Mayureshwar Temple, Morgaon

Significance

Morgaon is the first and last stop of the Ashtavinayak, the pilgrimage to eight revered Ganesha temples around Pune; the pilgrimage is considered incomplete without returning here at the end. It is the foremost centre of the Ganapatya tradition, which worships Ganesha as the Supreme Being, and draws the most pilgrims of the eight.

History and legend

Here Ganesha is Mayureshwar, who rides a peacock. Legend holds that he took this form to kill the demon Sindhu.

The date of the temple is unknown. The Ganapatya saint Morya Gosavi worshipped here before founding the temple at Chinchwad, and the temple flourished under the Peshwas. The 17th-century saint Samarth Ramdas is said to have composed the aarti Sukhakarta Dukhaharta on seeing the Morgaon image. The temple is now administered by the Chinchwad Devasthan Trust.

Before you go

• The traditional order is Morgaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, Ranjangaon, then Morgaon again. Many pilgrims follow a shorter road order instead.
• The whole circuit is usually done by road from Pune over two or three days.