RANJANGAON GANPATI TEMPLE

The Ranjangaon Ganpati temple is located in Shirur taluka about 50kms from Pune and is the eighth temple visited by devotees who set out on the divine Ashtavinayak Yatra. The idol at Ranjangaon is of Mahaganpati, the most powerful representation of Lord Ganesha.

The Ranjangaon Ganpati temple is located in Shirur taluka about 50kms from Pune and is the eighth temple visited by devotees who set out on the divine Ashtavinayak Yatra. Mahaganapati is the most powerful representation of Lord Ganesha. Mahaganapati is depicted as having eight, ten or twelve arms. It is after invoking this form of Ganpati that Shiva vanquished the demon Tripurasur and so he is also known as Tripurarivade Mahaganpati. Managanapati is potrayed, seated on a lotus, flanked by his consorts Siddhi and Ridhi.  The idol of lord Ganesh is also named as ‘Mahotkat’, and it is said that the idol has 10 trunks and 20 hands.

LEGEND

As per a Hindu mythological legend, a sneeze by revered saint Grutsamad resulted in the creation of a lad named Tripurasura. He learned the Ganesh mantra from his father & invoked Lord Ganesha, who granted him a wish to be the most powerful being whom nobody but Lord Shiva alone would be able to destroy, after which Tripurasura would attain salvation. Tripurasura became very vain & arrogant on getting this wish & proceeded to wreak havoc wherever he went. He first took over the netherworld and then the heavens, including Lord Indra’s abode. Even the most powerful Gods & Goddesses could do nothing to defeat him. He even cunningly got a boon from Lord Shiva and took over Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. Finally he started creating mayhem on the earth itself.  With all the worlds conquered, the vain Tripurasura started worshipping his own idol as he considered himself to be the most powerful being.

Terrified of Tripurasura, the heavenly Gods approached Lord Narada for advice. Lord Narada told them that since it was Lord Gajanan who had made Tripurasura so powerful, they should pray to Lord Gajanan only. Following this advice, the Gods recited the 8 Ganesha stotras which Lord Narada had taught them. These stotras are known as Sankatnashan [read the words of Sankatnashan stotra here]. Lord Gajanana, on being invoked, then said that whosoever said the Sankatnashan prior to trying to conquer/overcome all obstacles would be successful.