Giver Of Bounty And Success – Lord Ganesha – Ashtavinayak

Lord Ganesh is the symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival when people worship Lord Ganesh to illumine their minds. His blessings are invoked at most religious ceremonies as He is the one who can remove all obstacles to success. He is the giver of fortune and remover of calamities. Ganpati is the herald of auspicious beginnings and is the beloved deity of all.
India and specially the state of Maharashtra celebrates this festival with special fervour. Maharashtra houses the temples of 8 auspicious Ganeshas – Ashtavinayak. It is believed that these temples should be visited at least once in lifetime of an individual. Each of these temples has its own individual legend and history.
Marathi blockbuster Ashtavinayak (1979) gives the essence of importance of the Lord in our lives. The film is based on a real story, where the hero (Sachin Pilgaonkar) is an atheist and his wife (Vandana Pandit) is a staunch follower of the elephant headed God. They experience a series of calamities. Loss of finances, peace and harmony. The deteriorating health of his wife compels him to accompany her on the pilgrimage of these 8 Ganehas (Ashtavinayak). What follows is a terrific song, brilliantly composed by Anil-Arun (Anil Mohile, Arun Paudwal). The singers are Anuradha Paudwal, Chandrakant Gadgil, Jaywant Kulkarni, Sharad Jambekar and Mallesh. Poet Jagdish Khebudkar, who also happens to be the lyricist of this song, is said to have penned it in just an hour!!
What is unusual about this song?
It gives you the detail description of all the idols, use of separate Marathi folk-music form for every stanza, history connected with temples, even the architectural description, every stanza of the song is picturised on popular Marathi actors and actresses (some faces known in the Hindi films also).

So here’s the song for you with description of the verses. Readers are requested to go through the description along with the song to enjoy this gem completely. Happy reading!!
The song begins with the Ganesh stuti in the voice of Anuradha Paudwal –

Swastishri Gananayak Gajamukham Moreshwaram Siddhidam
Ballalam Murudam Vinayakam Madham Chintamani Thevaram
Lenyadrim Girijatmajam Suvaradam Vighneshwaram Ozaram
Gramo Ranjana sanstitah Ganapatihi kuryaat sada mangalam

We head for the 1st stanza straightaway in Chandrakant Gadgil’s voice –

Ashtavinayaka tuza mahima kasa
Darshanacha laabh ghyava bhaktani asa

1. Ganpati pahila Ganpati
Morgaavcha Moreshwar lai motha mandir
Akara payari ho akara payari ho
Nandi kasav sabha mandapi nakshi sundar
Shobha sajari ho shobha sajari ho
Morya gosavyana kasa ghetla vasa
Morgaon – Mayureshwar : The performing actor is Krishnakant Dalvi and the tune of this stanza is based on the traditional Marathi folk music called Gondhal. It says that the Morgaon temple is huge in size, has a spread of 11 stairs. The intricate carvings give it a decorative look. A saint called Morya Gosavi attained enlightenment here. Then on his name was taken with the Lord, as we say – Ganpati Bappa Morya!!

2. Ganpati, dusra Ganpati
Theur gaavcha Chintamani
Kahani tyachi lai lai juni
Kaay saangu daavya sondyacha naval kela saaryani
Vistaar yacha kela thorlya peshwyani
Rama baila amar kela vrundavani
Jo chinta harato manaatli tyo Chintamani
Bhaktachya mani tyacha ajuni thasa
Theur – Chintamani : The performing actor is Suryakant and the music another Marathi folklore called Bharudi. This is one of the oldest Ganeshas in Maharashtra. The one who takes care of all your worries (chinta) is Chintamani. Madhavrao Peshwa I, died in the premises of this temple and was cremated on the banks of the river which was about half a mile from the temple. His wife, Ramabai went Sati at this place.

3. Ganpati, tisra Ganpati
Siddhivinayak tuza Siddhatek gaav ra
Payavarii doyi tujhya bhagatala paav ra
Daityamaaru kaikavaar gaajala hey nagar
Vishnunarayan gaayi Ganpaticha mantar
Tapus mela navaal zhala tekavari deul aala
Laamb rund gabhaaryaala pitalecha makhar
Chandra Surya garudechay bhovati kalakusar
Mandapaat aarti la khushaal basa
Siddhatek – Siddhivinayak : The performing actor is Ashok Saraf and he’s singing the praises in tunes of Dhangar geet, also known as Sumbaraan. The story goes that after appeasing Lord Ganesha here, Lord Vishnu defeated 2 asuras Madhu and Kaitabh. The sanctum of this temple was built by Ahilyabai Holkar.

