Ballaleshwar Vinayak at Pali

Ballal's Lord is called Ballaleshwar, this temple is one of the eight temples of Lord Ganesha, among Ashtavinayaka temples in Maharashtra. Ballaleshwar is known by his devotees name called Ballal. Ballaleshwar is located in the Konkan Pallir village now known as Pali at a distance of 60 km from Karjat in the Raigad district. It is situated between fort Sarasgad and the river Amba.

Lord Ballaleshwar of Pali In Konan

Incarnation of Lord Ballaleshwar

In Pali village lived a rich business man called Kalyan with his wife called Indumati. Their son, Ballal was the very sincere devotee of Lord Ganesha and always used to play with his friends Ganesha Pooja. They used stones in place of statue of Lord Ganesha, once they went outskirts of the

village, there they saw a very big stone and they started to worship the stone as Lord Ganesha, on the insistence of Ballal. Sometimes they stay in the forest, forgot about hunger and thirst. This makes their parents worried and they approach Ballal's father, Kalyan and complained the activity of Ballal.

Kalyan, become very furious and took a stick and went in search of Ballal and his friends. In forest all children and Ballal, busy with listening Ganesha Purana(story about Lord Ganesha). In his fury, he destroyed the small temples built by the children, and started to beat Ballal. But Ballal was completely submerged in devotion of Lord Ganesha. Finally his father tied him to a tree telling that "How Lord Ganesha save you". Then, he lifted the large stone (which the children treated as Lord Ganesha) threw it to the ground, breaking it into a pieces.

Ballal was continued chanting Ganesha's name with great pain, then Lord Ganesha took the form of

a Sadhu and appeared in front of him. Sadhu first untied him from the tree, Ballal recognized him as Lord Ganesha and prostrated before Sadhu. Ganesha told him "I am very happy of your devotion" and ask a boon. Ballal asked Lord Ganesha to reside in this region and remove the miaeries of the people who pray and worship You. Ganesha said "I shall ever remain in this place, and my devotees will take your name before mine, being worshiped as Ballal's Lord, Ballaleshwar." Lord Ganesha embraced Ballal and resided in a nearby stone that is now believed to be the idol of Ballaleshwar Vinayak, which is worshiped by the devotees at Pali. The stone which is thrown by Ballal's father kept in the temple premisses and worshiped as a "Dhundi Vinayaka".

Moreshvar Vitthal Sindkar (Dighe), was one of the main person of King Shivaji, first constructed the Temple in 1640. Then Shri Fadnis, renovated the temple in 1760, it was built in the shape of the letter Shri. The temple is east-facing during sun rise, sun rays fall directly on the Murti (statue of Lord Ganesha) on the time of worship. A bell was hanged in the temple was brought by Chimaji Appa after his defeat of the Portuguese in Vasai and Sasti.

There are two lakes near temple. Temple is built into two sanctums, an inner and an outer sanctum. The inner sanctum is 15 feet high and the outer sanctum is 12 feet high. In outer sanctum a statue looks like a rat, holding modak(a sweet made by wheat powder and jaggery, liked by Lord Ganesha), in its hands while facing towards Ganesha. The main hall of the temple is 40 feet long and 20 feet wide and contains eight pillars resembling cypress trees.

On the stone throne the statue of Lord Ballaleshwara sits, facing east with its trunk turned left. On the back of the statue a silver background, displays Riddhi and Siddhi waving chamaras. The statue is decorated with diamonds on eyes and navel.

Milan Tomic

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