Ashapurak Ganapati Temple

Namalgaon, Taluka and District Beed

Just as the Ashtavinayak temples are famous in Maharashtra, eight Ganapati shrines are also renowned in Beed district. These include Bhalchandra (Limbaganesh), Mangalmurti at Rajuri Navagan, Moreshwar at Gangamasla, Vidnyan Ganesh at Rakshasbhuvana, Siddhivinayak at Hirapur, Chaubhara Ganesh at Ambajogai, Chintamani Ganesh at Pimplner, and Ashapurak Ganesh at Namalgaon. These are known as the Ashtavinayak of Beed district. At the Ashapurak Ganesh Temple in Namalgaon, there is a unique tradition of celebrating Lord Ganesha’s marriage. Many legends are prevalent about this Ganapati. Devotees believe that this awakened Ganapati fulfills their vows.

Historians state that this temple is approximately seven to eight hundred years old. An inscription on the temple wall indicates that the temple was renovated in 1712 CE. However, the local priests say that this deity’s abode dates back to ancient times. The legend about this temple is that Nama, a fisherman, performed penance to Lord Ganesha at the confluence of three rivers, as instructed by Sage Mudgal. After thousands of years immersed in penance, Nama was blessed with a vision of Ganesha through the grace of Sage Mudgal, at which point Nama himself merged into the form of Ganesha. Since this Ganesha, established by Nama the fisherman, fulfills all the hopes and expectations of devotees, Lord Ganesha was named Ashapurak Ganesh, and the village was named Namalgaon.

In Hinduism, Yamaraj is considered the deity of death and justice. However, according to the Puranas, Yamaraj himself once faced a severe crisis. Due to a specific incident, Yamaraj received a curse from his mother. This maternal curse was so harsh that Yamaraj had to endure unbearable physical and mental suffering. Afflicted by ailments, Yamaraj visited various pilgrimage sites on Earth to be freed from the curse, but he found no peace anywhere. While wandering, Yamaraj came to Namalgaon in Beed district. Here, he bathed at the Triveni Sangam (confluence of three rivers) and performed rigorous penance to Lord Ganesha. Through this sacred bath and the grace of Ganaraya, Yamaraj’s dreadful curse was destroyed. He was freed from the curse, and his body regained its radiance. As a testament to this event, at the very spot where Yamaraj’s ‘Asha’ (desire for liberation from the curse) was fulfilled, he himself installed an idol of Ganesha. This Ganesha was named Ashapurak Ganesh, as he fulfilled Yamaraj’s hope. The pond near the confluence where this event occurred is still known as Ganesh Kund today.

In the parking area in front of the temple, there are shops selling puja items and food. The temple has a strong fortification. Within this fortification is a two-storied entrance gate. As the temple is situated on an elevation, the entrance has three steps. On both sides of the steps are platforms. Beyond these platforms, adjacent to the fortification, is a spacious verandah. The doorframes of the entrance feature vertical ridge carvings, and the lintel (lalatabimba) bears a sculpture of Ganapati. The entrance has intricately carved wooden shutters. Inside the entrance, on both sides, are guardrooms. Also, inside, the domed ceiling (vitana) has a lotus flower design. On the upper floor of the entrance is the Nagarkhana (drum house). In the paved courtyard of the temple, in the front, there is a Tulsi Vrindavan (basil plant shrine). Along the fortification in the courtyard are cloisters (ovarya). These are used by devotees as resting places and pilgrim accommodations.

Further, the temple is structured with a Sabhamandap (assembly hall), a Mukhya Sabhamandap (main assembly hall), an Antarala (vestibule), and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). On both sides of the Sabhamandap are platforms. On these platforms are tapering circular Deepmalas (lamp towers). The Sabhamandap here is semi-open. This Sabhamandap has four intricately carved pillars and a roof supported by beams above them. Further ahead is the entrance to the Mukhya Sabhamandap. In front of the entrance, on both sides, are wooden sculptures of Gajraja (elephant king). As the Mukhya Sabhamandap is at a higher level than the other Sabhamandaps, there are two steps at the entrance. The doorframes feature vertical ridge carvings, and the lintel bears a sculpture of Ganapati. The Mukhya Sabhamandap has four rows of four square pillars each. All pillars are connected to each other by semicircular arches. In the Mukhya Sabhamandap, there are two more doors on the left and right sides. In the central space between the four pillars is a Rangshila (decorated stone slab). On it, in the center, is a tortoise sculpture. The domed ceiling (vitana) has a circular design.

In the Antarala, on both sides of thebhagriha entrance, in the niches (devakoshthaka) of the front wall, are idols of Ganesha. The doorframes of the Garbhagriha have vertical ridge carvings, and the lintel bears a sculpture of Ganapati. The entrance to the Garbhagriha has intricately carved wooden shutters. Inside the Garbhagriha, on a Vajra Pitha (diamond pedestal), is a vermilion-smeared idol of Ganesha. Behind the idol is an intricately carved golden Prabhaval (halo). On the outer wall of the temple is an inscription commemorating the temple’s renovation. On the roof of the Garbhagriha, in all four corners, are Meghadambaris (small decorative canopies). The roof has a hexagonal shikhara (spire). The shikhara has twelve rings, one above the other. At the pinnacle of the shikhara is a stupika, topped by a kalasha (finial).

In the temple courtyard are the residences of the sevakaris (attendants) and priests, as well as the temple office. Here lies the samadhi (tomb) of the great Ganesha devotee, Niranjan Swami. From the courtyard, there are steps leading to the river behind. Here is the confluence of three rivers: Karpura, Narada, and Bindusara. At the confluence are some samadhi temples, as well as a small temple of Sage Bhrushundi and the Subuddha Tirtha. Devotees believe that bathing in this tirtha cures ailments.

The festival of Ganesha’s birth is celebrated with great devotion from Magh Shuddha Pratipada to Panchami, and the ceremony of Ganesha’s marriage is celebrated on Shashthi. On this day, Ganesha is married to Riddhi and Siddhi. All marriage rituals are performed according to Vedic traditions. A procession of the deity is taken out. Devotees are served a wedding feast as Mahaprasad. Hundreds of devotees attend this ceremony. The temple is crowded on Sankashti and Vinayaki Chaturthi, as well as on Tuesdays. During the Ganesh Utsav in Bhadrapada, the temple experiences a special rush of devotees.

Useful Information:

• 10 km from Beed
• ST (state transport) and private vehicle facilities available from Beed
• ST facilities available for Beed from many cities in the state
• Private vehicles can reach the temple parking
• Accommodation and breakfast facilities in the vicinity
• Contact: Temple Office, Mobile: 7020009889,