Mahavinayak Temple

History

Odisha Tourism’s temple-tour itinerary stops at Mahavinayak after Biraja and Cuttack Chandi on its Jajpur leg.

Stories

Rati's offering and five outstretched hands

Tradition tells of Rati, wife of Kamadeva, who prayed here for her husband's release from Shiva's curse. As she offered worship to Ganesha, five hands reached out together to accept it, and she was unsure whom to honour.

She prayed to Brahma, who said the five gods, Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga, were all pleased. Kamadeva was released, and a great granite stone is said to have risen from the earth, holding the power of all five.

Five gods in one sanctum

Mahavinayak at Chandikhol, in Jajpur district, is one of Odisha's oldest Ganesha temples. Five deities, Shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Surya and Ganesha, are worshipped as a single presence in one sanctum. Because Shiva and Vishnu share the sanctum, both bilva and tulasi leaves are used in the offerings. The temple is said to have no nightly 'pahada' sleep ritual, and rice prasad is offered in place of the usual batula bhoga.

Shivaratri on the wooded hill

The temple lies on a densely wooded hill; the Chandi temple is at the first foothill and Mahavinayak at the second, both with perennial springs and bathing ponds. A forest path links the two shrines.

Shivaratri is celebrated for five days with yajna and homa, and Makar Sankranti and Raja are also observed. Devotees visit on Mondays, and in the month of Shravana they bring holy river water to offer.

Good to know

Shiva and Ganesha worshipped in one complex

Stop on the Bhubaneswar–Jajpur temple drive

Pairs with Maa Biraja and Cuttack Chandi

Getting there

Chandikhol on NH toward Jajpur; nearest rail/air via Bhubaneswar (~100 km) or Jajpur Keonjhar Road.