Siddhivinayak Temple in Siddhatek, Ahmednagar district, dedicated to Lord Ganesha as Siddhivinayak, is a revered shrine of Ganapati. Set by the Bhima River, about 100 km from Pune, its stone carvings, serene vibe, and sacred grounds draw devotees from across India. Spanning roughly 1 acre, it’s the second stop of the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage. The Ganesha murti here is with his trunk turned to the right which is the only Ashtavinayaka shrine where Ganesha has his trunk to the right.
Historical Overview
The Siddhivinayak Temple is very old, reaching back to the 14th century, though some say worship began earlier. Siddhatek, a quiet village 100 km from Pune, was a spiritual spot. Old texts and local talk credit Morya Gosavi, a Ganesha devotee, with starting the temple before the 17th century. The Peshwas, Maratha rulers who revered Ganesha, added halls and walls in the 1700s, as stone writings show. The temple faced damage during Islamic invasions in the 1600s and was later rebuilt in the 1800s with help from local chieftains. From the 1900s, the Endowments Department maintained the sanctity of the temple.
Mythological Importance
The temple is for Lord Ganesha, believed to grant success and wisdom. His idol, carved from black stone, shows him with his trunk turned right, a rare form, standing for obstacle-removal and wish-fulfillment. The Mudgala Purana narrates that at the beginning of Creation, the creator-god Brahma emerges from a lotus, that rises from Sri Vishnu’s navel as he sleeps in his yoganidra.
While Brahma starts creating the universe, two demons Madhu and Kaitabha rise from the dirt in Vishnu’s ear. The demons disturb Brahma’s process of creation, thereby compelling Vishnu to awake. Vishnu battles the demons, but cannot defeat them. He asks the Lord Shiva the reason for this. Lord Shiva informs Sri Vishnu that he cannot succeed as he had forgotten to invoke Ganesha before the fight. Therefore, Sri Vishnu perform penance at Siddhatek, invoking Ganesha with his mantra – “Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah”. Pleased, Ganesha bestows his blessings and various siddhis on Sri Vishnu, who returns to his fight and slays the demons. The place where Sri Vishnu acquired siddhis was thereafter known as Siddhatek. In the Ganapatya sect, Saint Morya Gosavi, and his son Narayan Maharaj are described as having worshipped at this very temple, where they attained siddhi.A local myth tells of Lord Vishnu, who prayed to Ganesha here before defeating demons. Ganesha blessed him, earning the name Siddhivinayak, or “giver of success.”
Temple Structure and Design
The Siddhivinayak Temple in Siddhatek, Maharashtra, is crafted in the Hemadpanthi style, a 13th-century Maratha art, blending devotion with the village’s stark beauty. The temple sits on a small hill, with a simple stone dome and thick walls. The gopuram, restored in the 1800s, stands proud with stone carvings of Ganesha with his right-turned trunk, sages praying, and elephants, framed by lotus and vine patterns. Painted in soft cream and ochre, it’s capped with a simple kalasa that catches the morning light. The sanctum houses a black-stone Ganesha idol, draped in gold cloth and fresh garlands, set beneath a white-painted vimana, its stepped roof symbolizing purity. The sanctum’s walls, smoothed by time, carry faint Peshwa-era etchings of Ganesha’s tales, glowing under oil lamps.
Set by the Bhima River, the temple is reached by a short stone path from Siddhatek village, winding past neem and peepal trees. The courtyard, paved with uneven basalt, feels open yet sacred, fringed by old banyan trees that cast dappled shade. A small tank, fed by the river, is used for ritual dips, its edges carved with fish shapes, a Peshwa touch. The temple’s low walls, built from rough stone, have niches for Naga figures, believed to protect the grounds.
Carvings on pillars and walls tell Ganesha’s tales—his birth, his granting of siddhi (success), and his love for modaks—etched with care to guide devotees. The temple’s build centers on worship, with every rock and carving pointing to Ganesha’s grace. The 1900s fixes added sturdy paths but kept the temple’s wild, holy spirit, making it a quiet spot for prayer and peace.
Rituals and Festivals
The temple celebrates festivals dedicated to Ganesha. Among them, Ganesh Chaturthi in August or September is the grandest, marking Ganesha’s birth, with modak offerings and marches. Magh Shukla Chaturthi in January or February has homams (fire rituals) and idol worship. Sankashti Chaturthi, every month, sees lamp-lighting by the sanctum. Daily worship covers Suprabhata Seva (morning prayers), Archana (offerings), and Deeparadhana (lamp ritual). Services like Abhishekam and Ganapati Homam can be booked at the temple office. A prasad stall gives free laddoos for devotees. Modak Archana, giving sweets on Wednesdays, is for clear minds.
Information for Travelers
Hours and Entry: Open daily, 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM, then 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Entry is free, but rituals cost 50-300 rupees.
Clothing: Wear simple clothes covering shoulders and knees. Men doing rituals wear dhotis and go bare-chested, as custom.
How to Get There:
Air: Pune International Airport, 100 km away, is nearest. Taxis take 2.5 hours, costing 2500-3500 rupees.
Train: Daund Railway Station, 30 km away, links to Pune (1 hour) and Mumbai (4 hours). Autos to Siddhatek cost 300-500 rupees.
Road: Siddhatek is 100 km from Pune. Buses from Pune’s Swargate Bus Stand (2.5 hours) stop at Siddhatek village, 1 km away. Autos cost 20-40 rupees.
Places to Stay: Siddhatek has plain guesthouses like Bhakta Niwas (500-1000 rupees). Pune, 100 km away, has hotels like Hotel Shreyas (2000-4000 rupees). Stalls by the temple sell dosa, vada, and tea.
Best Time to Visit: October to March has good weather, 20-30°C. Weekdays are calm. Ganesh Chaturthi packs crowds, so book early.
