Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

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Early modern · Hindu · India

Varadvinayak Temple, Mahad

Mahad (Khalapur), Raigad, Maharashtra · 18.8095°, 73.3024°

Ganesha as Varada VinayakPeshwa (Maratha)Ashtavinayak
Sacred since
1725 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
1725 (Peshwa era)
Peshwa (Maratha)

History & significance

One of the eight Ashtavinayaka shrines, in Mahad village of Khalapur taluka; the present temple was raised in 1725 by the Peshwa general Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar around an image reported found in 1690.

Sthala katha — the legend

The sage Gritsamada's prayers are said to have won Ganesha's promise to dwell here permanently as Varadavinayaka, the granter of boons.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Peshwa (Maratha)