Vigneshwara Temple, Ozar

The Vigneshwara Temple or Vighnahar Ganapati Temple of Ozar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom. The temple is one of the Ashtavinayaka, the eight revered shrines of Ganeshain Maharashtra, India. The Ganesha form worshipped here is called Vigneshwara or Vignahar and is associated with the legend of Ganesha defeating Vignasura, the demon of obstacles.LocationOzar is located about 85 km from Pune, off the Pune-Nashik highway and about 9 km north to Narayangaon. Along another Ashtavinayak temple of Lenyadri, Ozar is located in the Junnar taluka of Pune district. Ozar is situated on the banks of Kukadi River close to the Yedagaon dam built on it.HistoryChimaji Appa, brother and military commander of the Peshwa Baji Rao I, renovated the temple and covered the shikhara (temple spire) with gold after seizing the Vasai Fort from the Portuguese. The temple was also renovated in 1967 by the Ganesha devotee Appa Shastri Joshi.Religious significanceThough Ozar is prescribed to the seventh temple to be visited in the Ashtavinayak circuit, pilgrims often visit Ozar fifth, as it is a more convenient route.