FallonMansom317 at 10:36, 29 September 2025

2025-09-29T10:36:34Z

New page

{{short description|Temple in Raigad district, in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Ballaleshwar Pali
| image = Pali- Shri Ballaleshwar.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type =
| map_caption =
| coordinates =
| country = India
| state = [[Maharashtra]]
| district = [[Raigad district]]
| location = village of Pali
| elevation_m =
| deity = Lord [[Ganesha]]
| year_completed =
| architecture =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Ballaleshwar Pali''' is one of the [[Ashtavinayaka|eight temples]] of the Hindu God [[Ganesha]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-04 |title=A glance at the significance of Ashtavinayak pilgrimage |url=https://punemirror.com/pune/others/A-glance-at-the-significance-of-Ashtavinayak-pilgrimage/cid8439870.htm |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=punemirror.com |language=en-IN}}</ref> Among Ganesha temples, Ballaleshwar is the only one dedicated to Ganesha that is known by his devotee's name. It is located in the village of Pali which is 28 km from [[Roha]] in the [[Raigad district]] of [[Maharashtra]], India. It is situated between fort [[Sarasgad]] and the river Amba.

== The temple ==
Moreshvar Vitthal Sindkar constructed the temple in 1640. He was one of the major contributor of the work of Chatrapati Shivaji. The Ganesha devotee and had immense contribution to the development of the temple. The original wooden temple was renovated in 1760 to make way for a new stone temple designed by Shri Fadnis. Built in the shape of the letter [[Shri]], it was made by mixing lead with the cement during construction. The east-facing temple was carefully positioned so that, as the sun rises, sun rays fall directly on the [[murti]] during [[Aarti|worship]]. The temple contains a bell that was brought back by [[Chimaji Appa]] after defeating Portuguese.

The temple complex encircles two lakes and is tiled throughout. There are two [[sanctuary|sanctums]] in the temple, an inner and an outer sanctum. The inner sanctum is {{convert|15|ft|m}} high, while the outer sanctum is only {{convert|12|ft|m}} high. The outer sanctum contains a [[murti]] in the shape of a [[rat]], holding [[modak]] in its hands while facing [[Ganesha]]. The main hall of the temple is {{convert|40|ft|m}} long and {{convert|20|ft|m}} wide and contains eight pillars resembling [[cypress]] trees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=पालीत हजारो भाविक दाखल; बल्लाळेश्वराच्या दर्शनासाठी रांगा {{!}} Pali ballaleshwar Ganpati temple |url=https://www.esakal.com/maharashtra/pali-ballaleshwar-ganpati-temple-sankashti-chaturthi-religious-place-devotees-nss91 |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=eSakal - Marathi Newspaper |language=mr-IN}}</ref>

===The murti===
The murti of Vinayaka sits on a stone throne, facing east with its trunk turned left and sitting against a background of [[silver]] which displays [[Consorts of Ganesha|Riddhi and Siddhi]] waving [[Hand fan|chamara]]s. The murti's [[human eye|eye]]s and [[navel]] contain [[diamond]]s.

==Legend==
In the village of [[Pali, Raigad|Pali]] lived a successful [[Vaishya|businessman]] named Kalyan with his wife, Indumati. Their son, Ballal, and the other children in the village used to play [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]], using stones in place of [[murti]]s. Once, the children, going to the outskirts of the village, saw a very large stone. At the insistence of Ballal, the children worshipped the stone as 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 village 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 [[Mandir|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 [[Hubris|insulted Ganesha]], "May he become blind, deaf, dumb, and hunchbacked for his disrespect to the [[Parvati#Mother of Ganesha|son of Parvati]]!" Though filled with pain, hunger, and thirst, he continued [[Japa|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 [[Darśana|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 [[Blessing|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 (BallalEshwar)." He embraced Ballal and vanished into the nearby stone. The stone's cracks disappeared and was 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 worshipped before Ballaleshwar is worshipped.<ref>{{Cite web |title=तीसरे अष्टविनायक बल्लालेश्वर मंदिर में आम आदमी की तरह विराजित हैं गणपति |url=https://www.jagran.com/spiritual/mukhye-dharmik-sthal-know-some-interesting-facts-of-famous-ballaleshwar-pali-temple-on-ganesh-chaturthi2018-18447708.html |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=Dainik Jagran |language=hi}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Ashtavinayaka]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.shivajipark.com/ganpati/ballaleshwar.html Asthavinayak Darshan]

{{coord|18|32|8.26|N|73|13|26.64|E|region:IN|display=title}}
{{Hindu holy cities}}
{{Hindu temples in Maharashtra}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Ashtavinayaka temples]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Raigad district]]

Ballaleshwar Pali - Revision history

FallonMansom317 at 10:36, 29 September 2025