Shri Moreshwar Temple or Shri Mayureshwar Mandir is an Ashtavinayaka Temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is located in Morgaon in Pune District, about 65 kilometres from the Pune City in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The temple is the starting and ending point of a pilgrimage of eight revered Ganesha temples called Ashtavinayaka. Morgaon (Peacock Village) is the Marathi name for this location. According to legend, Moreshwar is the name of the village’s presiding deity.

Story Behind Moreshwar Temple

According to history, Morya Gosavi was a well-known Ganapatya saint. He adored the Morgaon Ganesha Temple prior to migrating to Chinchwad. He constructed a new shrine there. The Brahmin Peshwa rulers gave royal support to this temple and other temples near Pune.

The Ganesha Purana describes Lord Ganesha’s incarnation, Mayureshwar, as having six arms and a white complexion. In the Treta Yuga, he was created with the intention of slaying the demon Sindhu. The Lord fought Sindhu on a peacock’s back and eventually defeated him.

History of Moreshwar Temple

Morya Gosavi (Moroba), a prominent Ganapatya saint, used to worship at the Morgaon Ganesha temple before moving to Chinchwad, where he built a new Ganesha temple. The Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire supported the Morgaon temple and other Ganapatya centres near Pune in the 18th century. The Peshwas, who adored Ganesha as their kuladaivat (“family god”), gave in land as well as money or potentially made augmentations to these Ganesha temples.

Legends claim that the Morgaon temple was not built before Morya Gosavi popularized it in the seventeenth century. However, even Morya Gosavi’s age is debated, ranging from the 13th–14th century to the 17th. As Ganesha incarnates at the Chinchwad temple, Morya Gosavi’s descendants frequently visited the Morgaon temple and controlled the finances and administration of numerous Ashthavinayak temples. Seeing the Morgaon icon, the popular arati song Sukhakarta Dukhaharta was written by the saint Samarth Ramdas in the 17th century.

Architecture of Moreshwar Temple

The first temple on the Asthavinayaka Yatra is the Morgaon Ganpati temple. An image of Ganesha stands in front of each of the four gates, which represent the four ages of life. The purpose of life is connected to each form. This Asthavinayaka temple is made of a single stone, and the Garbhagriha houses a central image of the Lord facing north.

There are two Deepmalas and a 6-foot mouse in the courtyard in front of the temple. A massive Nandi structure stands guard outside the temple gates, facing the Lord. In the area surrounding the assembly hall, there are 23 different idols representing various versions of Lord Ganesha. The deities of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi are housed in a newly built assembly hall.

Facts about Moreshwar Temple

• Traditionally, Moreshwar of Moregaon is the first temple visited by the pilgrims.
• The pilgrimage is considered incomplete if the pilgrim does not visit the Morgaon temple at the end of the pilgrimage.
• The central icon of Ganesha is worshipped daily: at 7 a.m., 12 noon and 8 p.m.
• There are two sacred trees in the courtyard: Shami and Bilva.
• The temple is one of the Ashtavinayaka, the eight revered shrines of Ganesha in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
• The eleven (11) staircases of the temple have important also the ‘Nandi’ in front of the temple.
•  The temple flourished due to the patronage of the Peshwa rulers and descendants of Moraya Gosavi (Moroba).

Famous Festivals In Moreshwar Temple

Millions of people visit the Moreshwar Temple every year to celebrate all of the festivals that are held here.  Here are some of the festivals celebrated at Morgaon Ganapati Temple:

• Ganesh Chaturthi is a significant celebration in this temple. It takes place in either September or August. It marks the beginning of a series of Hindu celebrations and is typically observed for five days.
• Bhadrapada Month Celebrations – Every year people from distant places gather in this place to offer prayers and seek blessings from the Lord Ganesha. It occurs in August or September, which is the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, and the celebrations last more than a month.
• Vijayadasami – Vijayadasami is another major festival in Morgaon Ganpati temple. It is celebrated in the month of September or October along with Navaratri, a major Hindu festival.

How to Reach Moreshwar Temple

The famous Moreshwar Temple in Morgaon is accessible by various modes of transport.

By Air: Pune airport is the nearest destination, within 75 km. Take cabs/taxis/buses to reach this temple.

By Rail: The Jejuri Railway Station which is 17 km from the temple. Also, Pune Junction is about 64 Km from this temple.

By Road: Asthavinayaka darshan, or special buses, transport visitors to each of the eight temples. At the temple itself, buses to and from Pune are also available.

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