Objective : The reason to post this review today 15 Feb 2005, is because the Maghi Ganesh Ustav is being celebrated from the 9th Feb 2005 to 15th Feb 2005. I am a strong believer of Lord Ganesh and visit the Siddhivinayak temple every Tuesday.
Today I am here to tell you ..All my MS friends about this great place of worship. I am sure the Mumbaikars are well aware, but my friends who are not from Mumbai..This is JUST for you ?. Shree Ganesh is the first to be worshipped before beginning any new project or venture as he is the destroyer of obstacles (Vighnaharta).
~The city of Mumbai is a mute witness to places of worship & historical interest, which are not only popular but also of archaeological importance. Arguably the most popular & significant places of worship are the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir situated at Prabhadevi. This temple was first consecrated on Thursday 19th November 1801 The temple then was a small structure housing the black stone idol of Shree Siddhivinayak, which was two and half feet wide.
~The outstanding feature of this deity is the tilt of the trunk to the right side which is unique, as the trunk is usually found curving leftwards. The idol has four hands (Chaturbhuj), which contains a lotus in upper right, a small axe in upper left, holy beads in the lower right and a bowl full of Modaks (a delicacy which is a perennial favorite with Shree Siddhivinayak). Flanking the deity on both sides are Riddhi & Siddhi, goddesses signifying sanctity, fulfillment, prosperity and riches. Etched on the forehead of the deity is an eye, which resembles the third eye of Lord Shiva.
HISTORY: This temple is on the corner of Kakasaheb Gadgil Marg and S.K.Bole Marg in Prabhadevi. It was built by a professional contractor, Late Mr.Laxman Vithu Patil as per the financial support and instructions of Late Mrs.Deubai Patil, who was a rich lady of Agri Samaj from Matunga. Although she was rich enough, she had no child. It looks that she was dedicated devotee of Lord Ganesh, who prayed a lot to have a child and in turn promised an oath that on the fulfillment of her wish, she would build a temple of Lord Ganesh.
By sheer misfortune, meanwhile, Mrs.Deubai?s husband died. Being an ardent devotee, her thoughts and promise prevailed in her mind and actions. She continued her regular praying and decided firmly to go for the temple as she oathed. She gave the instructions to carve the idol according to the specimen of the calendar picture of Lord Ganesh, hanging on the wall of her residence. Perhaps the picture of the calendar is that of the idol at Banganga, Walkeshwar, Mumbai, which is 500 years old.
The idea of the construction of the temple struck to Late Deubai during the prayer time, she humbly requested Lord Ganesh and said, ?Although I cannot have a child, let other ladies who are childless get the pleasure of child on visiting the temple and praying you?. Looking at successful subsequent history of the temple, it appears like the Lord Ganesh nodded to this humble request and pious thoughts and deeds of Late Deubai Patil. It is, therefore, this Siddhivinayak is famous for it and known as ?Navasacha Ganapati? or ?Navasala Pavanara Ganapati? in Marathi (Ganapati bestows whenever humbly genuinely prayed a wish) among devotees.
THE KALASH: A Hindu temple begins with the foundation and continues in height up to the Kalash (pinnacle). The Kalash is a pointed dome at the top and is of religious significance. The Kalash, which adorned the earlier temple was lowered with proper rituals and is now kept as an exhibit within the temple premises. So as to ensure that there is no human transgression or trespass in the area from the point at which the idol is situated in to the up to the Kalash, which is a pointed dome of 12 feet high Gabhara (sanctum sanctorum) weighing 1500Kgs. and plated in gold.
THE GABHARA : The Gabhara (sanctum sanctorum) of the new temple structure has been designed with an aim to attain maximum convenience and comfort of devotees. It is a spacious enclosure with 3 main doors. This facilitates the ’Darshan’ of Shree Siddhivinayak from either the area surrounding the Gabhara or the stage (Sabha Mandap) constructed to conduct poojas and festivities, under the directivesof the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust. A mezzanine floor with a viewers gallery has been constructed in symmetry with the Gabhara thus enabling scores of devotees to seek the Lord from there.
The area surrounding the Gabhara has been designed as a sitting area and the stage adjoining the same is utilised as a platform for common Darshan sought by the devotees who are unable to spend hours in serpentine queues to go inside the Gabhara. An estimated 1.5 to 2 lakh people use this facility every Tuesday, and on Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi the common Darshan begins at 2 a.m. Tuesday morning halts only at about 1 a.m. i.e. Wednesday morning. On Tuesdays the mezzanine floor is made open after 1 p.m. i.e. after all poojas, abhishek etc. are conducted.
HISTORY OF HANUMAN MANDIR: Shree Ganesha being the primary diety is always worshipped prior to worshipping of any other diety. During the road extension project of Sayani Road near Elphinston Road in Mumbai the workers of Municipal Corporation unearthed an idol of Shree Hanuman. They placed it on the roadside and continued with their work.
Devotees coming to Shree Siddhivinayak Temple brought this event to the notice of the then head priest Shree Govind Phatak. He immediately brought the hanuman idol and built a compact temple for its. This was around 1952.
The renovation has given the Hanuman temple a new look and the present temple as it stands today. From dawn to temple closing hours, the Hanuman Mandir has its own schedule of pujas, naivedya & aartis. Every Saturday Devotees are supplied with the traditional offerings of oil and Rui garland at a minimal cost on coupon basis, a day when many devotees flock to the temple.
Thus the Shree Siddhivinayak temple is a castle-like structure with a principle Kalash, which is 12 feet high, 3 others which are 5 feet high, and other 33 which are 3.5 feet high, thus making a total of 37 gold plated domes adorning the magnificence of the temple.
MY DEAR MS FRIENDS, WHENEVER U GET A CHANCE TO COME TO MUMBAI PLEASE COME AND VISIT THE SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE. I ASSURE YOU THAT YOUR WISHES WILL COME TRUE SOONER OR LATER.
Jai Ganesh
Anu