Paoni’s Panchmukhi Ganesh commands powerful aura
   Date :09-Sep-2022

Panchmukhi Ganesh  
 
 
 
By Apoorva Methi
Paoni in Bhandara district is temple town of Vidarbha owing to the presence of many ancient and religiously important temples. One among them is the Panchmukhi Ganesh Temple located in the heart of the Paoni town. It is among Ashtavinayaks of Vidarbha region and it witnesses devotees from across Vidarbha visiting the temple every year to seek the blessings of the Vighnaharta.
As the name suggests, the most peculiar feature of the idol is that it has five faces. The idol of Panchmukhi Ganesh dates back to the 11th century and is made from the trunk of ‘Shamipatra’ tree. The 32-inch-tall idol is also some 18 inches deep into the ground. The deity holds trishul and a laddoo in hands.
There is an ancient ‘Garud Stambha’ in the temple premises adjacent to the Ganesha idol. The Stambha has beautiful carvings. The temple in itself is an old structure with only roof tiles overhead and no elaborate chandeliers or domes.
While devotees visit the temple at Paoni all year round, during the ten-day Ganesh festival, there is a stream of devotees coming to seek blessings from the Sukhakarta Ganesha, said Arvind Bhat, who is priest at the temple.