Chintaman Ganesh Temple, one of the famous Ganesh temples of India, is in the religious city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, India. This oldest temple of Lord Ganesha is built in the village of Jawasya, at a distance of about 6 kilometres from the Mahakaleshwar temple of Ujjain. As soon as we enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Chintaman Ganesh temple, we see three idols of Shri Ganesh. Here the Lord Ganesh is seated in three forms. First Chintaman, second Ichhaman and third Siddhivinayak. In Chintaman Ganesh Temple, a fair is held on every Wednesday of Chaitra month. According to mythological beliefs, Chintaman Ganesha is one of the Shat (6) Vinayak established by Mata Sita.

History of the temple

Chintaman Ganesh ji in Chintaman Ganesh Temple was established by Lord Shri Ram and Mata Sita during their exile. Ichhaman and Siddhivinayak Ganesh ji were established by Laxman ji and Sita Mata. It is said that for the devotees who offer prayers at Chintaman Ganesh Temple on Wednesdays of Chaitra month, Lord Ganesha fulfils all their wishes and frees them from all kinds of worries. The Siddhivinayak Swaroop assists devotees in achieving their goals, and Ichhaman Ganesha fulfills the wish of the devotees. Chintaman Ganesha is located in the temple.

Significance of the temple

Following the age-old belief, after the Rabi crop ripens in the month of Chaitra, local farmers first offer their harvest to Lord Chintaman Ganesh. They only proceed to the market to sell that. It is thought that by doing this, Lord Chintaman Ganesh removes all barriers to the farmers’ work. The worshippers also make a reverse swastika and tie a thread of vow in this temple for their wishes to come true.

The construction of the temple

Chintaman Ganesh Temple is believed to be from the middle of the 9th century to the 13th i.e. Parmar period. Along with the domes, a lion is seated on top of this temple. This temple was built in Vikram Samvat, i.e. in 155 by Maharaja Vikramaditya according to Sriyantra. After that, it was renovated during the Peshwa period. Whereas the present temple was renovated during the reign of Ahilyabai Holkar, the idol of Shri Ganesh ji installed in the temple was standing. Today, the idol is half sunken inside the ground, due to which half of the idol can be seen.