Vigneshwara Temple, Ozar
Vigneshwara Temple | |
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Mandir architecture | |
Website | |
https://shrivighnaharganapatiozar.org/ |
The Vigneshwara Temple or Vighnahar Ganapati Temple[1] of Ozar (also spelt as Ojhar or Ojzar) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom. The temple is one of the Ashtavinayaka, the eight revered shrines of Ganesha in Maharashtra, India. The Ganesha form worshipped here is called Vigneshwara (spelt also as Vigneshvar(a), Vigneshwar : "Lord of obstacles") or Vignahar (spelt also as Vignahara, "Remover of obstacles") and is associated with the legend of Ganesha defeating Vignasura, the demon of obstacles.
Location
Ozar is located about 85 km from Pune,[2] off the Pune-Nashik highway and about 9 km north to Narayangaon.[3] Along another Ashtavinayak temple of Lenyadri, Ozar is in the Junnar taluka of Pune district.[4] Ozar is situated on the banks of Kukadi River close to the Yedagaon dam built on it.[2]
History
Religious significance
Though Ozar is prescribed to the seventh temple to be visited in the Ashtavinayak circuit, pilgrims often visit Ozar fifth, as it is a more convenient route.[4]
The
Architecture
The east-facing temple features a "spacious courtyard, a grand entrance, sculptural and mural work".[7] It is surrounded by a walled compound with a large gateway flanked by two large stone Dvarapala (gatekeepers) sculptures and a row of four musicians in bas relief on the lintel. One can view the Lenyadri shrine and Shivneri Fort standing on the wall. Two large stone Deepamalas (lamp towers) stand near the gateway in front of a fine corridor of seven cusped arches. There are owaris (small room for meditation) on both sides of the gateway. The courtyard is tiled. The central temple has three entrances with sculptured side posts and lintels; the east one being the central one. The central one has a lintel with a Ganesha in relief surrounded with monkeys and parrots on trees. The temple has two halls, with first one (20 feet high) having the entrances to the north and south too and has the imagee of Dhundiraj Ganesha. The next one (10 feet high) has a white marble mushika (the mouse, which is the vehicle of Ganesha) seating in attendance. The temple walls is filled with murals and colourful sculptures.[3][6][10] The shikhara - over the sanctum - is covered with gold foil.[2] It also has two wide stone Prakarams (outer path outside a Hindu sanctum).[3]
Like all Ashtavinayaka shrines, the central Ganesha image is believed to be svayambhu (self-existent), naturally occurring in the form of an elephant-faced stone.[11] The central icon of Ganesha faces east and is flanked with brass images of his consorts Siddhi and Riddhi. He has a left-turning trunk and is covered with sindoor (vermillion). His eyes are emeralds and his forehead and navel is also adored with diamonds.[6][7]
Festivals
The temple celebrates the usual festivals associated with Ganesha:
References
- ^ Deshkar, Somnath (29 May 2009). "Ozar temple sets up lodging facilities". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ ISBN 9788171546695.
- ^ ISBN 9780945497776.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4039-6324-6.
- ISBN 81-7755-259-7.
- ^ a b c d "SHREE VIGHNESHWAR - OZAR". Ashtavinayaka Darshan Online.
- ^ ISBN 81-7755-281-3.
- ISBN 81-208-1413-4.
- ISBN 0-7914-2440-5.
- ^ "Ojhar". Maharashtra Gazetteer. 2006 [1885].
- ^ Grimes pp. 110–1