Ballaleshwar Vinayak Temple Pali Ashtavinayak
Ballaleshwar Temple in Pali is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is one of the Asthavinayak Temples in Maharashtra. This temple is famous by the name of his devotee and the lord here is dressed up as a brahmin.
Legend of Ballaleshwar
According to legend, there lived a young boy by the name Ballal in Pali who was a great devotee of Lord Ganesha. His father was a rich businessman and was displeased with Ballal’s behaviour. When Ballal started influencing his friends also into the worship of Ganesha, his father got enraged and one day when Ballal was worshipping Ganesha in the forest, he disrupted the puja and threw away the idol of Ganesha and tied Ballal to a tree.
Later seeing the plight of Ballal, Lord Ganesh appeared in the form of a Brahmin and set him free and asked him to make a wish. Ballal asked Ganesh to stay in the region forever. To which Ganesh obliged and hence Lord Ganesh is seen in the stone image in the form of a brahmin.
The idol of Ballaleshwar is about 3 feet high and faces east and its trunk turns towards the left. The navel and eyes of the idol are studded with precious stones. Riddhi and Siddhi accompany Ganesh on his sides and Ganesh is seen in the form of a brahmin.
The Dhundi Vinayak Temple is situated behind the main temple and the idol faces west. The temple itself is shaped in the form of the letter shree in the devnagiri script.
Location and Travel to Ballaleshwar
The Ballaleshwar temple is located in the village of Pali.
Distance from Mumbai to Pali is about 124 kms.
Distance from Pune to Pali is about 10 kms via Lonavala and Khopoli.
Ballaleshwar Temple contact details
Vyasthapak Trustee
Shri Ballaleshwar Devasthan Pali
Taluka Sudhagadh, Gilla Raigad
Pin code 410 205
Phone : 02142 242263 / 241129 / 242429