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Pune Ganpati Temples From Historical Times
Ganeshottsav in Pune has always held a special place in the hearts of the citizens. The festival has been celebrated with much grandeur in the city since the days it was celebrated in the courts of the Peshwas. Records from the era record the pomp with which the festival was celebrated. Later Lokmanya Tilak breathed nationalistic fervor into the festival making it popular across large parts of the country.
Pune has a special place in the evolution of the festival. The city also has many temples dedicated to its favourite deity. A record of various deities from the year 1810, the time of Peshwa Bajirao II, provides a comprehensive list of deities in Pune. On the occasion of the birth of his son, ‘dakshina‘ befitting their status was offered to these deities by Bajirao II . The more significant ones were offered a higher dakshina of gold coin or ‘mohur‘. These deities included Shiva, Hanuman, Shri Ram, Ganpati, Vishnu as well as other deities and also Muslim pirs. Some of the deities listed were housed in temples dedicated to them – some large temples and others quite small. Some deities were in temples where it was not the primary deity. Few of the deities were not in temples at all, but in small enclosures in walls, below trees or on platforms along the roads or in open areas.
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This list from Bajirao IIs time lists sixty two Ganpati or Ganesh deities in the city and its immediate outskirts. Some them are well known while others are not so well known in today’s era. Of these sixty two Ganpati deities I have been able to identify and locate forty two among them; while others I have not been able to locate. Some of the old landmarks and old addresses can no longer be traced easily. It is equally possible that a few may not exist today. Of all the Ganpati temples in this list, fifteen of these temples had Ganpati as the primary or the only deity.
The most important among all the Ganpati temples in Pune undoubtedly is the Kasba Ganpati. The deity does back to 1600 and probably earlier. It is said that the temple was supported also during the Nizamshahi regime through the provision of an annual grant. Kasba Ganpati is the ‘Gram Daivat’ or village deity and enjoys the highest eminence among all the deities in the city. As per tradition the first invitation for any marriage or any other auspicious function in Pune is first made to the Kasba Ganpati. The Thakar family have been caretakers of the deity since the beginning. Rajmata Jijabai during her stay in Pune had supported the construction/renovation of the temple.
Other than the ‘Gram-Daivat Shri Kasba Ganpati, there were fourteen Ganpati temples where Ganpati is the primary deity. The temples are quite interesting to visit since they have been witness to old times and today’s modern era too.
- Phadke Ganpati : Haripant Phadke was a successful and courageous general during the Peshwa period. He had built his huge mansion in Raviwar Peth located towards the end of what is Tapkir Galli today. His mansion or wada was said to be big enough and had seven courtyards. He built a Ganesh Temple behind his wada. An apartment building stands where his wada once stood and the Ganpati temple is now part of this building complex.
2. Ganpati in Somwar Peth: This is a small temple that retains an old world feel. As per old records the deity was in a small shrine or देवळी near Dadambhat Wateshwar house. The temple is perched on a slightly raised area along the street connecting the Trishund Ganpati temple and Nageshwar Temple complex.
3. Trishund Ganpati: The temple dedicated to Lord Ganpati was built by Bhimgiri Gosavi in 1754. The Ganpati is ‘tri-shunda’ or has three trunks. This is probably the only idol of its type. Below the temple is a cellar with the samadhi of a yogi. This is however open to public only of 1-2 occasions during the year. The temple has a ‘shila-lekh’ or inscription in stone located at a height. The exterior has ornate stone carvings and workmanship that provide the temple with its unique identity.
4. Ganpati Temple at Ganpati Chowk: This temple is located at Laxmi Road in the heart of the shopping district. The temple has been referred in the old records as the temple in the road near Chopdar House in Budhwar Peth. The temple was once in the middle of what is Laxmi Road today. The temple was shifted to its present location, about 100-150 feet away, in the late 1940s when Laxmi Road was built. The Guruji Talim Ganeshottsav pandal is located near this temple. This Ganeshottsav is one of the five ‘maanache‘ or ‘privileged’ mandals.
5. Ganpati at Tulshibaug Complex : To the right of Shri Ram at Tulshibaug is the small yet separate Ganpati temple within the temple complex. Tulshi-Baug complex with Shri Ram as the primary deity and separate temples dedicated to Mahadev, Dattatrey, Vishnu, Vittal and Ganpati has undoubtedly been a favourite location of Pune’s citizens. Naro Appaji Khire (Tulshibaugwale) – ‘sar-subhedar’ of Pune, purchased an acre of land for building this temple complex. Work on the main temple began in 1761 and the beautiful idols of Shri Ram, Laxman and Sita were sanctified in 1765. A visit to Tulshibaug enables devotees to a darshan of many deities.
