Shri Siddhi Vinayak Ashtavinayak Ganpati Temple Siddhatek
Shri Siddhi Vinayak Ashtavinayak Ganpati Temple Siddhatek one of the eight major temples of Lord Ganesha which constitutes the divine Ashtavinayak temples in Maharashtra. Siddhi Vinayak Ganpati Temple is Situated on the banks of river Bhima Siddhatek lies in Karjat taluka of Ahmednagar district on the Pune- Sholapur Railway Daund is the station from where one can reach Siddhtek which is 18km away.
The Hindu god Vishnu is supposed to have vanquished the demons Madhu and Kaitabh after propitiating Lord Ganesh in Shri Siddhi Vinayak Temple.This is the only idol with the trunk pointing to the right. It is believed that the two saints Shri Morya Gosavi and Shri Narayan maharaj of Kedgaon received their enlightenment here.
Shri Siddhi Vinayak Temple is North-facing and is on a small hillock. The main road towards the temple was believed to built by Peshwa's general Haripant Phadake. The inner sanctum, 15feet high and 10feet wide is built by Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar. The idol is 3feet tall and 2.5feet wide. The idol faces North-direction. The stomach of the idol is not wide, but Riddhi and Siddhi idols are sitting on one thigh. This idol's trunk is turning to the right.
The right-sided-trunk Ganesha is supposed to be very strict for the devotees. To make one round (pradakshina) around the temple one has to make the round trip of the hillock. This takes about 30 minutes with moderate speed.The stone pathway is built from the Badami-Castle which was attacked by Peshwa general Haripant Phadake soon after he became the general.
