Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon is dedicated to Lord Ganesh and is one of the Eight Ashtavinayak temples located in Shirur Taluka, Ranjangaon. According to evidence, Lord Shiva worshipped Ganesh before going on to defeat the evil spirit of Tripurasura. Due to his size and numerous arms, Mahaganapati is known as Lord Ganesh.

Managanpati is shown sitting on a lotus with his consorts Siddhi (spiritual power) and Riddhi (prosperity) on either side of him. the idol of Lord Ganesha, known as “Mahotkat,” has 20 hands and 10 trunks. It is common to see images of Mahaganpati with eight, ten, or twelve arms. He is also referred to as Tripurarivade Mahaganpati because Shiva defeated the demon Tripurasur after calling upon this form of Ganpati.

Story Behind Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon

Tripurasur, the son of Sage Gritsamad, was a brilliant youngster who was a devotee of Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesh blessed the boy and gave him three puras made of precious metals for his devotion and prayers. They could only be destroyed by Lord Shiva. Tripurasur did, however, lose his way for a while and spread confusion throughout the world.

He committed such atrocities that even Lord Brahma and Vishnu became confused and fled. When the divine beings became frightened, Sage Narada advised them to seek Lord Ganesh’s assistance. The divine beings decided to summon Lord Ganesh, who appeared and offered to assist them.

In order to meet Tripurasur, Lord Ganesha acquired the identity of a Brahmin and built three flying machines. He gave Tripurasur the order to deliver the Chintamani idol from Mount Kailash in exchange. The ruthless Tripurasur then travelled to Mount Kailash, where he engaged in battle with Lord Shiva for the idol.

Lord Shiva realized that he was unable to defeat Lord Ganesh or destroy the Puras because he had not first offered his prayers to him. As a result, he chanted the Sadaakshar Mantra and prayed to Lord Ganesh, who then appeared and instructed him on how to defeat Tripurasur.

Lord Shiva followed the directions, defeated the arrogant Tripurasur, and then constructed a temple for Lord Ganesh there.

History of Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon

As per the history, the temple was built in the middle of the ninth and tenth centuries. The temple is developed to the point that sunbeams fall straightforwardly on Shree Ganesha’s idol. Since this temple was on its way to war, Shreemant Madhavrao Peshwa used to stop here to have Mahaganapati’s darshan.

The idol of Lord Ganesh was stored in Madhavrao Peshwa’s room in the temple’s stone cellar. Around this Swayambhu or self-radiating idol, he also constructed a stone sanctum. In 1790 A.D. he gave an acquired right to perform pooja of Mahaganapati to Shri Anyaba Dev.

Sardar Pawar and Shinde worked on the Temple mass of condos while Sardar Kibe and Owaris handled the Temple corridor. An icon made of five metals was given to Shri Anyaba Dev by the well-known hermit Morya Gosavi. This emblem is paraded through the streets on special occasions.

Architecture of Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon

Nagarkhana presides over the entrance gate to the passageway. This Nagarkhana was dedicated on May 3, 1997, by Maharashtra’s esteemed Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Joshi. The sanctuary has a huge and magnificent way entryway that faces east. There are icons of two doorkeepers, Jay and Vijay, close to the entrance.

The east-facing idol sits cross-legged, has a broad forehead, and has the trunk turned to the left. Riddhi and Siddhi are on both sides of Mahaganapati. Mahaganapati Dhyan is the practice of meditating on that idol. That icon isn’t taken out ordinarily. That idol was once hidden out of fear of Muslim invasion. Mahotkata is the name of that Ganesha. However, the trustees of the temple have denied that such an idol exists in the cellar.

The original temple’s architecture is thought to be similar to that of the 9th or 10th centuries based on the fact that stone pillars from the old temple can still be seen in the compound.

Facts about Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon

• Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon is that it has been constructed in a way that the Sun’s rays fall on the idol during the southern movement of the sun
• Lord Managanapati sits on a lotus. His consorts Riddhi-Siddhi accompany him. The Mahaganapati idol at Ranjangaon Ganpati Temple a Swayambu.
• During Ganesh Chaturthi, the villagers of Ranjangaon do not install idols of Ganesha in their homes. Instead, they pay a visit to the temple and pray.
• Devotees believe that there is another idol below the present idol. The idol has 10 trunks and 20 arms.
• Lord Shiva prayed to Lord Ganesh at this place before defeating the demon Tripurasur.

Famous Festivals In Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon

• The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated from the first to the fifth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, where Ganesh Chaturthi is the fourth day. The palkhi of Ganesha is taken for three consecutive days in these festivals.
• The Magh Utsav is an important festival at the Varadvinayak Temple. On Phalgun Shudh Poornima, which falls in the month of Phalgun (February or March), the vibrant festival of Holi is celebrated.
• Shravan: Janmashtami or Krishna Ashtami, Lord Krishna’s birthday is celebrated here with a Dahi Handi event during Shravan ( July- August)

How To reach Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon

Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon is nearly 50 km from Pune and is well connected through various modes of transportation.

By Air:  Baramati Airport is 21 kilometres and Pune Airport is 50 kilometres away from Mahaganapati Temple

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Uruli railway station which is 16 km from the Mahaganapati Temple Ranjangaon

By Road:  Pune is only about 50 km away from Ranjangaon. Regular state transport services run from the Pune Shivaji Nagar transport hub. You can also hire a taxi from any part of the city to get to Ranjangaon Temple.

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