4. Ganpati chautha Ganpati
Bai Ranjangaavcha dev Mahaganapati
Daha tondi hicha haat janu murtila mhanati
Gaja ghaalito asan dola bharun darshan
Surya feki murtibhar vel sadhun kiran
Kiti gungaan gava kiti karavi ganati
Punyayiiicha daan ghyaava onjal pasaar
Ranjangaon – Mahaganpati : The performing actress is Usha Chavhan and the folk tune is that of Gaulan geet. The temple was erected during the rule of the Peshwas. Lord Shiva is believed to have worshipped Ganesha before fighting the demon Tripurasura here.

5. Ganpati paachva Ganpati
Ozharcha ighneshwar laam rund hoi murti
Jad jawahir tyacha kaay saangu shirimanti
Dolya mandi manaka ho hira shobhato kapaal
Tahaanbhook harapti ho saara baghun sohala
Chaari baju tatabandi madhi Ganacha mandir
Ighnahaari Ighnaharta swyambhu jasa
Ozar – Vighneshwar – This stanza is set to tune on Mangalagaur geet and the performing actress is Asha Kale. Vighneshwar is the richest amongst the 8 Ganeshas. His idol has rubies studded for eyes and a diamond on his forehead. Ganesha defeated the demon Vighnasur. The demon asked a favour that his name should be taken before Ganesha’s name, thus the name of Ganesha became Vighnahar or Vighneshwar.

6. Ganpati sahva Ganpati
Lenyadi dongaravari nadichya tiri
Ganachi swaari tayar Girijatmaja he naav
Dagadaa mandi korlaaay bhaktibhaav
Ramate ithe ranka sangati raav
Shivneri gadavar janma Shivacha zhala ho
Lenyadri janaani paathi aashirvaad kela ho
Putryane pityala janmacha prasad dila ho
Kirpene ganachya Shivba dhaavuni aala ho
Khadakaat kela khodkaam dagadaat mandapi khaamb
Vaagh sinha hatti layi motha dagadaat bhavya mukhvata
Ganesh mazha putra asava dhyaas Parvati cha
Aani Girijaatmaja haa tina banavala putala maati cha
Dagad maaati roop devacha Lenyadri jasa
Lenyadri – Girijatmaj – The stanza is based on Marathi folk song called Povada and the performing actor is Sudhir Dalvi. It is believed that Parvati performed penance to beget Ganesha as her son hence the name – Girijatmaj (Girija’s son). There are no electric bulb in the temple. The temple is constructed such that during the day it is always lighted up by the sun-rays.

7. Saatva Ganapati raaya
Mahad gaavachi mahasoor Varadavinayakaacha titha ek mandir
Mandir lai sadhasuda jasa kaularu ghar
Ghumtacha kalas soneri nakshi nagachi kalsachyavar
Sapanat bhaktala kala devalachya maage aahe tala
Murti Ganachi paaanyaat mila tyani bandhla titha deul
Dagadi mahirap sinhasani ya prasanna mangalmurti ho
Varadanala Vinayakachi puja karaya yeti ho
Chaturthi la gardi hoi raatrandiwasa
Mahad – Varadvinayak – The distinctive beats of the dholki tell you that the stanza is based on Lavni. The performing actor is Ravindra Mahajani. Ganesha is said to reside here in the form of Varada Vinayaka, the giver of bounty and success. Ganesha appeared in the dream of a devotee and told him to fetch out His idol from the nearby lake. It was done so and a temple was built at village Mahad.

8. Aathva aathva Ganapati aathva
Paligaavachya Ballaleshwara aadhi deva tu buddhi sagara
Swyambhu murti purvabhi mukh suryanarayan kari kautuk
Daavya sondiche roop saajire kapaal vishaal dolyaat hire
Chireband ya bhakkam bhinti devachya bhaktila kashachi bhiti
Bramhanandi jeev hoyi veda kii pisa
Pali – Ballaleshwar – Set to the tune of traditional Ganesh aarti is the last stanza of the song. The performing actors are Jayshree Gadkar and Shahu Modak. Ganesha is believed to have saved this boy-devotee, Ballala, who was beaten by local villagers and his father for his single-minded devotion to Him. Don’t be afraid of devoting yourself at His feet.

Morya morya Mangalmoorti morya
Morya morya Mayureshwara morya
Morya morya Chintamani morya
Morya morya Siddhivinayak morya
Morya morya Mahaganapati morya
Morya morya Vighneshwara morya
Morya morya Girijaatmaja morya
Morya morya Varadavinayak morya
Morya morya Ballaleshwar morya
Morya morya Ashtavinayak morya

Immerse yourself in His devotion. Behold the sight of the Lord and get benefitted!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX9AfQIpVNg