The Varadvinayak Temple, Mahad

The Varadvinayak Temple is a Hindu Temple located in Mahad village of Raigad District, Maharastra. It is also spelt as Varadavinayaka and is one of the Ashtavinayak temples of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha. It is believed that the temple was originally built by Gritsamada, the son of Lord Indra and Mukunda, wife of Sage Vachaknavi. Later on Peshwa Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar restored it in 1725.

There is an interesting story in Hindu mythology about the origin of this temple. According to a legend in, King Bhima of Koudinyapur and his wife were childless and had come to the forests to perform penance. When they met Sage Vishwamitra, he gave them a mantra (incantation) to chant, the Ekashar Gajana Mantra, and thus the queen bore a child and their son Prince Rukmaganda was born who grew up to be a charming and beautiful prince. Once on a hunting trip when Rukmaganda stopped at the hermitage of Sage Vachaknavi, his wife Mukunda instantly got smitten with Rukmaganda. But the Prince refused her advances and left at once. After this, Mukunda started pining over him, and when Lord Indra got to know of her plight he took the form of Rukmaganda and presented himself in front of Mukunda. And as result of their union their son Gritsamada was born. In time, when Gritsamada learned the circumstances of his birth, he cursed Mukunda to become a ‘bhor’ plant. And in turn Mukunda cursed him that his son will be a cruel demon. As they cursed each other, an oracle told them that Gritsamada was son of Lord Indra. And then Mukunda was transformed into a ‘bhor’ plant and Gritsamada, remorsefully retreated into the Pushpak forests where he prayed to Lord Ganesha for absolution. Lord Ganesha was pleased by Gritsamada's penance and offered him a boon that his son who would not be defeated by anybody other than Lord Shiva. Gritsamada also asked Lord Ganesha to bless the forest so that any devotees who would pray here will be successful and urged him to stay there permanently. Then Gritsamada built a temple there for Lord Ganesha and installed his idol, which came to be called later as Varadavinayaka. Today this forest is known as Bhadraka.

The idol of this temple, Varadavinayak was discovered in the adjoining lake in 1690 AD and Peshwa Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar restored the temple in 1725 AD. The temple premises are on one side of a beautiful pond and the idol is facing the east. Idols of Mushika, Navagraha Devtas and a Shivalinga are also present in the temple. There is an oil lamp in this shrine that is said to be burning continuously since 1892. The temple is very popular amongst the devotees of Vinayaka and full with devotees, especially during the Maghi Utsav that is held annually here.

For more information on various Ganesh Temples, visit Ishtadevata.