Shree Laksha Vinayak Ganapati Temple is located in Verul village near the famous Ellora Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. The temple is situated very close to the sacred Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple and about 30 km from Aurangabad city.
The temple forms part of an important pilgrimage route where devotees worship Lord Ganesha before visiting Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, following the Hindu tradition of praying to Ganapati first to remove obstacles.
The exact date of construction is not known, but the temple is believed to be very ancient and has been worshipped for many centuries. The Verul region has been a major spiritual center since ancient times due to the presence of Ellora and Grishneshwar. Based on continuous worship traditions, the temple is considered several hundred years old.
The presiding deity is Lord Ganesha, worshipped as Laksha Vinayaka. The idol is believed to be Swayambhu (self-manifested), meaning it appeared naturally and was not carved by humans.
The name “Laksha Vinayaka” means the Lord who grants countless blessings and fulfills innumerable wishes. Devotees pray here for success, prosperity, the removal of obstacles, and spiritual progress. The deity is considered highly powerful and responsive to sincere prayers.
The temple follows traditional Maharashtrian temple architecture with a simple and sacred structure. The sanctum houses the self-manifested idol of Lord Ganesha. The temple is modest in size but has a peaceful and spiritually powerful atmosphere suitable for meditation and prayer. The structure reflects ancient devotional traditions and emphasizes spiritual experience rather than grand design.
The temple has been an important center of Ganapati worship for centuries. Because of its location near sacred sites, it became part of an important pilgrimage tradition. Devotees traditionally worship Laksha Vinayaka before visiting Lord Shiva at Grishneshwar.
Over time, the temple gained fame as a powerful wish-fulfilling shrine and attracted devotees from different regions. Temple traditions consider this shrine one of the sacred Ganesh worship centers where divine energy is strongly present.
According to ancient belief, the Verul region was once a sacred place where sages performed intense penance. However, the area faced disturbances and obstacles that affected their spiritual practices and the peaceful life of the people.
The sages prayed to Lord Ganesha seeking protection. Pleased with their devotion, Lord Ganesha manifested himself at this place in a self-manifested form. His divine presence removed all negative forces and restored peace and prosperity. Because the Lord fulfilled countless prayers, he came to be known as Laksha Vinayaka, the giver of innumerable blessings.
Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated grandly with special poojas, abhishekam, and large gatherings of devotees. Ganesh Jayanti is also an important festival celebrated with devotion. Monthly Sankatahara Chathurthi attracts many devotees seeking relief from difficulties. Other major Hindu festivals are observed with traditional rituals.
Local belief says that many devotees who worshipped here with strong faith experienced fulfillment of their wishes and relief from life difficulties such as financial problems, health issues, marriage delays, and personal obstacles. Because of repeated experiences of divine blessings, the temple became famous as a powerful wish-fulfilling Ganapati shrine.
