Ganpatipule

        Nestled in the greenery is a nearly 4000 year old landmark the Swayambhu Ganpati Temple (Swayambhu means a self-originated idol, Ganapati). It is flooded by thousands of devotees and tourists every year. Ganpatipule, the Lord of the 'ganas' or army and "pule" means sand dunes. It is one of the 'Ashta Ganapatis' (eight Ganpatis) of India and is known as 'Paschim Dwar Dewata' (Western Sentinel God). Ganapatipule is a small village, serene, sedate and unspoilt. The beach here is still natural and pristine as ever. And travelling by road is an experience by itself. The vast 'Konkan stretch abounds with scenic greenery There are narrow mud-roads, the earth is red and the roofed houses with clean courtyards add a quaint touch to the panorama. The local vegetation includes fruit-bearing trees like mango, betelnut, banana, jackfruit, coconut etc.
        All over the Asia continent and especially in the south and south-east Asia, there are innumerable Ganesh temples visible! Ganpatipule is one of them! The specialty of the place is with the exotic natural beauty! The huge Arabic Ocean at west! And sandy beach playing with the eternal blue-and-white waves, with a breath-taking green backdrop and extremely beautiful architecture of the new temple! The natural miracle has given a solemn and heavenly touch to thes scenario!
        The abode of Ganesh at Ganpatipule is Swayambhoo! (Self incarnated) This very concept of being self-incarnated suits only to (initial) 'Aadhya-Devata'. All these swayambhoo deities are the parts of this eternal nature. They need not be sculpted or carved. They are so initial that they are born with the nature it self or one may say that they are born as nature itself. And it's an experience of lifetime to be in the company of such a deity or even to have a glimpse of it!
        For the last thousands of years, a number of artists have attempted to sketch Shri Ganesh in which ever form possible for them. The swayambhoo form of Lord Ganesh at Ganpatipule is just a generalization of all their permits. The magical moment can hypnotize any human being on this planet when he/she would witness the foundation spurring from the naval of this swayambhoo shape especially on a moist rainy day. Any one witnessing this, feels close to the almighty! - This is occult!
        The whole of Indian western coast is blesses with natural beauty and the RED SOIL of Kokan makes itself a beauty spot. The natural frame to the landscapeis provided by the exotic shapes of coconut trees! The dark green shade of mango trees has not only maintained the temperature pleasant but has done an aesthetic justice to the solemnity of ancient Indian grandeur!! The place that is blessed with rich coconut and mango groves, is blazing and contented mood. That's the reason, the sunset at Ganapatipule is a matter to see, solve and enjoy for many for many years!
        The self-incarnated Lord Ganesh rock is parallel to the sea-level, as shown in the vision in the dream. Bal Bhatji Bhide had seen the same scenario 500 years back. He had erected a grass-top for the deity and performed the first worship. Later the minister from the trusted 8 ministers from Shivaji Maharaj Secretary Annaji Datto erected a nice dome at the place of the grass-top. The next step was the auditorium erected by Sardar Govindrap Bundele from Peshawe court. In future the Kolhapur Sansthan Secretary Vasudeorao Barve established a gold plated dome-summit. His Highness Nanasaheb Peshwe arranged for the continuous Lamp-lit! (Nandadeep) And Ramabai Peshwe made arrangements for a permanent hard-stone construction for the pilgrims. The temple we see today in picture had it's construction duration between 1998 to 2003. The new structure was based on the ancient Indian architecture of temples. To give a feel of being carved in a single rock, this construction has taken place in special stone-Agra Red. The natural layout of this geographical area is a miracle in itself. High dome-shaped altar and carved ceiling of the auditorium take you to some other world in the twilight. At the front, to the north, magnificent main gate attracts the attention of devotees. Infront of main gate carrier of Shree Ganesh; a large mouse of bronze metal faces the main gate. On both the sides of main gate, two elephants with raised trunks, welcome the devotees visiting Shree Ganesh temple. The temple has towering lamp-triods at both the south and North directions. When these lamps are lit on the Tripuri full moon night, the sparkling decor transfixes us.
        Due to the glittering reel of sun, the self-incarnated rock deity is - touched by the sun-rays in the November and February months. And the sea-waves touch the thresholds of the temple in rainy season at time of tide. The mountain at the back of the temple is protected as the swayambhoo geographical phenomenon. To make a circum navigation to the mountain is as good as a circum navigation to the deity.
        This circum navigation path is well covered with pores 'Jaambhaa' red stone. The glimpses of the sea while making a circum navigation on this path is refreshing too!!
        It has been a silent feature of the south India to witness the punctual cycle of three natural seasons - Summer, Rains and Winter! A regular yet balanced show of all these three is evident in this original domain of Shri Ganesh. This makes the place a worth visiting place throughout the year for devotees. There is moderate temperature in the summer with clean sunlight, the belated sunset due to the sun reclining towards to tropic of cancer leads to an extended sun-set scenario! To add to this beauty, there is the immersion of molten-gold sun replica in the huge water body- of ocean under the unending dome of the space!! There is hypnotizing kaleidoscope of every imaginable colour on the infinite horizon at the eve-time! To top this all, is the amalgamation of the splendid shapes of the monsoon hordes of clouds with the various hues indicating the changing seasons!
        A few years back, there was a slight set-back to the visiting numbers of devotees in rainy-season, but the concepts of tourism and life-style have changed and are changing every year. Due to the availability of lodging facilities and travel options, the number of rainy-season tourists is on rise. They are experiencing the enjoyment of playing with the sea-waves while the rain drops play with your face!
        This is indeed a unique method to enjoy the natural beauty while getting drenched in the rains.
        At the onset on Shravan (the beginning of rainy season) the twilight is just amazing for the sunset lovers ... and its beauty can not be captured with cameras or any recording instrument but only with the God-given - eyes! Winter being the best seasons for any sea-shore, has the maximum visitors, tourists and devotees ... which continues upto the beginning of the rainy season. The winter doesn't make abrupt and unpleasant changes in the temperature, on the contrary the coast gets warm and cozy. The tourists extend their stay in the waves ... sometimes they get out of the sea just to relax on the smooth, silky sand! There is an extremely beautiful range of shorter mountains on the backdrop of the sandy-shore which is used as a natural seat by the tourists to have a glance naturally sculpted theatre to cover the huge canvas of the sea ... the spectators making use of these seats is increasing day-by-day .... Specially sunset lovers.
        The twilight zones- both in the morning and in the evening in winter provide the person present at the spot a charming and unforgettable scene of the holy temple at the holy mountain!