The Mahā Gaṇapatī temple in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra, is one of the eight renowned Gaṇeśa temples around the Pune Region collectively known as the Aṣṭavināyakas. Out of the eight famous Gaṇeṣa temples, six are located within the Pune District and the rest two is located in Raigad and Ahmednagar Distric respectively.

Situated along the Pune-Chhatrapati Śambhajinagar state highway, approximately 50 kilometres from Pune city, the  Mahā Gaṇapatī temple is a prominent landmark easily visible to travellers. The temple boasts several legends that have etched themselves into the public consciousness. The temple opens from 5:30 am to 10 pm and can be accessed by travelling to Chauphula village on the Pune-Solapur Road. Chauphula is also a gateway to other Gaṇeśa pilgrimage sites, including Theur, Morgaon, and Siddhatek.

Grand entrance.

Mythology and Legends: According to one legend, the temple's history is entwined with the sage Gṛtsamada, a devoted worshiper of Gaṇeśa in antiquity. Gṛtsamada, through years of rigorous penance, earned the benevolence of Gaṇeśa. However, from the Gṛtsamada's sneeze a 'red boy' was born, who grew to possess exceptional skills in various arts and weaponry. Despite his devotion to Gaṇeśa, he possessed demonic powers. With Gaṇeśa's blessings, the boy received three cities made up of  gold, silver, and bronze, with the condition that only Śiva will be able to destoy the three cities. This boy subsequently became known as 'Tripurāsura.'

As the demonic force of Tripurāsura began to wreak havoc, tormenting celestial realms, earth, and the netherworld, causing immense suffering to humans, sages, and deities alike, a collective plea for deliverance arose. The Devas went to Mount Kailash, where they implored Lord Śiva to vanquish Tripurāsura. Accepting their plea, Lord Śiva initiated preparations for the impending battle, albeit with initial setbacks against Tripurāsura's might. Amidst these events, sage Nārada Muni's advised Lord Śiva to worship Lord Gaṇeśa with rigorous penenace in order to win against the might of Tripurāsura. 

In response to Lord Śiva's devotion, Gaṇeśa became a colossal deity with ten faces and twenty arms, earning the appellation 'Mahā Gaṇapatī.' Empowered by this divine intervention, Lord Śiva defeated Tripurāsura at Bhimashankar, deploying the 'Ekākṣarī mantra' to dispatch the demon with a single arrow. This celestial victory transpired on the full moon day of the Kārtika month, an occasion now known as 'Tripurārī Pūrṇimā.'

The legacy of the Mahā Gaṇapatī temple in Ranjangaon is also associated with the great ascetic and Gaṇeśa devotee Morayā Gosāvī, whose disciple Morobā Dev assumed the role of worship and service at the temple. Descendants of the Dev family have faithfully upheld this tradition.

Tripurāsura worshipping Lord Śiva (Courtesy: Mhaganapati Trust).

Temple Premises: The temple complex along the Pune-Sambhajinagar State Highway beckons visitors with a grand entrance adorned by two imposing elephant sculptures. Beyond the gate, a narrow path leads to the temple's core. Along this route, stands two lamp pillars or dipamālā and a temple dedicated to Datta.

The main temple entrance.

Temple History and Architecture: The temple's central edifice comprises a wooden hall, an assembly hall, and a sanctum sanctorum, with an additional north-facing shrine dedicated to Śiva. Sardar Kibe of Indore was pivotal in constructing the wooden hall, while Madhavrao Peshva contributed to the sanctum's establishment. Stonework around the Mahā Gaṇapatī temple was undertaken at the personal expense of Sardar Malharrao Holkar and Mahadji Shinde. Moroba Dev, a devotee of Morayā Gosāvī, received a charter in Śaka era 1690 (23rd August 1768) from Mādhavrao Peśvā, entailing responsibilities related to the worship of Mahā Gaṇapatī, offerings, a lamp for God, and provisions for prasadam. Historical records from the Peśvā era attest to Nānā Fadanavis, a diplomat who provided an annual grant to the temple and made personal visits with his family.

