Shri Ballaleshwar Ashtvinayak Templeis one of the eight temples of Lord Ganesha in the tour of ashtavinayak. Among ashtavinayak Ganesha temples, this temple is the only incarnation of Lord Ganesha that is known by his devotee's name. It is located in the town/village of Pali which is at a distance of 57.1 km (via SH92) from Karjat in the Raigad district and 120 km from Pune city. The pali Ganesha temple is in the Konkan area of Raigad district, Maharashtra. It is situated between fort Sarasgad and the river Amba.

The Varadvinayak Mahad Ganpati Temple/Mandir is the Seventh Ganesha temple among Ashtavinayak to be visited during the Ashtavinayak Darshan yatra/tour. The idol at the VaradVinayak Mahad Ganpati Temple is Swyambhu murti and the temple is actually recognised as a Math.The temple is very simply designed with a tiled roof, a dome 25 feet high with golden pinnacle and a golden summit (Kalas) which has a carving of a cobra (also a deity revered by Hindus). The Temple is 8 feet long and 8 feet broad.

The temple complex encircles two lakes and is tiled throughout. There are two sanctums in the temple, an inner and an outer sanctum. The inner sanctum is 15 feet (4.6 meters) high, while the outer sanctum is only 12 feet (3.7 meters) high. The outer sanctum contains a murti in the shape of a rat, holding modak(Sweet Prashad of Ganesha) in its hands while facing Lord Ganesha. The main hall of the temple is 40 feet (12 meters) long and 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide and contains eight pillars resembling Cyprus trees.

Lord Ganesha is said to reside here in the form of varada Vinayaka, the giver of bounty and success. This Ashta Vinayak shrine faces east (Purvabhimukh) and is enshrined in the sitting posture, with his trunk turned towards the left. The stone idols of Riddhi and Siddhi are seen in the sanctum. Lord Ganesha as Varad Vinayak fulfills all desires and grants all boons.

Ballaleshwar Ganpati Temple Mahad Daily Puja Schedule

• Temple open at 5:30 AM To 09:00 PM
• Chaturthi days the timing of puja Between 6.00 a.m. to 9.00a.m

Ballaleshwar Temple Bhakta Nivas

• The Ballaleshwar Temple Trust Provide Staying Options with 24 Rooms and 2 Halls.
• Bhaktnivas No 1: Total No of Rooms - 10 Charges per room Rs.250 (5 pax in a room)
• Bhaktnivas- 2: 14 Rooms Rs.300
• 2 Halls Rs.10 per person.
• Meals: Purchase coupon from Temple Office for Rs.10 (Till 1.30 PM)

It is located in the town/village of Pali which is at a distance of 57.1 km (via SH92) from Karjat in the Raigad district and 120 km from Pune city. The pali Ganesha temple is in the Konkan area of Raigad district, Maharashtra. It is situated between fort Sarasgad and the river Amba.

Address of Ballaleshwar Ganpati Temple Pali: Taluka Sudhagad, District Raigad, Pali, Maharashtra - 410205

• Locality/village: Pali
• Taluka: Sudhagad
• District: Raigad
• State: Maharashtra
• Country: India
• Pin Code: 410205

The Lord Ganesha murti: The murti of Lord Ganesha sits on a stone throne, facing east with its trunk turned left and sitting against a background of silver which displays Siddhi (spiritual power) and Riddhi (prosperity). waving chamaras. The murti's eyes and navel contain diamonds.

In the town of Pali lived a successful businessman named 'Kalyan' with his wife, 'Indumati'. Their child(Son), 'Ballal', and the other children in the town used to play puja(pooja), using stones in place of murtis. Once, the children, going to the outskirts of the town, saw a very large stone. At the insistence of 'Ballal', the children worshiped the stone as Lord Ganesha. Led by Ballal, the children became so engrossed in their worship that they forgot about hunger and thirst; day and night.

Meanwhile, the parents of the town anxiously waited for their children to come home. When the children did not return on time, they all went to Kalyan's house and complained about his son Ballal. Kalyan, flying into a rage, took a stick and went in search of the children. Eventually, he found the children listening to the Ganesha Purana. In his fury, he destroyed the small temples built by the children, who fled away in terror, leaving Ballal by himself. Ballal, completely submerged in devotion to Ganesha, was grabbed by his father and beaten until blood drenched his clothes. His father proceeded to tie him to a tree and trampled on all the puja materials collected by the children. Lifting the large stone which the children had treated as Ganesha, he threw it to the ground, breaking it into pieces. He taunted Ballal, "Now we shall see which God protects you!" Going home, he left his own son bound to the tree to die.

Still bound to the tree, Ballal cursed his father for having insulted Ganesha, "May he become blind, deaf, dumb, and hunchbacked for his disrespect to the son of Parvati!" Though filled with pain, hunger, and thirst, he continued chanting the name of Ganesha until, exhausted, he fainted. On waking, Ballal entreated Ganesha to come to his aid. Lord Ganesha, moved by the child's devotion, appeared in the form of a sadhu before Ballal and untied him from the tree. On seeing Ganesha, Ballal's thirst and hunger vanished; his wounds were healed and he was completely invigorated. He prostrated before the sadhu, recognizing him as Ganesha, and worshipped him. Ganesha told Ballal he would bless him with whatever he asked for as a reward for his devotion. Ballal entreated, "May I be your unshakeable devotee, and may you always stay in this place and remove the miseries of the people who seek refuge in you." Ganesha said, "I shall ever remain here, and will take your name before mine, being worshiped as Ballal's Lord." He embraced Ballal and vanished into the nearby stone. The stone's cracks disappeared and were made whole again.

That stone statue is called Ballaleshwar. The stone idol which Kalyan threw to the ground is also known as Dhundi Vinayak. This is a swayambhu murti and is worshiped before Ballaleshwar is worshiped.

*By Car/Bike/Bus

• Pali to Lenyadri Distance: 4 hr 34 min (178 km) via Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway/Mumbai - Pune Expressway and NH60, Fastest route, the usual traffic, This route has tolls.
• Pali to Ranjangaon Distance: 3 hr 50 min (165 km) via Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway/Mumbai - Pune Expressway, Fastest route, the usual traffic, This route has tolls.
• Pali to Theur Distance: 3 hr 41 min (146 km) via Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway/Mumbai - Pune Expressway, Fastest route, despite the usual traffic, This route has tolls.
• Pali to Siddhatek Distance: 5 hr 20 min (219 km) via Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway/Mumbai - Pune Expressway and Mumbai Highway/Pune - Solapur Road/Solapur Road/Solapur - Pune Highway, Fastest route, despite the usual traffic, This route has tolls.
• Pali to Morgaon Distance: 4 hr 13 min (189 km) via Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway/Mumbai - Pune Expreessway, Fastest route, the usual traffic, This route has tolls.
• Pali to Ozar Distance: 4 hr 32 min (169 km) via Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway/Mumbai - Pune Expreessway and NH60, Fastest route, lighter traffic than usual, This route has tolls.
• Pali to Mahad Distance: 1 hr 12 min (37.6 km), via SH92, Fastest route, the usual traffic