Bhrushund Ganapati Temple

Bhrushund Ganapati Temple or Bhrushundi Ganapati Temple is located at Mendha which is a small village which is around 65 kms from Nagapur-Maharastra on the banks of river Vainganga.Bhrushund Ganapati is one of the famous Ashta-Vinayakas of Vidarbha.

There is talao known as Mendha Talao. There was a huge Banyan tree at this place and Ashram of Brushund Rishi was below the tree. The broad forehead, Dhyan mudra, moustache and beard is seen clearly. The idol of Lord Ganesha with 8 feet high and 4 feet broad carved on red stone.

Legend
There was a town named Dandakaranya in Vidarbha dynasty. The town was surrounded with dense forest. A thief named Dwiwar who used to snatch jewellery from people travelling from forest. The trouble of Dwiwar was on rise.One day he went to the lake called Ganesh Teertha for bathing. After bathing, he saw Mudgal Rishi walking by chanting Gajanana- Gajanana. Dwiwar took out his sword to kill the Rishi. The moment he took out sword, the sword fell down heavily on the earth. Dwiwar was enlightened and realised how sinfully he had lived his life.He fell at the Rishi’s feet and requested him to show the right path to eradicate out all the past sins. Mudgal Rishi told Dwiwar to recite ‘Shri Ganeshaya Namaha’ till he revisits the place. The Rishi went away and Dwiwar started reciting the mantra by installing a stick on the place.

Thousand year later, when Mudgal Rishi was passing through the same place, he saw the stick was converted into big tree and huge anthill was found below the tree. He heard the sound ‘Shri Ganeshaya Namaha’. Rishi cleaned the anthill and found Dwiwar reciting ‘Shri Ganeshaya Namaha’. Rishi sprinkled water from his kamandalu on Dwiwar body and body of Dwiwar got converted into lord Ganesha. The Rishi renamed him as Brushund Rishi and blessed him that the one who would take darshan, would get all the powers. Since then Brushund Rishi started living in the place.”