BALLESHWAR PALI
Among the Ashtavinayakas, Ballaleshvara at Pali is the only Ganesha who is
famous by the name of his devotee and who is dressed up as a Brahmin. Village
Pali is situated in the Sudhagad taluka in the district of Raigad. This place is
nestled between the fort Sarasgad and River Amba. The nearest railway station is
Karjat, which is 30Kms away.
"Vedo
Sanstuvaibhavo Gajamukho Bhaktabhimani yo
Ballaleravya Subhaktapal Narat; Khyat Sada Tishtati.
Kshetre Pallipure Yatha Kritayuge Chasmitha Laukike
Bhakterbhavite Murtiman Ganapati Siddhishwar Tam Bhaje"
MEANING: -
I worshipped Lord Ganesh, who is elephant headed, who has been praised in the
Vedas, who is popular by the name of his devotee (Ballal), who protects his
devotees and in this kritayuga who abodes in Pallipur or Pali.
The Ballaleshwar Vinayak is situated in district Raigad, Taluka Sudhagad in the
Village Pali. Pali is about 30 kms from Karjat.
ACCESS: -
1. It is 124 Kms away from Mumbai. One can reach Pali from Mumbai Via Panvel, Khopoli.
2. From Pune, Pali is 10 kms Via Lonavala & Khopoli
1. It is 124 Kms away from Mumbai. One can reach Pali from Mumbai Via Panvel, Khopoli.
2. From Pune, Pali is 10 kms Via Lonavala & Khopoli
LEGENDS: -
In the Konkan Pallir village now known as Pali there lived a young boy Ballal who was a very sincere devotee of Lord Ganesh. Son of a rich businessman, his pre-occupation with worship at a young age displeased his father. Ballal spent a large part of his time in worship and influenced his friends to do so too. His friends' parents felt that Ballal was misleading their children by showing them the Bhaktimarg [the path of devotion] at such young age. They asked Ballal's father to restrain him. His father went to look for Ballal and found him in the forest engrossed in his worship of Lord Ganesh. He disrupted the puja, threw away the idol of Ganesh and beat his son. Not content with this he also tied him to a tree. He then left Ballal in the forest asserting that let Lord Ganesh himself come and rescue him. Ballal was in great pain but he kept calling upon Lord Ganesh who took the form of a Brahmin and appeared before him. He set Ballal free and then asked him to make a wish. Ballal entreated Lord Ganesh to reside in this region. The God acquiesced and, resided in a stone which is now believed to be the idol of Ballaleshwar Vinayak, that people worship at Pali. The idol that Ballal's father had desecrated too was placed in the temple. The idol of Dhundivinayak nearby is believed to be that idol.
In the Konkan Pallir village now known as Pali there lived a young boy Ballal who was a very sincere devotee of Lord Ganesh. Son of a rich businessman, his pre-occupation with worship at a young age displeased his father. Ballal spent a large part of his time in worship and influenced his friends to do so too. His friends' parents felt that Ballal was misleading their children by showing them the Bhaktimarg [the path of devotion] at such young age. They asked Ballal's father to restrain him. His father went to look for Ballal and found him in the forest engrossed in his worship of Lord Ganesh. He disrupted the puja, threw away the idol of Ganesh and beat his son. Not content with this he also tied him to a tree. He then left Ballal in the forest asserting that let Lord Ganesh himself come and rescue him. Ballal was in great pain but he kept calling upon Lord Ganesh who took the form of a Brahmin and appeared before him. He set Ballal free and then asked him to make a wish. Ballal entreated Lord Ganesh to reside in this region. The God acquiesced and, resided in a stone which is now believed to be the idol of Ballaleshwar Vinayak, that people worship at Pali. The idol that Ballal's father had desecrated too was placed in the temple. The idol of Dhundivinayak nearby is believed to be that idol.
THE TEMPLE & THE DIETY:
The original temple was made of wood, which was renovated in 1760 and made of stone by Mr.Phadnavis . There are two ponds near the temple.The temple faces East and is shaped like the letter Shree in the Devnagiri script. There are two lakes in the vicinity of the Temple. Water from the lake on the right side is used for Lord Ganesha's worship and other auspicious ocassions. During southern declination of the sun, the rays of the Sun falls on the idol of Lord Ballaleshwar. The temple has two sanctums. In the outer sanctum Mooshak the mouse faces the deity holding a modak in his paws. In the inner sanctum is the idol of Ballaleshwar. It is 3feet high and it faces east and its trunk turns towards the left. The navel and eyes of the idol are studded with precious stones. Lord Ganesh in this aspect appeared as a Brahmin and so this is one of those rare statues where Ganesh is shown wearing clothes as Brahmins do. On both sides of the idol are statues of Riddhi and Siddhi.
The original temple was made of wood, which was renovated in 1760 and made of stone by Mr.Phadnavis . There are two ponds near the temple.The temple faces East and is shaped like the letter Shree in the Devnagiri script. There are two lakes in the vicinity of the Temple. Water from the lake on the right side is used for Lord Ganesha's worship and other auspicious ocassions. During southern declination of the sun, the rays of the Sun falls on the idol of Lord Ballaleshwar. The temple has two sanctums. In the outer sanctum Mooshak the mouse faces the deity holding a modak in his paws. In the inner sanctum is the idol of Ballaleshwar. It is 3feet high and it faces east and its trunk turns towards the left. The navel and eyes of the idol are studded with precious stones. Lord Ganesh in this aspect appeared as a Brahmin and so this is one of those rare statues where Ganesh is shown wearing clothes as Brahmins do. On both sides of the idol are statues of Riddhi and Siddhi.
The Dhundi Vinayak Temple is situated behind the main temple. The idol in this
temple is believed to be swayambhu. The idol of Dhundivinayak faces west.
Devotees first visit this temple before going to the main temple.
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