Ashtavinayaka

Ashtavinayaka is a Sanskrit term which means "eight Ganeshas". The Ashtavinayaka Yatra refers to a pilgrimage to the eight Hindu temples in the state of Maharashtra, India, centered around the city of Pune. The eight temples house eight distinct idols of Ganesha, the Hindu deity of unity, prosperity, learning, and removing obstacles. Each of these temples has its own individual legend and history, as distinct from each other as the murtis in each temple. The form of each murti of Ganesha and his trunk are distinct from one another. There are other temples of eight Ganesha in various other parts of Maharashtra; however, the ones around Pune are more well known and visited. To complete the Ashtavinayaka Yatra, one must revisit the first temple after visiting all the eight temples.
The Ashtavinayaka Yatra is a pilgrimage covering these eight holy abodes of Ganesha in and around Pune and Raigad districts of Maharashtra. Out of these 8 Temples, 5 are in Pune district, 2 are in Raigad district and 1 is in Ahmednagar District. Ganesha is worshiped first before any other worship service is carried out to any other deity. The pilgrimage takes 3 days to complete. As per scriptures travel starts from Moreswar in Moregaon then Siddhivinayak temple of Siddhatek, Pali, Mhad, Theur Chintamani Ganesh in Pune, Lenyandri, Ozar, Ranjangaon then back to Moregaon where pilgrimage had started.

Temples

The eight temples/idols of the Ashtavinayaka in their religious sequence are:

#	Temple	Location
1	Mayureshwar Temple	Morgaon, Pune district
2	Siddhivinayak Temple	Siddhatek, Ahmednagar district
3	Ballaleshwar Temple	Pali, Raigad district
4	Varadavinayak Temple	Mahad, Raigad district
5	Chintamani Temple	Theur, Pune district
6	Girijatmaj Temple	Lenyadri, Pune district
7	Vighneshwar Temple	Ozar, Pune district
8	Mahaganapati Temple	Ranjangaon, Pune district

Traditionally, Moreshwar of Moregaon is the first temple visited by the pilgrims. The temples should be visited in this order Moregaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyandri, Ozar, Ranjangaon. The pilgrimage is concluded with a second visit to Moregaon.
All these murtis are called svayambhu idols in Sanskrit.

Mayureshwar

This is the most important temple on this pilgrimage. The temple, built from black-stone during the Bahamani reign, has four gates. The temple is situated in the centre of the village. The temple is covered from all sides by four minarets and gives the impression of a mosque if seen from a distance. This was done to prevent attacks on the temple during Mughal periods. The temple has a 50-foot tall wall around it.
There is a Nandi sitting in front of this temple entrance, which is unique, as Nandi is normally in front of only Shiva temples. However, the story says
that this statue was being carried to some Shivamandir during which the vehicle carrying it
broke down and the Nandi statue could not be removed from its current place.
The murti of Ganesha, riding a peacock, in the form of Mayureshwara is believed to have slain the demon Sindhu at this spot. The idol, with its trunk turned to the left, has a cobra poised over it protecting it. This form of Ganesha also has two other murtis of Siddhi and Riddhi.
However, this is not the original murti -which is said to have been consecrated twice by Brahma, once before and once after being destroyed by the asura Sindhurasur. The original murti, smaller in size and made of atoms of sand, iron, and diamonds, was supposedly enclosed in a copper sheet by the Pandavas and placed behind the one that is currently worshipped.
The cited temple is the Morgaon Temple, one of the Ashtavinayaka temples in Maharashtra, India. It is located in the village of Morgaon, some 55 kilometres from Pune, along the Karha River. The name of the village is taken from the Marathi word for peacock, and it is claimed to be laid out in the shape of a peacock.
The Ashtavinayaka temples are a significant pilgrimage circuit dedicated to Lord Ganesha in Maharashtra. This circuit's temples are each associated with a different mythology and divinity. Morgaon Temple is one of these eight temples, and it is spiritually and culturally significant to Lord Ganesha worshippers.

Siddhivinayak

According to regional legend, Vishnu is believed to have vanquished the asuras Madhu and Kaitabha after propitiating Ganesha here.
This is the only murti of these eight with the trunk positioned to the right.
It is believed that the two saints Shri Morya Gosavi and Shri Narayan Maharaj of Kedgaon received their enlightenment here.
The temple is North-facing and is on a small hillock. The main road towards the temple was believed to be built by Peshwa's general Haripant Phadake. The inner sanctum, 15 feet high and 10 feet wide is built by Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar. The idol is 3 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. The idol faces North-direction. The stomach of the murti is not wide, but Riddhi and Siddhi murtis are sitting on one thigh. This murti's trunk is turning to the right. The right-sided-trunk Ganesha is supposed to be very strict for the devotees. To make one round around the temple one has to make the round trip of the hillock. This takes about 30 minutes with moderate speed.
Peshwa general Haripant Phadake lost his General's position and did 21 Pradakshina around the temple. On the 21st day Peshwa's court-man came and took him to the court with royal honor. Haripant promised the God that he will bring the stones of the castle which he will win from the first war he will fight as the general. The stone pathway is built from the Badami-Castle which was attacked by Haripant soon after he became the general.
This temple is situated off the Pune-Solapur highway about 48 km from the town of Srigonda in Ahmadnagar district. The temple is situated next to Bhima river. On Pune-Solapur railway, Daund Railway station is 18 km from here.

Ballaleshwar

Ganesha is believed to have saved this boy-devotee, Ballala, who was beaten by local villagers and his father for his single-minded devotion to him.
The original wooden temple was reconstructed into a stone temple by Nana Phadanavis in 1760. There are two small lakes constructed on two sides of the temple. One of them is reserved for the puja of the Deity.
This Temple faces the east and has two sanctums. The inner one houses the murti and has a Mushika with modaka in his forepaws in front of it. The hall, supported by eight exquisitely carved pillars demands as much attention as the idol, sitting on throne carved like a cypress tree. The eight pillars depict the eight directions. Inner sanctum is 15 feet tall and outer one is 12 feet tall. The temple is constructed in such a way that after the winter solstice, the sun rays fall on the Ganesha murti at sunrise. The temple is built with stones which are stuck together very tight using melted lead.
Like a few other murtis, this one has diamonds embedded in the eyes and navel, and with His trunk pointing to the left.
One speciality of this temple is that the prasad offered to this Ganapati at Pali is Besan Laadu instead of Modak that is normally offered to other Ganapatis.
The shape of the idol itself bears a striking semblance with the mountain which forms the backdrop of this temple. This is more prominently felt if one views the photograph of the mountain and then sees the idol.
The temple is located in the town of Pali, off the Mumbai-Pune highway, about 11 km before Nagothane on the Mumbai-Goa highway. This is located 30 km to the South-West of Karjat Railway Station. Mumbai-Panvel-Khopoli-Pali is 124 km. Pune-Lonavla-Khopoli-Pali is 111 km.
Behind this temple is the temple of Shri Dhundi-Vinayak which is West facing. This is a very rare idol which is facing the West. The story says that this idol was the same one which
was thrown by Ballala's father while Ballala was worshipping it.
History of Temple
Ganesha Purana gives an elaborate picture of LEELAS of Ganesha. The legendary story of Ballaleshwar is covered in Upasana Khand Section -22 occurred in Pali – the old name Pallipur.
Kalyansheth was a merchant in Pallipur and was married to Indumati. The couple was childless for quite some time but later had a son known as Ballal. As Ballal grew, he spent much of his time in worshiping and praying. He was devotee of Ganesha and used to worship stone idol of Ganesha in the forest along with his friends and companions. As it used to take time, the friends would reach home late. Regular delay in returning house used to irritate the parents of the friends of Ballal who complained to his father saying that Ballal was responsible for spoiling the kids. Already unhappy with Ballal for not concentrating on his studies, Kalyansheth was boiling with anger when he heard the complaint. Immediately he reached the place of worship in the forest and devastated Pooja arrangements organized by Ballal and his friends. He threw away the Stone Idol of Ganesha and broke the pandal. All the kids were frightened but Ballal who was engrossed in Pooja and japa, did not notice the event. Kalayan beat Ballal mercilessly and tied him to the tree saying to get fed and freed by Ganesha. He left for home thereafter.
Ballal semiconscious and tied to the tree in the forest was lying as that with severe pain all over, started calling his beloved God, Ganesha.
"O Lord, Ganesha, I was busy in praying you, I was right and humble but my cruel father has spoiled my act of devotion and hence I am unable to perform Pooja."
Ganesha was pleased and responded quickly. Ballal was freed. He blessed Ballal to be superior devotee with larger lifespan. Ganesha hugged Ballal and said that his father would suffer for his wrongdoings.
Ballal insisted that Ganesha should continue to stay there at Pali. Nodding His head Ganesha made his permanent stay at Pali as Ballal Vinayak and disappeared in a large stone. This is famous as Ballaleshwar.