Shree Varadvinayak Ganapati Temple – Mahad, India

Introduction

The Varad Vinayak Ganpati, also known as the Mahad Ganpati Temple or Varadavinayaka Mahad, is celebrated as one of the Ashtavinayak temples dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha. Situated in the small town of Mahad within the Khalapur taluka, close to Karjat and Khopoli in Raigad District, Maharashtra, India, this temple holds a significant place among devotees.

The Varadvinayak Mahad Ganpati Temple, marking the seventh stop in the Ashtavinayak Darshan yatra or tour, houses a self-emerged idol, known as a ‘Swayambhu Murti.’ The temple, recognized as a Math, features a simple design with a tiled roof and a 25-feet-high dome topped with a golden pinnacle and summit (Kalas), adorned with a cobra carving, which is also revered in Hinduism. The structure itself measures 8 feet in both length and width.

Originally, the idol of Varadvinayak was placed outside the sanctum but was moved due to weathering. The temple trustees replaced it with a new idol, sparking controversy and leading to legal action, the outcome of which remains pending. Currently, visitors can see two idols: one inside the sanctum and the original outside. The sanctum, crafted from stone and embellished with intricate elephant carvings, enshrines the deity.

Lord Ganesha, revered here as Varada Vinayaka, symbolizes the granter of boons and success. This shrine faces east and presents Lord Ganesha in a seated posture with his trunk turned left. The sanctum also hosts stone idols of Riddhi and Siddhi, accompanying Lord Ganesha.

To the north side of the temple is a Gomukh, from which holy water flows, and to the west lies a sacred pond. The temple complex also includes the idol of Mushika, the Navagraha Devtas, and a Shivalinga. Celebrations take place during the waxing period of Bhadrapad Shuddh, from the first day to Panchami, and in Magh Shuddh up to Panchami, marking the temple’s major festivals.