself chose to stay before Mayureshwar.
In history, the Ganapatya saint Morya Gosavi worshipped here before he moved to Chinchwad. The Peshwas, who worshipped Ganesh ji as their family deity, supported the temple. Devotees also say that Samarth Ramdas composed the well-loved aarti 'Sukhakarta Dukhaharta' after darshan of Mayureshwar here.
Visiting
October to February is the most pleasant time; summers are hot, and Ganesh Chaturthi and Maghi Jayanti bring big crowds. Dress modestly. By temple custom, devotees bow to Nagna Bhairav before Mayureshwar. Jejuri, home of Khandoba, is about 17 km away. Remember to come back here at the end to complete the yatra.
Festivals
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi), with a palkhi procession
- Maghi Ganesh Jayanti (Magh Shukla Chaturthi), with a palkhi procession
- Sankashti Chaturthi every month
