Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

Shree Siddhivinayak Temple श्री सिद्धिविनायक मंदिर

Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai (Maharashtra, India)
Shree Siddhivinayak Temple श्री सिद्धिविनायक मंदिर
Location in Maharashtra
Name
Proper name Shree Siddhivinayak Mandir
Geography
Coordinates 19°01′01″N 72°49′49″E / 19.016920°N 72.830409°E / 19.016920; 72.830409Coordinates: 19°01′01″N 72°49′49″E / 19.016920°N 72.830409°E / 19.016920; 72.830409
Country India
State Maharashtra
District Mumbai
Location Prabhadevi
Culture
Primary deity Ganesha
History and governance
Date built 19 November 1801
Creator Laxman Vithu & Deubai Patil
Website http://siddhivinayak.org

The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh. It is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra.[1] It was originally built by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil on 19 November 1801.It is one of the richest temples in Mumbai.[2]

The temple has a small mandap with the shrine for Siddhi Vinayak ("Ganesha who grants your wish"). The wooden doors to the sanctum are carved with images of the Ashtavinayak (the eight manifestations of Ganesha in Maharashtra). The inner roof of the sanctum is plated with gold, and the central statue is of Ganesha. In the periphery, there is a Hanuman temple as well.

Importance and status

The Siddhivinayak Mandir evolved from a small, tiny place of worship to the Grand Temple that stands today in the later half of the twentieth century. Temple glory was bought not only by the politicians who frequented the temple but also Bollywood film stars who continuously visit to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Apple CEO Tim Cook began his 2016 India trip with morning prayers at the temple.


Siddhivinayak is well known as "Navasacha Ganapati" or "Navasala Pavanara Ganapati" ('Ganapati bestows whenever humbly genuinely prayed a wish' in Marathi) among devotees.

History

It was Constructed on 19 November 1801, the original structure of the Siddhivinayak Temple was a small 3.6 m x 3.6 m square brick structure with a dome-shaped brick shikhara. The temple was built by the contractor Laxman Vithu Patil. The building was funded by a rich Agri woman named Deubai Patil. Childless, Deaubai built the temple so that the Lord should grant children to other barren women. Ramakrishna Jambhekar Maharaj, a disciple of the Hindu saint Akkalkot Swami Samarth, buried two divine idols in the front of the presiding deity of the temple on the orders on his guru. As prophesied by Swami Samarth, after 21 years after the burial of the icons, a mandar tree grew at that spot with a svayambhu Ganesha in its branches.

The 2550 temple complex had two 3.6 m Deepamalas, a rest house and living quarters for the caretaker. It had an adjoining lake 30 x 40 sq. m. in size on the eastern and southern side of the temple. The lake, dug by Nardulla in the early 19th century to counter the scarcity of water, was filled up in the later years and the land is now not part of the temple complex. Around 1952, a small Hanuman shrine was built in the temple complex for the Hanuman icon that was found during the road extension project of Sayani Road near Elphinstone Road. In the 1950s and 60s, the fame of the temple spread and a significant number of devotees began visiting. However, in the same period, the owner of the plot sold some of the temple land, reducing the complex area. After 1975, the number of devotees increased dramatically.[3]

Controversy

The Siddhivinayak temple receives donations of around ₹100 million (US$1.5 million)–₹150 million (US$2.2 million) every year, which makes it Mumbai city's richest temple trust.[4] In 2004, the Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple Trust, which operates the temple, was accused of mismanaging donations. Consequently, the Bombay High Court appointed a committee headed by retired judge V P Tipnis to scrutinize the trust's donations and probe the allegations.[4] The committee reported that, "The most shocking aspect of the matter is that there is no method or principle followed for particular institutions. The only criteria for selection was recommendation or reference by trustees or the minister or a political heavy-weight, generally belonging to ruling party".[5]

In 2006 the Bombay High Court directed the state government, the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and the petitioner Keval Semlani to prepare "suggestive guidelines" for using the temple's trust funds.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Shree Siddhivinayak Mandir". Amazing Maharashtra.
  2. ↑ The Birth of Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati
  3. ↑ History
  4. 1 2 Siddhivinayak grants may be screened, Times of India, 10 December 2004. Retrieved on 1 March 2007.
  5. ↑ Draft guidelines for using Trust funds of Siddhivinayak: HC UNI 9 March 2006. Retrieved on 1 March 2007.
  6. ↑ State to finalize guidelines for Siddhivinayak Trust funds: HC UNI 13 December 2006. Retrieved on 1 March 2007.
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