Mayureshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha is located in the village of Moregaon at a distance of about 50 km from Pune, enroute to Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Moregaon Mayureshwar is considered to be one of the Ashtavinayak shrines of Maharashtra, celebrating eight instances of legends related to Ganesha. Moragaon is situated on the banks of river Karha in the District of Pune. The name of the village is so given because it is believed that this region once abounded in peacocks. The name Mayureshwar also arises from the legend that Vinayak rode a peacock mount in a battle against evil demons.

Legend of the Mayureshwar Temple
Mayureshwar Temple has a legend attached to it. A demon by name Sindhu was born to Cakrapani - the king of Mithila and his wife Ugra. He was later abandoned by his mother and was thrown in the ocean. However later he was returned back to his parents. Sindhu was gifted a bowl of `amrita` as a boon from the Sun-god and was warned that he could drink it as long as it remained intact. The demon to protect the bowl swallowed it. Gaining power he later inflicted the world with terror and untold hardship. The gods on being terrorised called upon Lord Ganesha for help. Responding to the pleas of the Gods, Ganapati came down to the earth on a peacock mount, waged a battle against Sindhu and vanquished him. The peacock rider Ganapati assumed the name Mayureshwar or Moresh and thus the Mayureshwar temple was established there.

Architecture of Mayureshwar Temple
Mayureshwar temple facing towards north is in the center of village. The temple has a complex which comprises of a dome. It is surrounded by a 50 feet high enclosure and is adorned with four minarets in each corner. The temple bears the look of a mosque. While going toward the temple a huge Deep-Mala (stone pillar of oil lamps) is seen at first. A big `Nandi` made up of black stone is seen positioned in front of main gate which faces the Mayureshwar.

The main temple is made up of black stone and has four gates. In the eastern gate Goddess Lakshmi and Narayana, giver of Dharma is positioned. In the southern gate are Parvati & Shankar, givers of Artha (desired goals). At the western gate resides Rati & Kama Deva and in the Northern gate reside, Mahivaraha (Earth & Sun). Thus all deities & all sages reside in this temple. In the eight corners, there are eight statutes of Ganapati called Ekdanta, Mahodara, Gajanana, Lambodar, Vikata, Vigharaja, Dhumravarna & Vakratunda.

In the temple complex there are trees of Shami, Mandar & Tarati. The tree of Tarati is also called as Kalpavruksha. Devotees meditate under this tree & attain desired goals. The Various Virtuous deeds performed in the temple premises are Abhishek Pooja, Sahastravartan, Japa Yadnya, Mahadwar Yatra and others.

The deity `Moreshwara` (Lord ganesha) inside is seen in a sitting posture. The idol faces the east with the trunk turning left. It is smeared with vermillion mixed in oil. Diamonds are embedded in its eyes & navel. On its head is the hood of Nagaraja. On left & right are brass idols of Siddhi & Riddhi. In front of the idol are the Mooshaka (Rat) and Mayura (Peacock). The idol worshipped in the temple is not the original one. The original idol of Moreshwar was smaller in size. As many layers of vermillion are applied on it, it looks bigger. The original small idol was made up of atoms of sand, iron & diamonds & it is behind the present statue. It was consecrated by Lord Brahma twice. The original idol made of atoms of sand, iron, and diamonds, was supposedly enclosed in a copper sheet by the Pandavas and placed behind the one that is currently worshiped.

Pooja Pattern of Mayureshwar Temple
Moreshwar`s pooja is performed thrice a day. In the morning at 5`O clock Prakshal Pooja is done. `Shodopachra Pooja` is done at 7`O clock in morning and at 12`O clock in the afternoon. The festivals of Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi) and Magh Shuddha Chaturthi (Ganesh Jayanti) are celebrated on grand scale in Morgaon. Beside this Vijayadashmi (Dasehara) and Somavati Amavasya are also celebrated with grandeur. On Vijayadashami Mayureshwar`s palanquin is organised which begins at 11`O clock in the night. Fairs and other celebrations also organised to commemorate the day.