Shri Siddhivinayak Ganesh Mandir Sarasbaug Pune
Sarasbagh Ganapati Temple, dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesha, has a beautiful and rich historical past. The presiding deity of the temple, Shri Ganesha, is called Shri Siddhivinayak, as its trunk is bent towards the right. The temple is also popularly known as Taliyatala Ganapati, due to its location on an island in the middle of a lake.
About the rich historical past of Sarasbagh – Soon after the completion of the Shri Devdeveshwar Temple on the Parvati Hills/hill in the 18th century, Srimant Balaji Bajirao thought of creating a lake at the foothills of the Parvati Hills as an extension of beautification. And taking Shri Balaji Bajirao’s dream as his goal, Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa fulfilled it. An island of approximately 25 acres area was kept safe in the middle of this lake.After a few years, a beautiful garden was created on this island. In 1784, Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa built a small temple in Sarasbagh and installed the idol of Shri Siddhivinayak Gajanan.
Being a short distance away from the Parvati temple, this temple was also used for discussing and implementing military strategies by the Marathas against the Nizams and the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Peshwa, his commanders and advisors would travel to the lake by boat in secrecy operated by African natives to discuss issues and plans.Non-natives were chosen to pilot the boats because they could not understand the local Marathi language. According to the initial design, there was no space in the garden and there was a lake and a small temple in the centre. And the temple was called Talyatala Ganapati (Ganesha temple in the lake).
The idol of Shri Ganesha, the main presiding deity of the temple, is certainly small, but very beautiful, divine and has white aura. The original idol was made of Kurud stone. The original statue has been replaced twice, once in 1882 and again in 1990.The present small idol of Shri Ganesha made of white marble has been prepared by Rajasthani artisans. Even though the idol is small, the temple is designed in such a way that one can have darshan of the idol even if it is about 600 meters away on foot, in a moving car or by bus on the road outside.
In 1995, a small museum was built behind the temple complex, in which thousands of figures and statues of Lord Shri Ganesha are kept. A nominal fee of Rs 5 has been kept for entry into the museum. The old lake has now been converted into a permanent pond around the temple. Water creatures like fishes, turtles and herons along with other creatures can be easily seen in the pond. Lotus flowers in the pond further enhance its beauty.
Sarasbagh Ganapati Temple is run under the aegis of Sri Dev Deveshwar Sansthan, Parvati and Kothrud. The temple is a sacred ground for millions of devotees in Pune and around the world. On an average, ten thousand devotees visit Ganapati every day in Sarasbagh temple. This daily figure reaches eighty thousand devotees on the occasions of Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankashti Chaturthi. On the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi, a fair is also organized in the temple premises.
Popular Name: Talyatala Ganpati Temple
