Shree Girijatmajvinayak- Lenyadri

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Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah...

[Om Sai Ram- If anyone wishes to see the pictures of this temple and other

Ashtavinayak temples ,click to this link

http://ganapati.club.fr/anglais/asud/adetsud.html#lenyadri ]

 

Maya Sa Bhuvaneshwari Shivsati Dehashrita Sundary |Vighnesham Sutmaptukam

Sanhita Kurvetapo Dushkaram ||Takhya Bhutprakat Prasanna Vardo Tishtataya

Sthapitaha |Vandeh Girijatmaj Parmajam Tam Lekhanadristhitam ||

MeaningMother of Universe, beautiful wife of God Shiva Goddess Parvati performed

long penance of Lord Ganesha & at last obtained Lord Ganesha as her son. I

salute Girija Parvati's son Girijatmaj who stays on mountain

Lekhanadri/Lenyadri. Shri Girijatmaj-Among all the eight Ashtavinayak’s

Lenyadri is the only place on the mountain.

Lenyadri is to the North of Pune, along the Kukdi river. The Ganesh Puran calls

this place as Jirnapur or Lekhan Parbat. Girijatmaj Vinayak refers to the

Ganesh as the son of Parvati. Girija is another name for Parvati and Atamaj

means son. This is the only temple of the Ashtavinayak which is on a mountain

and is set in a Buddhist cave-temple.

Stories about Shree Grijatmaka

With a desire of having Vinayak as her son, Parvati performed penance for 12

years in the caves of Lenyadri. Ganapati was pleased and gave her the boon she

wanted . On one Bhadrapada Shudh Chaturthi, Parvati scrapped the scraf from her

body, mixed it with oil and ointment and formed an idol of Ganesh. She was

performing pooja of that idol, suddenly the idol became alive and told Parvati

that as desired by her he has taken Avatar in her house. On 11th day he was

named Ganesh meaning a person who keeps three qualities Satva, Raja and Tama

under control. Lord Shiv Shankar gave him boon that whosoever remembers Ganesh

before starting a work, will successfully complete the work. Ganesh grew up for

15 years at Lenyadri. Demon king Sindhu who knew that his death is in the hands

of Ganesh, sent demons like Krur, Balasur, Vyomasur, Kshemma,

Kushal etc. to kill Ganesh on Lenyadri. Instead Ganesh killed all these demons

in his childhood. Ganapati also performed many Balleelas in this place. Hence

Lenyadri is considered holy place . Parvati's second name is Girija, her Aatmaj

means son- Ganesh is therefore called as Girijatmaj.

Coming back to the story of Girijatmaj or Ganesa, Parvati requested Marichi

Rishi to find a way out to protect Ganesa from demons. Marichi asked why it

would be necessary to protect Ganapati, whose Namasmarana (remembering the

name) itself destroys all obstacles. Still to satisfy Parvati he taught her

Ganesa Kavacha and said that if any child had fear of Rakshasas or Pishachas

this kaacha may be tied around his neck. At the age of six, Vishwakarma

worshipped Ganesa and endowed him with Paasa [noose], Parasu[axe], Ankusa[hook]

and Kamala[lotus]. At the age of seven, his Upanayana was performed by sages

like Gautama.

At the age of ten, a demon called Kamalasur came with an army twelve crore

strong and had war with Ganesa, who was mounted on a peacock. The demons' army

was defeated. From Kamalasur's blood many more demons were created. Siddhi and

Buddhi ate away all demons. Al last Kamalasur was cut into two pieces with

Ganesa’s Trishul. The place where the head of Kamalasura was thrown is the

Morgaon Kshetra. Vishwakarma constructed a city and a temple in that place.

Then Shankar, Parvati and Ganesa started towards Gandaki city where the gods

were imprisoned. First as a matter of courtesy Nandi was sent to meet demon

Sindhu to ask him to release the gods. Sindhu refused and war ensued. Nandi,

Veerabhadra, Kartikeya and other Shiva Ganas fought with the demons. On the

second day his two brothers-in-law Kala and Vikala were killed and on the third

day his sons Dharma and Adharma were destroyed by Kartikeya. Sindhu's father

Chakrapani advised him to release the gods. But he refused. He came running

towards Mayureshwara with his sword held high. Suddenly Ganesa took a small

form, got down from the peacock and sent an arrow which pierced Sindhu's navel

and broke it. Out came the nectar given by Surya to Sindhu. Sindhu fell dead.

Ganesa was seated on the Simhasana by Chakrapani and all gods. Brahma's

daughters, Siddhi and Buddhi were married to him. Ganesa lived there for many

years. After that he took leave of everybody and disappeared. Before doing so

he gave his peacock to Kartikeya.

Whoever hears the story of Mayureshwar has all his desires fulfilled. His wealth

and fame increases.

The Story of Mayuresa and Girijatmaja are vividly described in Genesa Purana

Kreeda Khanda from 73 to 126.

Temple

One can go by any vehicle to the base of mountain. After that about 307 steps

one has to climb to reach the temple. The temple was made in Buddha’s period &

it is in the 8th cave of the 17 caves. The temple was not built but carved in

the mountain and it is facing towards south. The huge hall at the entrance of

the temple is like an assembly house. The length of this big hall is 51 feet

and width is 57 feet. This hall is carved in one big rock. It is not supported

by any pillar. It is very rare sight. One can see the river and houses of

Junner village from here. At the front side just before the huge hall there is

a small hall with 6 pillars. Elephants, tigers, lion’s faces are carved on the

top of the pillars.

The idol is facing north. Hence there is no MUKHA POOJA for Girijatmaja (Son of

Parvati). The cave in which Ganesa appeared before Parvati is said to be behind

the temple.

But as the route is not proper nobody has dared to go there. On the right and

left of Ganesa are Hanuman and Shiv Shankar.

Daily programs & festivals

Girijatmaja's panchamrut pooja is performed every day in the morning. Bhadrapada

& Magh Shuddha Chaturthi are celebrated here in big way. In Magh Akhand Harinam

Saptah is observed. On Ganesh Jayant bullock cart race is conducted. On

Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi Abhishek, Pooja & Kirtan being performed in the

temple.

How to reach Lenyadri

On the Pune Nasik Road passing through Chakan, Rajgurunagar, Manchar,

Narayangaon to Junnar one can reach Lenyadri. Junnar is the town closest to

Lenyadri.Lenyadri is 5kms from Junnar.

Pune and Talegaon are the two closest Railway Stations

>From the Shivaji Nagar Bus Depot in Pune and from the Bus Depot at Talegaon one

can get State Transport buses to Junnar.

State Transport buses also ply between Mumbai and Junnar.

The distance between in Junnar to Lenyadri is 5km and this can be covered either

on foot or, autorickshaw, or jeeps that are easily available..

Sai Bhakt,

Deepa H

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