Mahad - Varadvinayak

Mahad – Varadvinayak Temple
Mahad is one of the temples from Ashtvinayak located in Raigad district near Khopoli. I have been there many times but 18 Dec 2011 visit was special from many ways. It was my first long drive without any supervision and also it was little picnic with my best buddies after long time. This trip was suddenly planned and I guess that is the reason we succeeded in it. I initiated the plan on Thursday and on such short notice all were agreed to come. We decided to go early in the morning on 18 Dec because we have to attend one of our friend engagement on return which was at 12 Noon. We decided to meet at Nerul railway station at ‘sharp’ 7 and then pick another friend from Kharghar but this trip was not exception as the one travelling from Ghansoli missed her train and it took 8 to reach her to Nerul station. Meantime we 3 guys gathered at Nerul station by 7.30 and then we used our waiting time to fill the fuel tank and had sip of tea.
We started our journey around 8.15 from Nerul station and then picked other friend from Kharghar. I was driving the car for the first time so long so I was little bit nervous and trying to concentrate and rest all 4 guys was doing lots of majjak & masti. We took Mumbai-Pune Expressway which starts from Kalamboli and then first time I took all the control of car. No one was there to restrict me for the speed limit and to direct me how to go forward but still keeping my mind in control I kept average speed of car in-between 80-100kmph. Thinking that old NH4 will have traffic I decided not to take exit of Panvel bypass and took the Khopoli exit which made us to travel around 7-8 km back again. We reach to Mahad by 9. While parking the car we saw around 8 buses and thought of temple will be crowded and we might have to wait in long queue but then we saw people are still getting down from the buses and so we almost started running to reach temple before those 8 buses people stands in queue. We quickly bought some Puja plates and entered into temple and behind us all those 8 bus public came in to the temple. If we would have been late for couple of minutes then I think we should have to stand for long queue which might have took 30-45 minutes for darshan.
Earlier Varadvinayak temple structure was like small village house but now temple is extended and renewed. Temple has late behind it. Temple also has Lord Shiva pindi adjacent to Vardvinayaka. After entering into temple, we saw well made colorful Rangoli in the temple. Rangoli was very nice and attractive which made us to click some photographs of it. Then we took the darshan of Shiva then we took the darshan of Varadvinayak. After darshan we spend little time in temple and then took the Prasad. We came out of temple and then visited Lord Datta temple which is behind the Varadvinayak temple. After taking the Darshan of Lord Datta we decided to do some photography. After Photography we headed towards for some shopping. Some of us bought spices and then we had some snacks. Now the queue was quite long and we were happy that we took the Darshan before that.
After some more fun we look at watch and this was the time to head back as we have to catch engagement too. We left the Mahad around 10:15. This time we took old Mumbai-Pune NH4 highway to return back and I found this road easier to drive compare to expressway. Finally all went good and we reached back around 11:15 almost in 3 hrs from where we started. If we don’t have to catch engagement we were thinking of visiting Pali – Ballaleshwar temple too but no worries some time later.

Few things about Mahad – Varadvinayak
The idol of this temple Varadavinayak is a swayambu (self originated) and was found in the adjoining lake in an immersed position in 1690 AD. This temple is said to be built in 1725AD by Subhedar Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar. The idol of this temple faces the east and has his trunk turned to the left. There are 4 elephant idols guarding the 4 sides of the temple. In this Ashta Vinayak Temple devotees can enter the Garbagriha and pay their homage and respects to the idol personally. Devotees visit the Varadvinayak shrine throughout the year.

How to travel
If you are travelling from Mumbai its maximum 4 hrs return journey. It’s suggested to go by private vehicle. Take Mumbai – Pune Express Highway starting from Kalamboli and take exit of Shedung. After exit from express highway drive straight towards Khopoli from NH4 and at village ‘Hal’ you can see right turn for Varadvinayak-Mahad temple (keep eye on sign boards). You can also catch the Maharashtra state buses going towards Khopoli, Pune from Old NH4.

!!!!Ganapati Bappa Morya!!!!

Mayuresh