Vigneshwara Temple, Ozar

The Vigneshwara Temple at Ozar belongs to the Ashtavinayaka, Maharashtra's circuit of eight sacred Ganesha temples. Ozar lies on the Kukadi River near the Yedagaon dam, some 9 kilometres north of Narayangaon and about 85 kilometres from Pune, just off the highway to Nashik. Ganesha is worshipped here as Vigneshwara, Lord of Obstacles. The Puranas tell how Indra sent Kala, as the demon Vignasura, to ruin a king's sacrifice; Ganesha fought and subdued him, the demon asked the god to take the name Vigneshwara, and the sages installed the image here.

Chimaji Appa, brother of Peshwa Baji Rao I, restored the temple and gilded its spire after capturing Vasai Fort from the Portuguese, and it was renovated again in 1967. The east-facing temple stands in a walled compound entered through a gateway flanked by large stone door guardians, with four musicians carved on the lintel and two stone lamp towers in front. The Lenyadri shrine and Shivneri Fort are visible from the wall.