The
Siddhi Vinayak temple at Siddhatek is located
at a distance of about 200 km east of Pune.
Siddhatekcha
Shri Siddhi Vinayak is considered is to be one of
the Ashta Vinayak Shrines of Maharashtra, celebrating
eight instances of legends related to Ganesha.
Legend
has it Mahavishnu who was engaged in a serious battle
against the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, was dismayed
by his inability to bring the battle to a quick
and decisive finish. Shiva advised him to propitate
Ganesha. Upon doing so, Ganesha appeared on the
battlefield, and his appearance strengthened Mahavishnu's
resolve and abilities and enabled him to vanquish
the demons with ease. Ganesha's appearance on the
battlefield is marked by the Siddhivinayak shrine
at Siddhatek, said to be capable of granting Siddhi.
Mahavishnu
is worshipped as the destroyer of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha
at Tiruvallur near Chennai in Tamilnadu, and as the restorer
of the Vedas from the same demons, at Indalur in Mayiladuturai
near Thanjavur again in Tamilnadu, both these temples being
over 1200 years old.
The Temple : The
Siddhatek Siddhivinayak temple is a hill temple, built by
Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, who is also credited with rebuilding
the Vishnu Pada temple at Gaya, the Vishwanath temple at
Benares and several other temples. Ganesha is enshrined
in a seated posture with his consorts Siddhi and Riddhi.
Situated on the
banks of river Bhima Siddhatek lies in Karjat taluka
of Ahmednagar district. Wheat & Suggarcane fields
are seen every where. Small houses covered with grass
& walls made up of soil is speciality of this
area.Herds of animals & sheeps will be seen grazing
on expanded fields.
1. Daund is convinient railway station on Pune - Solapur
railway line.(Dhund is at 78 kms from Pune via Hadapsar-Loni-Yavat-Chaufula
& Patas).
2. Daund-Siddhatek is 18kms. State transport buses
stops at Shirapur, 1km prior to Siddhatek. By walking
down a distance of 1km from Shirapur you come across
river Bhima.
Siddhatek does
not have any good accommodation. By the banks of the
Bhima, on the Pune side, one can find village women
preparing wholesome, tasty Maharashtrian food. For
Rs 35 per meal, diners may have unlimited
bhakri (rotis made with a choice of jowar/ bajra/
wheat flour, on stone stoves), pithala (a thick gram
flour preparation) and some vegetable dish. After
the long drive to Siddhatek and the short climb to
the temple, this break is welcome.
Temple is opened
at 4.00 o'clock in the morning. From 4.30 a.m. to
5.00 o'clock Ganesh Pooja is performed.
Khichadi Naivedyam is offered
at 10.00 o'clock in the morning, Panchamrut (milk,
curd, honey, ghee) pooja is done at 11.00 a.m. and
Mahanaivedyam is offered at 12.00 noon.
Third pooja is performed after
sunset. Dhooparati takes place from 8.30 p.m. to 9.15
p.m. and the temple closes for the day.
Bhadrapada and Magh Shudh Pratipada
to Panchami (from 1st day to 5th day) are celebrated
on grand scale. Maha Pooja and Maha Naivedyam is offered
continously for three days. Palanquin of Siddhivinayak
is set out at 8.00 p.m. for continously 3 nights.
Shree Dharanidhar Chintaman Dev is landlord of Siddhatek.
Morning Kapoor (camphor) Aarti is sponsored by him.
Land revenue is utilised towards expenses of festivals,
Naivedyam and Nandadeep. Large number of devotees
attend Magh festival.
