Sri Siddhivinayak Temple

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Overview : People worship the lord before any new project or venture, since he is the destroyer of obstacles. This gives him the name Vighnaharta. The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati temple located at Prabhadevi in Mumbai is dedicated to this destroyer of obstacles. This temple is arguably one of the most popular places of worship in Mumbai. About the temple : The Garbha Graha of the temple structure has been designed with an aim to attain maximum convenience and the comfort of devotees. The temple has a spacious enclosure with three main doors. This enables the Darshan of Shree Siddhivinayak, from either the area surrounding the Gabhara or the stage that has been constructed to conduct poojas and festivities. A mezzanine floor with a viewers gallery has been constructed in symmetry with the Garbha Graha, enabling scores of devotees to seek the Lord from area surrounding the Gabhara About the deity : The idol of Shree Siddhivinayak was carved out of a single black stone and is 2'6” (750mm) high and 2' (600mm) wide. The unique feature of this deity is the tilt of the trunk towards the right. The idol has four hands that hold (Chaturbhuj) containing a lotus in the upper right a small axe in the upper left holy beads in the lower right and a bowl full of Modaks (a delicacy which is a perennial favourite with Shree Siddhivinayak) in the lower left. Flanking the deity on both sides are Riddhi & Siddhi goddesses signifying sanctity fulfilment, prosperity and riches. The temple derives its name from these two deities and Lord Ganesh. Etched on the forehead of the deity is an eye which resembles the third eye of Lord Shiva. A snake resembling the sacred thread winds its way from the left shoulder to the right side belly. Legend : The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir was first consecrated on Thursday the 19th of November 1801 a fact noted in government records. The temple then was a small structure housing with the black stone idol of Sri Siddhivinayak which was two and half feet wide. The idea of constructing a temple struck Mrs. Patil during prayer time when she humbly requested Lord Ganesha. “Although I cannot have a child let other ladies who are childless get the pleasure of child on visiting the temple and praying to you”. Looking at the subsequent history of the temple it appears that Lord Ganesha acceded to the humble request and pious thoughts and deeds of Mrs. Patil. It is therefore this that Siddhivinayak is famous for and hence he is known as ‘Navasacha Ganapati’ or ‘Navasala Pavanara Ganapati’ in Marathi (Ganapati bestows whenever humbly prayed to) among devotees. From the available information and records the land belonging to the temple complex was around 2550 sq.m. There was a lake towards the eastern and southern side of the temple measuring approximately 30 x 40 sq.m. This lake was built by Nardulla in the early 19th century to overcome the scarcity of the water faced by the area. The lake was later on, filled up and now it is a playground and a part of Kakasaheb Gadgil Marg. Devotees started visiting this temple in large numbers only after 1952 and long queues were seen only from 1965 onwards. Since the owner had divided the original plot and subleased it to different parties the space available around this old temple became reduced. After 1975 the number of devotees visiting the temple started growing in geometrical progression and it became difficult to have Darshan of the Lord or even to enter the temple through its two small doors.