Shri Chintamani, Theur

Ashtavinayaka or the Eight Ganeshas are located in Maharashtra state. The Ashtavinayaka yatra or pilgrimage covers the eight holy temples of Deity Shri Ganesh. All the eight Ashtavinayak Temples are Swayambhu (self-originated) and Jagrut.

History

Abhijeet was a great and powerful king who had everything in life except a son who would be the heir to his throne. The king and his wife at the suggestion of Rishi Vaishyampayan, carried great penance and were finally rewarded with a son who they named Gana. He later came to be known as Ganaraja.

Their son was bright, brave, gifted and also very aggressive. Ganaraj was once invited to visit the ashram (hermitage) of Sage Kapil. The Sage was a good host and with the help of the Chintamani [a precious stone] he was able to serve the best food to Ganaraj. Impressed by the jewel, Ganaraj wanted it for himself, but when Kapil muni refused to part with it, he forcibly took it away from him.

Goddess Durga who was Kapil muni’s mentor advised him to seek the help of Ganesh.

Ganesh responded to the sage’s call and battled with Ganaraj under a Kadamba tree and managed to get the ratna back. But by then Kapil muni had lost all desire to possess the Chintamani and he offered it to Shri Ganesh. He tied the Chintamani around Shri Ganesha’s neck and so He came to be known as the Chintamani Vinayak.

Theur

Theur was also known as Kadambanagar. Theur, located in the Haveli Taluka of Pune district in Maharashtra is the temple dedicated to Chintamani Vinayak. The village is along the river Mulamutha. Deity Ganesh as Chintamani is God who brings peace of mind and drives away all perplexities of the mind.

The Chintamani Ganapati temple was erected by Shri Daharnidhar Maharaj Devji, a scion of Morya Gosaviji. After hundred years, Madhavrao Peshwa made the Sabhamandap of the temple. A few years ago, the shikhar (crest), of the temple was anointed in gold. The idol of Chintamani is purvabhimukha (facing east) and its eyes are studded with precious stones.

Yatra : Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. Punyatithi of Ramabai Kartika Krishna Chaturthi.

By road : 22 km from Pune off the Pune-Solapur highway.

Railway : 5 km from Loni Railway station on the Pune-Solapur section.