The Siddhi Vinayak temple at
Siddhatek is located at a distance of about 200 km east of Pune.
Siddhatekcha Shri Siddhi Vinayak is
considered to be one of the Ashta Vinayak shrines
of Maharashtra, celebrating eight instances of legends related to Ganesha.
Legend has it Mahavishnu
who was engaged in a serious battle against the demons Madhu and Kaitabha,
was dismayed by his inability to bring the battle to a quick and decisive finish. Shiva
advised him to propitate Ganesha. Upon doing so, Ganesha appeared on the
battlefield, and his appearance strengthened Mahavishnu's resolve and
abilities and enabled him to vanquish the demons with ease. Ganesha's appearance on the
battlefield is marked by the Siddhivinayak shrine at Siddhatek, said to
be capable of granting Siddhi.
Mahavishnu is worshipped as the
destroyer of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha at Tiruvallur
near Chennai in Tamilnadu, and as the restorer of the Vedas from the same
demons, at Indalur in Mayiladuturai near Thanjavur again in Tamilnadu, both these temples being over 1200 years
old.
The Temple: The Siddhatek
Siddhivinayak temple is a hill temple, built by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar,
who is also credited with rebuilding the Vishnu
Pada temple at Gaya, the Vishwanath
temple at Benares and several other temples. Ganesha is
enshrined in a seated posture with his consorts Siddhi and Riddhi.