Varadvinayak Temple, Mahad

Varadvinayak is one of the eight Ashtavinayak temples of Ganesha, in Mahad village in Khalapur taluka of Raigad district, near Karjat and Khopoli. The self-formed image is said to have been found submerged in the adjoining lake in 1690, and the shrine was built in 1725 by the Peshwa's general Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar. Its legend is linked with the sage Gritsamada, said to be a son of Indra.

The temple stands on one side of a pond. The east-facing image has its trunk turned to the left, and an oil lamp in the shrine is said to have burned without a break since 1892. Four elephant figures guard the four sides, and the premises also hold images of Mushika, the Navagrahas and a Shivalinga. Unlike at some temples, devotees may enter the sanctum and pay respects to the idol directly. Maghi Chaturthi draws the largest crowds.