Swayambhu Moraya Ardhapitha

Vadgaon Kashimbeg, Taluka Ambegaon, District Pune

The relationship between Pune and Ganpati is historically and culturally profound. Out of the Ashtavinayak, five temples are located in Pune district. During the Peshwa era, Ganpati received great royal patronage. Due to the ‘Five Manache Ganpati’ and the disciplined tradition of the immersion procession, Pune is known globally as the City of Ganesha. The Moraya Ardhapitha temple of Ganpati, located in Vadgaon Kashimbeg in the Ambegaon taluka of this same district, is a place of faith for many devotees. This site is connected to the Girijatmak Ganpati of Lenyadri. It is the belief of devotees that the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage is not complete without having the darshan of the Ganesha here. This idol of Ganpati is Swayambhu (self-manifested) and is in the form of only a trunk and face. Such a form of Ganpati is rare.

According to historical records, Shrimant Kashibai, the wife of Thorle Bajirao Peshwa, was a devotee of this Ganpati. While going for the darshan of Lenyadri near Junnar, she would regularly come to have the darshan of this trunk-form Ganpati at Vadgaon Kashimbeg. This temple was like a private prayer room for her. Due to her devotion, the temple received significant royal patronage from the Peshwa court. For the daily maintenance of the temple and the expenses of the Nanda Deep (eternal lamp), a grant of one rupee was given annually by the Peshwas. After the fall of the Maratha empire in 1818, the British government established a special Inam Commission in 1852 to examine the religious grants of the Peshwa era. This commission examined all the old documents and religious significance of the Vadgaon temple. Following this process, on 15 April 1875, the British authorities issued an important charter. This historical charter, available in both Modi script and English, is still with the temple administration today. This tradition, which began with the Peshwas, continued uninterrupted during the British era. Today, this temple is under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Department.

According to mentions in the ‘Ganesh Purana’, the vast area from Manchar to Bhimashankar was formerly known as Manipur Nagari. In ancient times, many sages and saints used to reside in this prosperous land to complete their penance. During this period, a powerful demon named Bhimasura started creating obstacles in the work of these sages. All the gods and sages were troubled by his harassment. To get relief from this crisis, Lord Shiva stepped into this Manipur Nagari and declared war on Bhimasura. Due to the demon’s power, Shiva did not succeed initially, so the sages advised him to worship the Ganpati of Vadgaon Kashimbeg. Following this advice, Lord Shiva performed rigorous penance in this land for twelve consecutive years. It was only through the blessings of Ganpati that he was able to slay Bhimasura. It is believed that the trunk of Lenyadri’s Girijatmak manifested here in a Swayambhu form. This trunk faces north, while the back of the Ganpati at Lenyadri faces south. Both locations are at the same altitude above sea level, and when viewed from the sanctum sanctorum here, the mountain of Lenyadri comes into view in a straight line. Due to this geographical and spiritual alignment, this place has been named ‘Ardhapitha’.

Vadgaon Kashimbeg is a small village on the route from Manchar to Bhimashankar. This temple is situated on a hill to the south of this village. At the foot of the hill is the vast bed of the Ghod River. The unique wonder of nature, ‘Ranjankhalge’ (potholes), can be seen in large numbers in this riverbed. These circular pits formed in the rock by the river’s flow are a center of attraction for tourists. After entering through the arch at the foot of the hill, there is a staircase path leading to the top of the hill. Climbing these stairs, one enters the spacious courtyard of the temple. From this hilltop, one gets a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

The construction of this temple, which preserves the heritage of Hemadpanti architectural style, is done in black stone. This small temple feels like a prayer room. A shed made of corrugated sheets has been erected in front of the temple as a mandap. There are benches and arrangements for a queue for darshan for devotees in the mandap. A three-and-a-half-foot tall Swayambhu idol of Ganpati is seated in the temple.

This idol, which is in the form of only a trunk and face, is covered with a layer of vermilion. The trunk of the idol is turned to the left. The temple’s shikhara is of traditional design. It is said that the entire construction of this temple remains in its original form even today.

Various religious festivals and celebrations are celebrated with great enthusiasm in the temple throughout the year. There is a large crowd of devotees here on the Sankashti Chaturthi that comes every month. On the day of Angarki Chaturthi, this area takes on the form of a pilgrimage site. The ten-day celebration of Ganeshotsav in the month of Bhadrapad is celebrated here on a large scale. During this period, programs like Abhishek, Ganesh Yag, and Kirtan continue day and night in the temple.

Ganesh Jayanti in the month of Magh is also considered one of the most important festivals in this temple. On this day, the birth anniversary of Ganpati is celebrated, and Mahaprasad is distributed to thousands of devotees. Along with these religious programs, social activities are also carried out here. This area has been recognized by the Government of Maharashtra as a ‘C’ grade tourist destination.

Useful Information

• 7 km from Manchar
• 67 km from Pune city
• ST bus facility from Manchar
• Private vehicles can reach the parking lot at the foot of the hill
• No accommodation and breakfast facilities in the area
• Contact: Temple Office, Telephone: ०२१३३-२३३१५५, Mobile: ९८२२६९३१५५, ९८५०१२७७६२