6. Ganpati Temple in Tulshibaug Lane: Known to locals this small Ganpati temple, however is not easy for others to locate. Old records refer to this temple as located to the south of Chakradeo’s house near the jamoon tree. The old temple is now hidden behind the large Tulshibaug Sarvajanik Ganpati murti. The existence of this temple is probably the reason why the Ganeshottsav was started here in the late 1800s. The Tulshibaug The motif on the देवळी is typical of the design seen in Peshwa Era temples. The Tulshibaug Ganeshottsav Mandal is another ‘maanacha’ or ‘privileged’ mandal.
7. Peshwe Ganpati: The temple is located along the ramparts of the Shaniwar Wada at the south eastern corner. The Shaniwar Wada gate next to this temple is therefore called the Ganesh Darwaja. In the old records the temple is referred to as the Ganpati at the ‘juna’ or old Sarkar Wada.
8. Maticha Ganpati : The ‘Maticha’ or earthen Ganpati is located along the Kelkar Road at Narayan Peth. The deity is large in size. Similar to other temples other deities like Mahadev, Nagoba are also housed in the temple Opposite the temple is the old ‘deep mal’ or the stone column designed placing oil lamps. The temple is being maintained by the Shrotri family since the last few generations.
9. Modi Ganpati – Located at Narayan Peth, the historical records refer to the temple as Ganpati near Modi House. The temple structure is similar to a traditional house and has a traditional shikhar. As per folk-lore the murti was discovered in a garden owned by Khusrushet Modi hence the name.
10. Siddhivinayak Ganpati Mandir near Dulya Maruti : Adjacent to the Dulya Maruti is the Siddhivinayak Ganpati Mandir. The structure does not look very old and may possibly have been rebuilt in the last 100 years. Records from the Peshwa time mention ‘Ganpati Devalay’ just next to Dulya Maruti and in the road.
11. Ramana Ganpati – Located at the foot of the Parvati Hill, the deity derives its name from the Ramana established by the Peshwa. City of Pune under the Peshwa rule attracted scholars in large numbers from different parts of the country. A congregation of these scholars was held annually. The scholars were tested and given ‘dakshina’ based on their learning. Given the large number of scholars who used to gather for the annual event an enclosure or Ramana was built for this purpose. The Ramana was earlier located where the Ramanbaug School stands today. Later that it was moved by the Peshwa to Parvati foothills to accommodate the growing congregations. The Ganpati was in historical times installed on a platform. The temple was probably built much later. The Ganpati at this place is therefore called as the Ramana Ganpati.
12. Sarasbaug Ganpati – In 1755, Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa excavated a lake near the foothills of Parvati as part of the water supply scheme for Pune. In the middle of the excavated lake a small island was retained on which a garden was developed – the Saras Baug. After Nanasaheb, during the era of Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa Ganpati Temple was built on this island by the Peshwa in 1784. During the British era the government handed over the lake surrounding the island to the Pune Municipality. The lake decayed into a wet swamp due to lack of maintenance. Hence, using land fill, the lake was dried out and a garden was developed where the lake once stood. In 1977 the old temple was expanded by the Devdeveshwar Santhan and today is one of the largest and best maintained Ganpati temples in the city.
13. Ganpati near Rajaram Bridge – The temple is located along Sinhagad Road at the Rajaram Bridge. The temple is locally known as Phadke Ganpati. The historical records refer to the temple on the way to Vittahlwadi at the Ganeshkhind. This Ganeshkhind ( Ganpati Pass) is distinct location from the Ganeshkhind near the University and Chatuhshringi.
14. Parvatinandan Ganpati – The temple is located near the Charuhshringi and was locally known as the ‘Khinditla Ganpati‘ or Ganpati in the hill pass. This temple was painstakingly restored a few years ago. There is limited documented evidence about the temple. It is believed that Rajmata Jijabai supported the renovation of this temple. Later in history, another story refers to Shivrambhat Chitrav having found wealth in the well at the temple and that it was used in the services of the temple. The various Peshwa rulers are said to have worshipped at the temple. Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa is said to have worshipped the deity before embarking for the battle at Rakshasbhuvan where the Nizam was humbled.
Many temples dedicated to other deities also had Ganpati on its premises. These temples include including Nageshwar, Amruteshwar, Vruddheshwar, Belbaug, Jogeshwari, Parvati and others.
Photographs of these deities are also shared below. Some temples like Gupchup Ganpati are from later times from the late 1800s but still have heritage value. There are few other Ganpati temples like Chimnya Ganpati or Junya Jaicha Ganpati whose history is not so well know. It is quite possible that these may be among the sixty two Ganpati temples of Pune.
This concludes our visit to the some of the oldest heritage temples in Pune !
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