Shree Varad Vinayak Ganapati...

One of Maharashtra’s eight revered Ashtavinayak temples, the Shree Varad Vinayak Ganapati Temple at Mahad, near Khopoli, is celebrated as the “Wish‑fulfilling Ganesha” (Navsala Pavnar Ganpati). Located just 5 km from Khopoli off the Mumbai–Pune Highway, it is distinctive for being open to devotees 24 hours a day. The temple’s sanctum, dating to the Peshwa era, houses an eternal flame (Nandadeep) that has burned continuously since 1892, a symbol of unwavering devotion and divine presence.

The temple’s origins trace back to the Ganesh Purana (composed around 1000–1100 CE). According to legend, King Bhim of Koundinyapur was blessed with a son, Rukmangada, through the grace of Lord Ganesha. While hunting, Rukmangada was cursed with leprosy by Mukunda, wife of sage Vachaknavi, after he rejected her advances. Later, Mukunda bore a son, Gutsamad, who, upon learning his lineage, cursed his mother to become a thorn bush — still venerated today as the sacred Bor tree near the temple. Gutsamad performed intense penance for 15,000 years in the Pushpak forest and was granted by Ganesha the boon to reside here eternally to bless devotees. It was Gutsamad himself who established the temple, naming the deity Varad Vinayak — “the boon‑bestowing Ganesha.”

During turbulent times, the original idol was hidden in a nearby pond for safekeeping. It was rediscovered in 1690 by a devotee named Dhondu Poudkar after a divine vision. Initially placed in the Gaodevi Temple, it was moved to a newly built stone temple commissioned in 1730 by Ramaji Mahadev Biwalkar, Subedar of Kalyan under the Peshwas. Historical records from 1757 confirm the land donation for the temple trust.

The east-facing sanctum features a beautifully carved stone throne flanked by sculptures of Riddhi and Siddhi, while two stone elephants guard the deity. The idol of Lord Varad Vinayak has a left-curved trunk and is adorned with a golden spire (kalash) above. The serene temple pond beside the shrine is an integral part of the complex, often circled by devotees as part of their vows.

Daily worship includes three aartis — early morning, noon, and evening. The Magh Shukla Chaturthi (Ganesh Jayanti) is marked by a grand procession around the pond, and many pilgrims also undertake a 36 km pradakshina walk to the Ballaleshwar Temple in Pali as part of their Ashtavinayak yatra. Other major celebrations occur from Bhadrapada Pratipada to Panchami and Magh Pratipada to Panchami. Every Sankashti Chaturthi sees the temple thronged with devotees seeking blessings.

With free lunch prasadam served daily (12 p.m.–2 p.m.) and excellent lodging facilities, the Varad Vinayak Temple offers both spiritual solace and pilgrim convenience. Known for its unwavering accessibility, rich history, and the belief that every prayer here is answered, it draws thousands each day, solidifying its place as one of Maharashtra’s most loved Ganapati shrines