Shree Vighnahar Ganpati Temple Ozar - Ashtavinayak

The Vighnahar Ganpati Temple or also known as Vigneshwara Temple of Ozar (Ojhar/Ojzar) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Lord 'Ganesha' or 'Ganpati Bappa' Son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the elephant-headed god of wisdom. The Vigneshwara Temple or Vighnahar Ganpati Temple is popular for its Golden dome (Sonayacha Kalash) and its Deepmala's (a stone pillar). Among Ashtavinayakas Temples, Vighneshwara temple is the only temple with have a golden dome (Sonayacha Kalash) and pinnacle.

Ozar is prescribed to the seventh temple to be visited in the Ashtavinayak Darshan tour or yatra. The 'Ganesha' form of worship here is called Vigneshwara/Vigneshvar/Vigneshwar - 'Lord of obstacles'. Vignahar/Vignahara - 'Remover of obstacles' and is associated with the legend of Ganesha defeating Vignasura, the demon of obstacles. The deity is depicted accompanying his two consorts Siddhi (spiritual power), and Riddhi (prosperity).

Daily Puja Schedule of Vighnahar Ganpati Temple Ozar

• Temple open at 5:00 AM
• At Angarki – Temple open at 4:00 AM To 11:00 PM
• Maha Aarti – The Early Morning To 7.30 AM
• Maha Prasad – Morning at 10:00 AM To Afternoon 1:00 PM
• Madhyan Aarti – Afternoon – 12:00 PM
• Haripath – Evening 7.30 PM
• Maha Prasad – Evening at 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
• Shejaarti – The last Aarti of the day: Night 10:00 PM

Ozar is situated on the banks of Kukadi River close to the Yedagaon dam built on it. This Ganesha temple is one of the Ashtavinayaka yatra, the eight revered shrines of Ganesha in Maharashtra State, India. Ozar (Ojhar/Ojzar) is located about 85 km from Pune city, off the Pune - Nashik highway (NH 60 Highway) and about 9 km north to Narayangaon. The distance of Ozar to Nashik (Nasik) is 145 km via Nashik-Pune NH60 Highway.

Stay at Ozar Ganpati: Bhakta Niwas/Bhavan (Tel: 02132-288330) has clean and decent rooms. This is the only stay option at Ozar.

Nearest Places from Ozar Ganpati

• Shivneri Fort (Birth Place of the great king Shivaji Maharaj) - 12.4 KM (30 Min)
• lenyadri Caves - 15 Km (30 Mins)
• lenyadri Ganesha - 15 Km (30 Mins)
• Malshej Ghat - 37.9 Km (60 Mins)
• Naneghat - 39.0 Km (1 hr and 20 Mins)
• Shree Bhimashankar - (One of Jyotirlinga among 12 present in India) 78.7 km (2 hr and 14 min)

The temple celebrates the usual festivals associated with Ganesha: Ganesh Jayanti and Ganesh Chaturthi. At the time of Ganesh Jayanti, the temple decorated with flowers and lightings. Millions of peoples are visiting here for Ganesh Darshan in Ganesh Jayanti. In addition, a five-day festival starting on Kartik Poornima is also celebrated when the Deepamalas are lit. In the events or Ganesh Jayati days, lots of small shops here for shopping and the sweet Prashad (Pedha) of Ganesha.

The holy event of 'Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi' and 'Magh Shudha Chaturthi' are celebrated with pomp by peoples from all the villages, cities and areas by coming together. There is a beautiful lightening (Deep Mala) arrangement during that period.The festival of Bael Pola (Bullock Festival) is also celebrated in a similar fashion in which the traditional high seat is given to the bulls of the person quoting the highest at the auction.

Ganesh Chaturthi in 2020

The Vighnahar or Vigneshwra Temple Ozar was constructed in the era of the Peshwas. The structure is an epitome of Vastushastra (Architectural Science). The Ozar Vighneshwara Ganpati temple was built in 1785. In 1967, it was rebuilt by 'Shri Appashastri Joshi'. Shri Appashastri Joshi was an ardent devotee of Ganesha. Now the temple members and trust maintaining, renovating the temple very nicely.

Ozar Vigneshwara/Vighnahar Ganpati Temple By Road:
Ozar is in the Junner Taluka in Pune District. Pune-Ozar distance is 85 km. On the Pune- Nasik Road on passing through Chakan, Rajgurunagar, Manchar, one comes to the towns Narayangaon and later to Junnar. Ozhar is 8 km from both Naryangaon and Junnar. There are many buses that travel on a regular basis to the Vigneshwara Temple Ozar. Also, the distance of Ozar to Nashik/Nasik is 145 km via Nashik-Pune NH60 Highway.

Ozar Vigneshwara/Vighnahar Ganpati Temple by Train:
Pune and Talegaon are the two nearest Railway Stations and after that, another option is Kalyan Railway Station. The Pune station connects to major Indian cities.

Ozar Vigneshwara/Vighnahar Ganpati Temple by Air:
Pune Lohegaon Airport, around 10-12 km from Pune, is the nearest airport. This airport is connected to all the domestic airports in India.

*By Car/Bike/Bus

• Ozar to Lenyadri Distance: 31 min (15.1 km) via Narayangaon - Junnar - Ozar Road, Fastest route, The usual traffic.
• Ozar to Ranjangaon Distance: 1 hr 49 min (65.3 km) via Narayangaon - Ozar Road, Fastest route, the usual traffic.
• Ozar to Theur Distance: 2 hr 47 min (90.0 km) via NH60 Highway, Best route. This route has tolls.
• Ozar to Siddhatek Distance: 3 hr 57 min (150 km) via MH (Maharashtra) SH 50 (State Highway), Fastest route.
• Ozar to Morgaon Distance: 3 hr 25 min (135 km) via Shirur - Satara Road, Fastest route, the usual traffic.
• Ozar to Pali Distance: 4 hr 7 min (171 km) via NH60 Highway and Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway/Mumbai - Pune Expressway, Fastest route, the usual traffic. This route has tolls.
• Ozar to Mahad Distance: 3 hr 13 min (137 km) via NH60 Highway and Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway/Mumbai - Pune Expressway, Fastest route, the usual traffic, This route has tolls.

Jhul jhul vahe punya janancha nirjhar ho
Shree vighneshar sharan shubhankar ojarr ho ||
Ganrayala vighnasur he sharan jithe
Bhakt jananna bhaidavita maran tithe
He vighneshwar charan dayeche pajhar ho
Shree vighneshwar sharan shubhankar ojarr ho ||
Grushn shilecha mushak dhave darashi
Taisha padti bhaktaichya sankat rashi
Bhaya chirache mandir he chir sundar ho
Shree vighneshwar sharan shubhankar ojarr ho ||

झूल झूल वहे पुण्य जनंच निर्धार हो
श्री विघ्नेशर शरण शुभंकर ओजर हो ||
गणरायला विघ्नसुर तो शरण जिथे
भक्त जनना भैदविता मारण तिहावे
ते विघ्नेश्वर चरण दियेचे पाझर हो
श्री विघ्नेश्वर शरण शुभंकर ओजर हो ||
ग्रासले शिलेचा मुश्क धवे दाराशी
तैशा पत्ती भक्तच्यं संकेत रशी
भाया चिराचे मंदिर तो चिर सुंदर हो
श्री विघ्नेश्वर शरण शुभंकर ओजर हो ||