Ashok Binayak Temple (Maru Ganesh) – Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction

Ashok Binayak (Vinayaka) is a Hindu temple located on the eastern side of Kathmandu Durbar Square in Maru Tole, within the Kathmandu Valley. This temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh, who is also known as Binayak. Hindus worship him as the god of luck. The temple is one of the four original Ganesh shrines in the Kathmandu Valley, alongside Chandra Binayak, Surya Binayak, and Jal Binayak. Other famous Ganesh temples in the valley include Kamal Binayak and Karya Binayak.

The intriguing name “Maru,” meaning “does not have” in the Newari language, originates from this temple. The temple’s design is a single-story structure without a “gajur,” which means there is no pointed design at the center-top of the roof. This design choice led to the naming of the locality as “Maru.”

The temple’s entire exterior is gold-plated and is currently surrounded by bars. On Tuesdays and special occasions like Dashain and Indra Jatra, the statue is adorned with a metallic cover made of silver and other metals. Additionally, the temple is decorated with bells.