The Ashtavinayak are eight Ganesha temples in Maharashtra, visited in this order: Moreshwar at Morgaon, Siddhivinayak at Siddhatek, Ballaleshwar at Pali, Varadvinayak at Mahad, Chintamani at Theur, Girijatmaj at Lenyadri, Vighneshwar at Ozar and Mahaganapati at Ranjangaon; the yatra ends with a return to Morgaon.
| # | Name | Place | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MoreshwarMayureshwar, Ganesha riding a peacock | Morgaon | Pune |
| 2 | Siddhivinayak | Siddhatek, on the Bhima river | Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) |
| 3 | Ballaleshwarnamed after the devotee Ballal | Pali | Raigad |
| 4 | Varadvinayak | Mahad, near Khopoli | Raigad |
| 5 | Chintamani | Theur | Pune |
| 6 | Girijatmajinside ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves | Lenyadri, near Junnar | Pune |
| 7 | Vighneshwar | Ozar | Pune |
| 8 | Mahaganapati | Ranjangaon | Pune |
See these tirthas on a mapEach name opens its own page: place, deity, story and sources
The order of the yatra
According to Maharashtra Tourism the Ashtavinayak yatra begins and ends at Morgaon. Siddhatek is the second stop, Pali the third, Mahad the fourth, Theur the fifth and Lenyadri the sixth; Ranjangaon is the last temple, after which pilgrims return to Morgaon.
Five of the eight temples are in Pune district, two in Raigad and one in Ahilyanagar. The Maharashtra government resolution of 10 October 2024 (the development plan for restoring the Ashtavinayak temples) lists the temples under the same districts.
Self-manifested images
According to a Maharashtra Tourism leaflet, tradition holds the images in all eight temples to be swayambhu, that is, found in natural form rather than carved. The Lenyadri temple stands inside an ancient group of Buddhist rock-cut caves, and Ballaleshwar at Pali is the only Ashtavinayak named after a devotee (Ballal).
Where the sources differ
- The consorts beside Moreshwar at Morgaon: the Maharashtra Tourism web page names Riddhi and Siddhi, while the same department’s leaflet names Siddhi and Buddhi.
- Siddhatek’s district: the Maharashtra Tourism pages use the old name Ahmednagar; the 2024 government resolution uses the new name Ahilyanagar.
- Varadvinayak’s Mahad is a village near Khopoli (the Maharashtra Tourism leaflet gives Khopoli, about 7 km, as the nearest station); it should not be confused with the town of Mahad elsewhere in Raigad district.
Frequently asked questions
What are the eight Ashtavinayak?
Moreshwar (Morgaon), Siddhivinayak (Siddhatek), Ballaleshwar (Pali), Varadvinayak (Mahad), Chintamani (Theur), Girijatmaj (Lenyadri), Vighneshwar (Ozar) and Mahaganapati (Ranjangaon).
Where does the Ashtavinayak yatra begin?
At the Moreshwar temple in Morgaon (Pune district); the yatra ends with a return there (Maharashtra Tourism).
Is Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak temple one of the Ashtavinayak?
No. The Siddhivinayak of the Ashtavinayak is at Siddhatek in Ahilyanagar district, on the Bhima river.
In which districts are the Ashtavinayak temples?
Five in Pune (Morgaon, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, Ranjangaon), two in Raigad (Pali, Mahad) and one in Ahilyanagar (Siddhatek).
Sources
- Department of Tourism, Maharashtra (maharashtratourism.gov.in): the Ashtavinayak temple pages and the leaflet "Ashtavinayak pilgrimage in Maharashtra"
- Government of Maharashtra, Planning Department, government resolution of 10 October 2024: development plan for restoring the Ashtavinayak Ganapati temples (archive.org copy)
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