Ashtavinayaka or eight Ganeshas is located in Maharashtra state of India, The Ashtavinayaka yatra or pilgrimage tour covers the eight holy temples of Ganesha which are situated around Pune.
Lord Ganesha has been a very popular deity and is privileged to be worshipped first and foremost bet service to any God. He is believed to be a removal of hurdles and pains and source of happiness and wishes.
Ballaleshwar Pali temple is one of the eight temples of Lord Ganesha, Ashtavinayak. Among Astavinayakas, Pali's Ballaleshwar is the only vinayak who is famous by his devotee's name. It is located in village Pali which is at a distance of 30 km from Karjat in Sudhagad taluka of Raigad district. It is situated between fort Sarasgad and the river Amba.
The murti
The murti of Vinayaka, sits on a stone throne. It faces east and with its trunk turned left, sitting against a background of silver which displays Riddhi and Siddhi waving chamaras. The idol's eyes and navel contain diamonds.
Story:
This is story of Krityuga in the country Sindhu. In the village of Pali there was a businessman called Kalyan & his wife Indumati. They had a son Ballal who was a staunch devotee of Ganpati. Along with other children Ballal used to worship with small stones being treated as Gods. Once the children went outside the village & saw a big stone. At the insistence of Ballal, the children treated the stone as Ganpati & started worshipping. All of them got so engrossed that they forgot about hunger & thirst or about day or night.
Their parents were waiting for the children at their homes. When the children did not return on time, they all went to Kalyan's house and complained about Ballal. Kalyan seth become furious took a stick and went in search of children. He saw children listening Ganesh purana outside the village. In rage he broke the small temples built by the children who fled away. Ballal was caught by his father while submerged in meditation and was beaten until he bled. His father tied him to a tree and smashed all the pooja materials collected by the children. He threw away the big stone which children treated as Ganpati. "Let me see which God protects you now" he said, and went home.After being tied up Ballal cursed whoever had done it.He said,"Let them become blind, deaf, dumb and hunchbacked".Though he was affected by pain, hunger and thirst, he kept on chanting the name of Gajanan till he fainted.Ballal entreated Vinayaka to appear. Lord Ganpati was moved by the child's devotion and appeared in the form of a Brahmin before Ballal & touched him. Ballal's thirst and hunger vanished, wounds were healed & he felt a new vigour moving in his body. He prostrated before the Brahmin whom he recognised as Gajanan & worshipped him. Ganpati told Ballal to ask for a boon. Ballal said " Let me have unshaken devotion towards you. You must stay at this place & remove the miseries of the people, who come to you." Ganesh said, "I shall ever remain here in my part form, I will take your name before mine & be called as Ballal Vinayak." Then he embraced Ballal & vanished into the nearby stone. Then the stone's cracks disappeared,and was whole again.
That stone statue is called Ballaleshwar. The stone idol which Kalyan vaishya threw away is also called as Dhundi Vinayak. This is a swayambhoo Moorti. It is worshipped before Ballaleshwar is worshipped.
Facts & Temple History
The original wooden temple was renovated in 1760 to make way for a new stone temple designed by Shri Fadnis. This stone is shaped in the form of the letter 'shree'; it was made by mixing lead with the cement during construction. The east-facing temple was carefully positioned so that during Dakshinayan at sun-rise, the rays of the sun falls directly on the Vinayaka. The temple contains a bell that was brought back by Chimaji Appa after his defeat of the Portuguese in Vasai and Sasthi.
Location & How to reach:
By Road:It is in Sudhagad Taluka – near Nagothane. You can get bus at Alibag. It is at a distance of 30 k.m. from Karjat. From Mumbai via Panvel and Khopoli, Pali is at a distance of 124 k.m.
From Pune via Lonavala and Khopoli, Pali is at a distance of 111 k.m.
Regular bus services are available from Mumbai, Pine, Karjat and Panvel.
Mumbai – Khopoli is 90 k.m. and Khopoli – Pali is 38 k.m..
It is possible to go to Pali from Nagpthane on Mumbai – Goa highway
Nagothane – Pali is 13 k.m.
By Rail: Nearest railway stations are Panvel, Khopoli
By Air: Mumbai is nearest airport.
Alibag beach, Raigad fort, Harihareshwar
Temple Schedule:
The Ballaleshwar Ashta Vinayak Temple opens daily at 5.00 am and closes at 11.30 pm. Please note that the outer sanctum of the temple closes at 10.30 pm. On Chaturthi days, the timing of pooja is between 6.00 am to 9.00 am and on these days, the Ganesha idol is offered panchamrut snanam (bath), Royal dress, Naivadya, Aarti, Palakhi and mantrapushpam in the evening.
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