The temple faces east, allowing the sun's rays to illuminate the deity during the middle of Dakṣiṇāyana (winter solstice) and Uttarāyana (summer solstice). The intricate wooden hall, presently undergoing partial restoration, showcases exquisite carvings. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is ssimple, featuring an 18th-century marble idol of Gaṇeśa in a niche. The famous vermilion-smeared idol of Mahā Gaṇapatī adorns the rear wall of the sanctum sanctorum. The original ten-trunked, twenty-armed idol of Mahā Gaṇapatī, known as 'Mahotkaṭa,' constructed by Madhavrao Peśvā is preserved in the basement . Within the temple's core also resides a linear idol of Gaṇeśa with the left trunk. 

On the right side of the wooden hall stands a small temple housing exquisite brass idols of Gaṇeśa and Riddhi-Siddhi in the sanctum sanctorum. Idols of Viṭṭhala-Rukmīṇi and Mārutī can be also found.

Brass idols of Gaṇeśa and Riddhi-Siddhi.

The Mahā Gaṇapatī temple.

The portrait of Sardar Malharrao Holkar and Mahadji Shinde (Courtesy: Mahaganapati Trust).

Other Structures around the Temple area: Adjacent to the main temple's sanctum sanctorum is another chamber housing a Śivaliṅga and a Gaṇeśa idol, with Nandī situated before the Śivaliṅga. The Owaris within the temple premises  hosts a permanent exhibition featuring captivating images recounting events, legends, and historical narratives related to the temple. A 'Nauba-ta' (a musical instrument) from the Peśvā era is displayed here, alongside a Satī stone and a hero stone. The former bears engravings detailing Satī's life story and handprints, while the latter commemorates a heroic figure. Both stones are believed to be five centuries old.

To the temple's rear, a small step well with descending steps invites visitors to a step well, which characterized by arches and houses a fragmentary yet ancient Viṣṇū idol within one of these arches. The old pillars in front of and behind the temple are noteworthy, showcasing designs indicative of their antiquity, dating back at least five to six centuries, likely from the 13th century.These pillars suggest the existence of an original ancient temple preceding the eighteenth-century structure.

The Owaris (Open chambers)

Hero stone.

Satī stone.

An ancient Viṣṇū idol.

Old pillars which show that there was another temple on this site before the 18th century.

Yearly Gaṇapati Festival: Bhādrapada Śuddha Caturthī, also known as ‘Gaṇeśa Caturthī’, is a five-day festival celebrated with great grandeur. During this period, devotees have the unique opportunity to approach the sanctum of Lord Gaṇeśa directly for worship. On the fifth day of the festival, a ceremonial offering of food is made to Lord Gaṇeśa, followed by a grand procession featuring a palanquin adorned with flowers carrying the idol of Lord Gaṇeśa. Additionally, wrestling matches are organized during these festivities, attracting substantial crowds of spectators. On the sixth day, devotees partake in "loṭāṅgaṇa", or bowing down in reverence to Mahā Gaṇapatī. Interestingly, the residents of Ranjangaon refrain from installing Gaṇeśa idols in their homes during the Gaṇeśa festival. This practice is rooted in the belief that Lord Gaṇeśa possesses immense power and is better worshipped at the temple.

Concluding Remarks: Ranjangaon holds special significance as the epicentre of the 'Gāṇapatya' sect and is renowned as a religious hub dedicated to Lord Gaṇeśa in Maharashtra. Further evidence of the deep-rooted tradition of Gaṇeśa worship in this region can be found at the 13th century Someśvara temple in Pimpri-Dumala village, just five kilometres from Ranjangaon. This temple boasts numerous Gaṇeśa sculptures, including one featuring Gaṇeśa on a hero stone, suggesting the prevalence of Gaṇeśa worship in this area much earlier than the 13th century. The temple precincts have undergone recent transformations, featuring enhancements to the overall area and creating a beautiful garden on the temple's northern side. The 'Śrī Kṣetra Ranjangaon Gaṇapatī Devasthān Trust' meticulously manages the temple's affairs.