Ashta – vinayaka literally means Eight Ganeshas in Sanskrit which are considered as eight forms of Ganesha. Ganesha is the Hindu deity of unity, prosperity & learning known as vighnaharta who removes all the obstacles of life. The Ashtavinayaka yatra comes under the panchkoshi yatra which comprises of eight ancient holy temples of Ganesha which are situated around Varanasi. Each of these temples has its own individual legend and history, as distinct from each other as the murtis in each temple. The form of each murti of Ganesha and His trunk are distinct from one another.
Varanasi has always been a religious paradise for followers of Hinduism since eternal times. Being a holy place, Varanasi or Kashi not only enthralls the beauty of sacred life, but is also a place which can lead a person towards light and inner peace of life. With thousands of temples situated at every corner of this blissful city, few have held an uphold position where god himself resides. With Kashi Vishwanath temple being the major attraction, Ashta vinayak temple needs a special mention based on its religious aspects.
Ashta vinayak, as the name suggests, signifies eight Ganeshas temple. It is said that anyone who takes the Ashtavinayak Yatra completes the major part of their visit to Varanasi. There lies an interesting story behind the Ashtavinayak in Varanasi. It is said that once Lord Brahma requested Lord Shiva to leave Varanasi and reside in Kailash. Lord Shiva was so mesmerized by the beauty of the city that he never wanted to leave but somehow he couldn’t decline Lord Brahma’s request. So he agreed to leave Varanasi at only one condition that the care taker whom Lord Brahma is appointing for Varanasi should be a skilled and honest one. If the ruler fails to maintain the serenity and dignity of the city, he will return to Varanasi. Lord Brahma agreed to it and appointed King Divodas as the sole care taker of Varanasi.
Though Lord Shiva was in Kailash, his heart always dreamt of Kashi. To remove King Divodas from Kashi, Lord Shiva made several attempts to fail him by sending some beautiful Yoginis and Lord Surya to Varanasi, but they all got so mesmerized by the beauty of the city and stayed there. Finally Lord Shiva sent Lord Ganesha to find some mistake about King Divodas rule. Lord Ganesha finally succeeded in finding a mistake in King Divodas rule but he himself got so attracted by the heavenly bliss of Kashi that he forgave King Divodas and made eight temples of his. These temples are held as highly sacred ones where devotees who visit all eight temples of Ashtavinayak, will have peace and prosperity in life. Located in various parts of Varanasi, the gates of Ashtavinayak temples are always open and devotees can perform Puja themselves.
In some way or the other Vinayak fulfilled his father’s wishes and settled down in Kashi in the form of Chppan Vinayak and Ashta Vinayak is a part of It. Their names are:
