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Vighneshwar Temple, Ozar
Shri Vighneshwar · 7th Ashtavinayak · Maharashtra
॥ ॐ गं गणपतये नमः ॥
The Vighneshwar Temple at Ozar, near Junnar in Pune district, is the seventh of the eight Ashtavinayak, where Ganesha is the conqueror of obstacles — vighna. Crowned by a golden dome and standing on the bank of the Kukadi river, it is among the most richly built and best-kept of the eight shrines.
The conqueror of the obstacle-demon
The legend tells of Vighnasura, a demon created to obstruct a king’s sacrifice, who spread chaos until Ganesha subdued him. The defeated demon begged that the lord’s name be joined to his own, and so Ganesha is worshipped here as Vighneshwar or Vighnahar — the master and remover of all obstacles. The east-facing idol has eyes set with rubies and a diamond on the brow.
A golden-domed temple on the Kukadi
The temple’s sanctum is topped by a gilded dome and shikhara, added by 18th-century patrons, and its courtyard and deepmalas are well preserved. It sits beside the Kukadi river within sight of the old Junnar hills, a bright and prosperous-looking shrine on the Ashtavinayak route.
Paired with Lenyadri
Ozar lies close to Lenyadri, and pilgrims usually visit the two together — the cave shrine of Girijatmaj and the golden temple of Vighneshwar — in a single day. The contrast between the austere mountain cave and the gilded riverside temple is one of the pleasures of this stretch of the circuit.
How to reach Ozar
- By road: Ozar is about 9 km from Junnar and roughly 85 km from Pune, in the north of the district near the Kukadi river.
- By train: Pune is the nearest major railhead.
- By air: Pune Airport is the closest, around 95 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ashtavinayak is Ozar?
Ozar’s Vighneshwar Temple is the seventh of the eight Ashtavinayak, where Ganesha is worshipped as the conqueror and remover of obstacles (vighna).
Why is the deity called Vighneshwar?
Ganesha subdued the demon Vighnasura, who had been spreading obstruction; the demon asked that the lord’s name be joined to his, so Ganesha is honoured as Vighneshwar, master of obstacles.
What makes the Ozar temple distinctive?
It is crowned by a golden dome and shikhara added by 18th-century patrons, and the idol’s eyes are set with rubies and a diamond on the brow — making it one of the richest of the eight.
Is Ozar near Lenyadri?
Yes — Ozar and Lenyadri are close together, and pilgrims commonly visit the golden temple of Vighneshwar and the cave shrine of Girijatmaj on the same day.
How do I reach Ozar?
Ozar is about 9 km from Junnar and roughly 85 km from Pune, near the Kukadi river. Pune is the nearest railway station and airport.
When is the main festival at Ozar?
Ganesh Jayanti (Magha) and Ganesh Chaturthi (Bhadrapada) are the principal festivals, when the golden-domed temple draws Ashtavinayak pilgrims.
॥ गणपति बाप्पा मोरया ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Position | 7th of the eight Ashtavinayak |
| Deity | Ganesha as Vighneshwar (remover of obstacles) |
| Special | Golden dome; idol with ruby eyes and a diamond brow |
| River | Kukadi |
| Paired with | Lenyadri (Girijatmaj) |
| Main Festival | Ganesh Chaturthi |