Road Trips by a Family of Four – Grandparents, Mom, Teenage Daughter
It was April 2015 and summer was upon us. Amma had recently come out of chemotherapy and was scheduled for radiation therapy, after her successful breast cancer surgery a few months previously. Our new Altis stood outside. She had come wrapped in pink ribbons, sweet as can be. And we were wanting a change from our daily routine. So, it was agreed we would do a short, 2-day road trip within Maharashtra, to test the car and ourselves.
What better trip to start off with than a salutation to Lord Ganesha, with gratitude for Amma’s recovery. The eight swayambhu Ganesha temples were located around Pune and there was a particular sequence recommended to be followed in the order of visit, but we chose the route most convenient to us, as we were starting from Mumbai.
We set off at 4am and drove swiftly to Pali, 127 kms from Mumbai on the Mumbai-Satara highway. We decided to breakfast after visiting the first Ganesha temple, 4 hours later. Among the Ashtavinayaks, Ballaleshwar was the only one dedicated to Ganesha that was known by his devotee’s name. The story goes that a young boy Ballal was so devoted to a large stone he worshipped as Ganesha that even a severe punishment from his father did not deter him from continuing to chant the Lord’s name. Ganesha, pleased by his devotion, granted him the boon that, at Pali, he would forever be known by his devotee’s name. We stood in queue and got good darshan.
After breakfast, we drove 76 kms to Mahad in Raigad district, to visit the Varadavinayak Ganpati. Ganesha is said to reside here in the form of Varada Vinayaka, the giver of bounty and success. This Ashta Vinayak shrine faces east (Purvabhimukh) and is enshrined in the sitting posture, with his trunk turned towards the left. Lord Ganesha as Varad Vinayak fulfills all desires and grants all boons. My 7-year-old daughter was seen praying fervently.
Mahad to Ozar was a long 5 ½ hour drive, 213 kms, some via NH66 and towards the end, NH60. It is located about 85 km from Pune, off the Pune-Nashik highway. The Vighnahar Ganpati or Vighneshwara resides here. The story goes that King Abhinandana performed a sacrifice in which he did not give any offering to Lord Indra. Insulted, Indra ordered Kala (time) to destroy the sacrifice. Kala took the form of the demon Vighnasura and created obstacles in the sacrifice and ruined it, as also the sacrifices of other sages. On being sought for help, the Gods advised the sages to worship Ganesha, who defeated Vighnasura (demon of obstacles). Thus, his name, Vighnahara.
The heat was scorching in the noon and the stone floors in the temples were hot, but beloved Amma walked with us everywhere without complaining and prayed at all the temples. Her granddaughter took great care of her, holding her hand at all times.
Fifteen minutes from Ozar was Lenyadri, raised on a hill with series of about 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves. Lenyadri means ‘mountain cave’. The Ganesha temple is located in cave No. 7 and is known as Girijatmaj, son of Girija or son of Parvati. We had to climb about 315 rock-hewn steps to the top to enter the cave. We arranged for Amma and Appa to be carried in dolis or palanquins, while my daughter and I walked behind them. Quite a workout! We had good darshan. There were monkeys everywhere and even though my daughter hid her water bottle, it got snatched away from her. She was very upset with the monkey. We came to the bottom of the hill and had glasses of fresh sugarcane juice. It was rejuvenating!
Lenyadri to Pune was a 2 ½ hour drive. It was already late and we were tired and famished. We reached our hotel St.Laurn at Koregaon Park, had a bath and dinner at 10pm and crashed into our beds.
We left the hotel at 6:30am the next morning, had breakfast enroute and proceeded to Ranjangaon, 53 kms from Pune. We had to pass Ahmednagar on the way, a place of sentimental value for Appa who had lived there during his younger days. The Mahaganapati of Ranjangaon is housed in a large complex with a grand entrance. We stood in queue and got a clear view of the Lord. It was close to 10:30am thereafter and we stopped to have breakfast at a nearby restaurant.
We drove to Theur, an hour’s drove from Ranjangaon to see the Chintamani Ganpati, the one who takes all your troubles away. The story goes that Sage Kapila had a wish-granting jewel Chintamani that could produce anything the sage desired. Ganasura (an asura) happened to visit Kapila with his army. When he saw the sage feed the whole army with the help of the jewel, he stole it from him out of greed. Kapila, a devotee of Ganesha, prayed to him for help and the Lord helped destroy the asura’s army as well as behead Ganasura. He restored the jewel to Kapila but the sage preferred that the Lord remain with him. So, Ganesha took on the name of the jewel Chintamani and remained in Theur.
Moreshwara! Our next halt was Morgaon, an hour’s drive, 60kms from Theur. The place was once populated by peacocks, so the Ganpati there was called Moreshwar or Mayureshwar.
Our final halt was at Siddhatek, 100kms from Morgaon to see the Siddhivinayak Ganpati, across the Bhima River. One had to walk some distance and climb stone steps to get to the darshan area. Amma managed wonderfully. We finished with our final darshan of the 8th Ashtavinayak with gratitude. Happy, we came outside the complex and had coconut water and malai from a vendor. We drove the 100kms back to our hotel in Pune.
Happy and satisfied, we went for dinner near our hotel, with my friend. This was followed by a sound night’s sleep. Next day, we drove back to our home in Mumbai, deeply grateful we had been allowed to complete our first road trip successfully. Appa went to the temple near our home and broke a coconut in thanks for Ganesha.
Delighted it all went well, I began planning for what, from then on, would become our annual outings by road as a family.
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