Mayureshwar – 1st of the 21 Swayambu Ganesha Series

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah

From this post I am starting a series on the 21 ancient swayambu forms of Lord Ganesha and the temples associated with that particular form.  These 21 temples are spread across India. I will also be adding the mythological story behind each form of Ganesha.

Mayureshwar Vinayak

Who is Mayureswara?

Mayureswara is the first incarnation of Ganesha, as per the Ganesha Puran.  Ganesha’s incarnation was during Treta yuga.  He was born to Shiva and Parvati.  He has six arms and is sweta varna (white complexion). He incarnates for the purpose of killing the demon Sindhu.

Story behind Mayureshwara

During Treta yuga, there was a king named Chakrapani living in Gandali Nagari of Mithila kingdom.  His wife was Queen Ugra, she was a mahapativrata. The couple was blessed with all happiness except that they had no children.  Both, the king and the queen started a penance asking  Surya devata ( Lord Sun) to fulfill there wishes . With the blessing of Surya, Ugra conceived. The embryo was so bright and powerful, that she could not bear the brilliance of it so she released the embryo in the sea.  From that embryo, a brilliant  child was born. Samudra devata (Lord of Sea) disguised himself as a Brahmin, reached Chakrapani’s court and gave the child back to him. As the child was born in the sea the king named him `Sindhu’.

Days passed and Sindhu grew up, his teacher  Shukracharya, directed him to worship Lord Surya inorder to become powerful. Accordingly, Sindu for two thousand years continuously meditated on Lord Surya, who finally was pleased with him and in return Sindhu asked for immortality.  Lord Surya, gave Sindu Amrita and told him thus

Oh Sindu! take this Amrita.  This will remain in your stomach (near navel). As long as this nectar is present in your body , you will not die.

Sindhu after drinking Amrita became more powerful. King Chakrapani realised that his son Sindhu became intelligent and powerful because of the boon and gave him the kingdom.  The new ambitious king, Sindhu started on a universal quest. With his incomparable valiant he won many battles against  Indra, Vishnu and other God’s.   After winning the war, Sindhu imprisoned all the devas  at Gandaki Nagari. Now King Sindhu turned towards Lord Shiva, and attacked Kailash.

The imprisioned devas started praying to Lord Ganesha.  The gods and sages started worshipping Ganesha by performing the ‘Yagna’(worshipping with the fire). From the fumes of the yagnya a peacock emerged out with Omkar Ganesha.  Ganesha was delighted and said

“I will be born again.  I, the son of Parvarti will kill Sindhu . During Krita Yuga everyone will know me as `Vinayaka’, while in Treta yuga you will see me as ‘Mayureshwara, in Dwapar yuga I will be called as Gajanana and in Kalyug I will be named as Dhumraketu.  * (All the 4 avatara’s of Ganesha as per Ganesha Puran)

Lord Shiva and Parvati left Kailash and moved to  Meru Parvat. Goddess Parvati commenced a 12 yearpenance of Lord Ganesha with Ek Akshar Mantra `OM’ .  In the end she received a boon that Lord Ganesha will take a rebirth as her son  on Bhadrapad Shuddha Chaturthi.  Parvati made an idol of Lord Ganesha using the turmeric of her body and it turned into a live child.  Shiva and Parvati named their son as Ganesh.

Days passed. Lord Ganesha was ten years old, Shiva & Parvati fed up of  Sindu’s harassment decided to move from Meru Parvat,  the demon Kamalasur came in their way. Lord Ganesha challenged Kamalasur and killed him.  Now Lord Ganesha  attacked Sindu’s Gandaki Nagar. Lord Ganesha  killed Sindu’s two sons. A defeated Sindhu ran away from the battlefield. Sindhu’s father advised him to  surrender to Lord Ganesha, but he denied and continued the battle.

Lord Ganesha attacked him with parashu(hatcher) and removed the nectar from the naval and killed Sindhu.   Lord Ganesha was riding on the peacock during the battle , so he was named as `Mayureshwara’ or `Moreshwar’. After Brahma  requested Lord Ganesha to live in Morgaon forever for his devotees. Lord Ganesha accepted their request. Brahma prepared an idol of sand, clay and precious stones and installed at Morgaon on Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi.

Lord Ganesha told them whoever lives and prays over here wont fear for any obstacle or danger. Lord Mayureshwara is very powerful, potent and awaked god. If you wish something holy at Morgaon then that wish will definitely become true. This is the belief of devotees of Lord Ganesha and they experience it. `Ganapati Bappa Moraya’ as popular acclamation is of Lord Mayureshwara .

About Morgaon

Morgaon is the adhya pitha, foremost centre of worship of the Ganapatya sect.  This temple is the starting point of the pilgrimage of Astavinayak Yatra, around Pune.  While Mudgala Purana dedicates 22 chapters to Morgaon’s greatness, Ganesha Purana states that Morgaon (Mayurapuri) is among the three most important places for Ganesha and the only one on earth (Bhuloka). The other locations are Kailash in heaven (actually Kailash is a mountain on earth in the Himalayas) and Adi-Shesha’s palace in Patalaloka (hell).  It is said that this temple is without beginning and without an end and it is believed that at the time of pralaya (the dissolution of the world), Ganesha will enter yoganidra here.  The holiness is compared with Kashi.

About the temple

The temple is covered from all sides by four Minarets and gives feeling of a mosque if seen from a distance. This was done to prevent attacks on the temple during Mughal periods.  The temple has 50 feet tall wall around it.   This is the only temple of Ashtavinayka with Nandi.

About the idol

Mayureshwar

 

 

Mayureshwar is in a sitting posture, facing east with the trunk curled towards his left. The idol has three eyes and has diamonds in the eyes and on hands. Ganesha is depicted armed with a spear and on the head of the deity is the hood of cobra which encircles His head. Most noteworthy feature of the temple is that here one finds two vahanas for Ganesh – one is the usual mooshika (mouse) and then the peacock, which is the vahana for this Incarnation.   However, this is not the original murti -which is said to have been consecrated twice by Brahma, once before and once after being destroyed by the asura Sindhurasur. The original murti, smaller in size and made of atoms of sand, iron, and diamonds, was supposedly enclosed in a copper sheet by the Pandavas and placed behind the one that is currently worshiped.  The brass idols of Siddhi (Capability) and Buddhi (Intelligence), who are said to be the consorts of Mayureshwar Vinayak, are to his left and right.  The idol of ‘Nagnabhairava’ on the left side of the main deity is worshiped first and offered with coconut and jaggery before worshiping Mayureshwar Vinayaka.

Vastu Significance

A figurine or painting of Lord Mayureshwar can be placed in the house or office to ward off the damage caused by your enemies and to weaken them. The figurine or image should be facing East and hence should be installed on a West wall.

Location

 

Mayureshwar Temple, one of the eight Ashtavinayak Temples in Maharashtra, lies beside the Karha River in Morgaon village about 64 km south-east of Pune, en-route to Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

1)State Transport buses run between Pune and Baramati one can get down at Morgaon. Pune Morgaon distance is 64 km.

2)Pune Chauphula distance is 56 km. At Chauphula turn right on Mira road and follow the road till Morgaon.

3)From Jejuri railway station. Jejuri is on the rail track of Pune Kolhapur. State transport buses, private jeeps are available from Jejuri. Jejuri-Morgaon distance is 15 km.

4)One can go to Morgaon by southern railway by getting down at the station Neera and thereafter by road to Morgaon.