The term Ashta Pradhan literally translates to “the Prime Eight”, from the Sanskrit ashta “eight” and pradhan “prime”. It is a council of eight Ganesh or Vinayak that administered the Kashi. 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.
Though the various idol of Ashta Pradhan Vinayak in Kashi is grand and strictly different in architectural terms, it cannot be termed as temple. On the road, Ghats and inside the temples , devotees will find a red glaring figure of Ashta Pradhan Vinayak, some with silver hands, some with the trunk on right side, Some only with the face of Ganesha, and poll, squatting down on the floor, or swayambhu from any of the wall, which is raised a little above the wall.
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:
