Maru Ganesh (Gaju Maru Ganedyo)

Ashok Vinayak Basantapur

Maru Ganesh or 'Gaju Maru Gane'dyo (मरु गनेद्य:) is popularly known in the local language as the other name of Ashok Vinayak. The striking feature of this temple is that it does not have a Gajur, a pinnacle garnish on top of a temple.

To know what is Gajur, let me explain a bit about the Nepali architecture. Most of the temples in Nepal is usually pagoda style of architecture. All the features of pagoda style can be found in these temples like cubic constructions, beautifully carved wooden rafters on which they rest (tundal). The two level roofs are of copper with gold covering. It has four main doors, all covered with silver sheets and another important feature of the temple is that it will have a gold pinnacle, (Gajur), which is a symbol of religious thought. Since this temple doesn’t have a gold pinnacle its popularly known as Gaju Maru Ganesh, a shrine without Gajur or pointed part of roof . The construction date of this temple is unknown, the only known aspect is that the gilded roof was added in the 180 AD5.

Maru Ganesh

The temples are trying to gather historical evidence but not much of progress in that area.  The local legends say that this place where the temple is situated today was once upon a time a thick jungle and some travelers chanced upon finding this miraculous idol of Ganesha there. The story also suggests that this belonged to a time even befo

re Hanuman Dhoka as a royal palace came into existence. At that time the place was cramped among trees, and so the temple could not get a pinnacle. Further the story also suggest that this is the reason for the Ganesha to be named Ashok Vinayak [because of lot of Ashoka trees] . The tree shaped decarnation inside the temple that is hardly seen these days, is the reminder of Ganesha’s love the Ashok tree that gave him the name.

No Pinnacle

Story behind this: Once a Malla king [from the Malladynasty ] had a dream, Ganesha asked him to build a temple for him. The king proceeded as per the order in the dream and went ahead  to build a temple. The place was filled with Ashoka trees, they were all cut down and the temple was built, as the workers got ready to put the pinnacle, the king had a second dream. Ganesha ordered him not to install the the pinnacle [gajur] over the temple.  Hence the gajur was not installed and since then it remained so.

This Ganesha temple is one of the four most important Ganesh shrines of the valley in Nepal. This temple is worshiped by both Hindu and Buddhists. The Ashok Vinayak temple is situated on the west of the Durbar square. The people of the Kathmandu valley believe that the four Ganesha in four corners of Kathmandu protect the peoples living there.

Another view

Since the main idol is made of stone and is fixed, a silver idol [utsava murthy] is made which is an exact replica of the stone idol. This idol is taken to the city on the eight day of Dashain [Vijayadashami] and paraded around the valley.  On this day the locals offer animal sacrifice [bali].  The members of the royal family, along with their children visit to the temple to carry out rituals of Bratabandha [a ceremony that consists of chuDAkarna चूडाकरण and उपनयन upanayana], rice feeding [read as अन्नादन - annadana] and wedding.

Likewise, visiting to this temple is a must for every monarch [something like a part of coronation ceremony] . So many devotees throng the temple that it is said that a devotee hardly gets enough space in front of the temple to sit and pray.