Lenyadri Girijatmak is one of Ashtavinayak temple to be
visited during the AshtaVinayaka yatra. This Ganesh Temple idols and in a most
unusual setting is the Girijatmak temple. Lenyadri Girijatmak temple is Located
in the Lenyadri village in Junnar Taluka.
Girijatmaj Vinayak refers
to the Ganesh as the son of Parvati. Girija is another name for Parvati and
Atamaj means son. This shrine is on the banks of river Kukdi and 95 kms. Away
on the north of Pune. Girijaatmaja Vinayak at Lenyadri hills in Maharashtra is
a representation of Ganesha in the form of an infant. There are 283 steps to
reach the temple. The Murty is facing north and there are Shivashankar and Hanuman
on sides This place is mentioned in the Ganesh Puran and its call as
Jirnapur or Lekhan Parbat. This is the only temple of the Ashtavinayak which is
on a mountain and is set in a Buddhist cave-temple.
The Girijatmaja temple is carved out of a single stone
without any pillar to support the 57 ft by 51 ft hall. The temple is set upon
the Lekhan Hills in a cave by the banks of the river Kukdi. The cave is reached
by a flight of 321 steps. This temple of the Ashtavinayak is the only one which
perched on a high hill and is set in a Buddhist cave-temple.
A Buddhist stupa is also located just beside the main cave.
Another nearby attraction here is the Shivneri fort where the legendary
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born. The drive itself is an awesome experience
with sugarcane fields on either side and later on amidst the tall Eucalyptus
trees. There is a total of 18 caves
here all of Buddhist origin with proof that they date back to even 3rd century.
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