Moreshwar (Mayureshwar) Temple, Morgaon
Morgaon, Maharashtra
The Moreshwar or Mayureshwar Temple at Morgaon is the first of the eight Ashtavinayak temples, and by tradition the yatra begins and ends here. Ganesha is worshipped as Mayureshwar, the 'lord of the peacock', and the village takes its name from the peacocks that once lived here. The temple stands in the village, with a stone wall, four gateways and a tall, pink-and-grey tower, in the style of the Maratha period.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Mayureshwar, the first of the eight Ganesha temples
- See the stone gateways and the tall tower of the temple
- Walk around the temple wall, and see the small shrines
- Learn the tradition that the yatra begins and ends at Morgaon
Ideal for
- Pilgrims doing the Ashtavinayak yatra
- Devotees of Ganesha
- Families visiting the temples around Pune
Good to know
- One guide lists darshan from about 5 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 10 pm, but check locally
- Dress modestly, and remove footwear at the entrance
- Ganesh Chaturthi and Angarki Chaturthi are extremely crowded
- It is about 65 to 80 km from Pune, depending on where you start
Spiritual significance
Morgaon is the starting point of the Ashtavinayak circuit, and pilgrims traditionally return here to complete it. Ganesha here is a protector of travellers on the pilgrimage.
Why it matters
- The first Ashtavinayak temple: the yatra begins and ends here
- Ganesha as Mayureshwar: the lord of the peacock
- A village temple: simple, old and well kept