Vighneshwara of Ozhar

 Ashtavinayak Series

Vighneshwara of Ozhar

This is the last write-up in this series! This was my way of remembering Bappa during His festival.

There was a king named Abhinandan who wanted to become the king of Heaven as well. He started a Yagna to achieve this. When Lord Indra came to know of this, he created a being called Kaalpurush and commanded him to disrupt the Yagna.

Kaalpurush destroyed Abhinandan's Yagna. He didn't stop here. He set off destroying every Vedic practice on the earth and earned the name Vighnasura. He kept up his rampage, thereby causing major concern to the celestial gods. They all requested Lord Gajanan to help them.

Lord Gajanan took a human form and put up a valiant fight against Vighnasura and ultimately defeated him. Vighnasura surrendered to Lord Gajanan and requested Him for His blessings. The Lord agreed and told Vighnasura that he should not be present wherever His worship was being done. Vighnasura, in return, requested that his name be connected with the Lord's name. Thus, Lord Gajanan took the name of Vighneshwara, the remover of all hurdles and stayed in Ozhar, where the temple now stands for Lord Vighneshwara.

It is said that one can see the Lenyadri mountains where Lord Girijatmaj stays, from this temple. Also, the Shivneri Fort is visible from the temple's vicinity.

Ganapati Bappa Morya!! Mangal Murthy Morya!!