Morya Gosavi is considered the chief spiritual progenitor of the Ganapatyas and has been described as the "most famous devotee" of Ganesha.

Morya had a son called Chintamani, venerated as a living incarnation of Ganesha and addressed as Dev (god).

[7] Another story declares him to be a son of a poor but pious couple Deshastha Brahmin from Pune, Maharashtra.

[7] Both legends declare he visited the Morgaon temple regularly, daily or monthly to worship Ganesha.

[2][6] According to a legend, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi (August–September) – the largest festival dedicated to Ganesha – Morya could not find a place in the temple, crowded by the laity and the wealthy Pingle family.

Accordingly, Morya found an image of Ganesha – similar to the one worshipped at Morgaon – while bathing in the river and built a small shrine for it.

Morya became famous due to this miracle and is credited to have cured the eyes of Shivaji (1627–1680) too – who would become the founder of the Maratha Empire later.

In morning when the temple-priests opened the temple-doors, they were astonished to see fresh flowers offered to the Lord and a pearl necklace missing.

Morya found a conical stone rising in Chinchwad home, which he recognized as Ganesha and built a temple for it.

On every fourth lunar day after the full moon, Morya used to visit the Chintamani Temple of Theur.

As per Ganesha's orders, Morya married Uma, the daughter of Govindrao Kulkarni whose family was staying in Tathavade near Chinchwad.

[6] According to a story, as per his guru's orders, Morya performed penance at Theur by observing a strict fast for 42 days, within this period, he is believed to have "divine revelations".

[6] According to Dhere, Chhatrapati Shivaji's father Shahaji (1594–1665) is recorded as a donor to Morya Gosavi.

The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1658–1707) gifted Narayan the hereditary grant of eight villages, impressed by the latter's "miracle" of changing a piece of beef sent by the former into jasmine flowers.

According to the tale, Morya who was found still mediating in the tomb, was disturbed and cursed Narayan II that his son would be the last Dev.

Narayan II's son, Dharmadhar II – the seventh generation of Morya – died childless in 1810 ending the direct lineage of Morya, but a distant relative of Dharmadhar, Sakhari was installed as a Dev by the priesthood to continue the temple funding.

Morya's memorial temple is a low plain building (30' x 20' x 40') with a square hall or mandap and an octagonal inner shrine, inscribed with a Marathi inscription: "This temple was begun on the bright twelfth of Kartik (November–December) Shaka 1580 (A.D. 1658-9) Vilambi Samvatsara and finished on Monday the bright fourth of Ashadha, Vikari Samvatsara".

[1][6] Devotees believe that though Morya Gosavi attained moksha (salvation) but "his presence continues to endow the shrine with sacred significance.