Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple

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Shree Ganesh is the first to be worshipped before beginning any new project or

venture as he is the destroyer of obstacles (vighnaharta). This is Shree

Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple at Prabhadevi in Mumbai, a two century old Temple

that fulfills the desires of the worshipers. 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 is the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir situated at

Prabhadevi. This temple was first consecrated on Thursday 19'h November 1801, a

fact that is noted in government records. 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. 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.

The old Mandir

Ganesh, the son of Shree Shiva is one of the most prominent altars, faithfully

invoked and dedicatedly worshipped by a large number of devotees. The idol of

Shree Siddhivinayak is of black stone and is 2.5 feet high and 2 feet wide,

with the trunk on the right. The upper right hand hold a lotus, the left an

axe. The lower right hand holds a rosary and the lower left hold a 'modaka'.

Around the neck is the snake like sacred thread. The idol is carved out of a

single stone. The idols of Riddhi and Siddhi are on either side of Shree

Siddhivinayak. Riddhi and Siddhi are Godesses of success, riches and

prosperity. The auspicious idol of Shree Siddhivinayak with its trunk bent

towards the right is unique, as the trunk is usually found curving leftwards.

The sanctum sanctorum housing the deity was altered time and again and finally

gave way to a monolithic and magnificent structure, which was accomplished by a

series of rituals, which lasted a fortnight.The consecration ceremonies

culminated with the 'Kalash Pratishthapana' and 'Kumbha-bhishek' ceremony at

the hands his holiness Jagad-guru Shree Shankaracharya of Shree Shardapeeth

Shringeri Shree Shree 1008 Bharati Tirth Maha Swami on Monday the 13th of June

1994 i.e. Jyeshtha Shudha Chaturthi as per Hindu calendar.

'Kalash Pratishthapana'

The new Kalash

 

The old 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. The

temple as it stand now has been constructed after deliberations with experts on

Hindu religion and customs so as to maintain the sanctity of the idol as per the

Hindu Shastras. The idol of Shree Siddhivinayak has not been touched in the

process of rebuilding the temple. 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 devotees

can thus earn the satisfaction of seeking the blessing of Shree Siddhivinayak

by taking a devoted look at the Kalash.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

donors of about 13 feet height. This facilitates the 'Darshan' of Shree

Siddhivinayak from either the area surrounding the Gabhara or the stage (Sabha

Mandap) constructed to conduct pujas and festivities, under the directives of

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. A 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 pujas, Abhishek etc. are conducted.ARRANGEMENT OF GABHARAThe

Gabhara is an octagonal enclosure, about 10 feet wide and consists of a silver

plated Makhar (a smaller structure within the Gabhara which houses the idol of

Shree Siddhivinayak). The dome inside the Gabhara is gold plated and has been

designed to enhance the beauty of the idol. An exquisite chandelier lights up

the Gabhara, making it a sight never to be forgotten.The three main doors winch

are used for entry and exit by the devotees are made of perforated wood which

depict Ashta Ganapati, Ashta Laxmi and Dashavatar. Donation box made of white

marble and decorated with meenakari. This .has been placed before the idol of

Shree Siddhivinayak. The two side doors are for use by the priests and the

employees assisting them to carry routine functions.As compared to the Gabhara

of the earlier temple structure, the Gabhara of new temple structure is at a

lower height owing to which the devotees, seeking Darshan of Shree

Siddhivinayak from outside the Gabhara can do so easily are able to get a

complete uninterrupted view of the idol of Shree Siddhivinayak.The first floor

of the five storied structure comprises of mezzanine gallery, which is utilised

for obtaining the Darshan of Shree Siddhivinayak and otherwise for performing

pujas, Abhisheks, on Tuesday, Sankashti Chaturthi and Angaraki Chaturthi.The

office of the supervisor and his deputy are located on second floor, along with

a monitor room housing a complete close-circuit video unit, a rest room for the

priests and a kitchen where the Maha-Naivedya is prepared. There is a lift

connecting the kitchen and the Gabhara, which is used exclusively by the

priests in order to carry the Naivedya to the Gabhara.The third floor houses,

the Chairperson's chamber, the Trustee's chamber, office of the Executive

officer, office of the Officer on special duty and the administrative offices

of the temple trust.. It also houses a conference room and the information

technology section.The library on the fourth floor has a collection of over

8500 books over a wide range subjects. There is also a reading room and study

room for the students. The subjects range from engineering, management to

religion.Arrangements for the preparations of Naivedya during the festivities

of the temple have been made on the fifth floor. There is also a hall to enable

the devotees to take benefit of Prasad on such days. Solar energy producing

cells have also been installed on the temple. These produce electricity, which

make the temple electrically independent.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.The temple trust

is managed by a board of trustees led by a Chairperson. This board outlines

policy parameters. The execution and day to day management of the temple

affairs is in the hand of the Executive officer, Shri. S. S. Chitnis, the

employees who work in extraordinary and exemplary zeal to attain maximum

convenience to the devotees who throng the temple day in and day out to catch

the glimpse of their favorite deity Shree Siddhivinayak. The idol of Shree

Siddhivinayak has a special aura and one glimpse of the idol of all that it

takes to experience a thrill and a joy, which can not be described in words.

The Gabhara

 

The silver 'Mooshaka'

Shivalinga

 

The silver idol

SHREE HANUMAN MANDIRWhen Sayani Road was being widened the Idol of Shree Hanuman

was found. The workers of B.M.C. kept this Idol on the side of the road. Some

devotees of Shree Siddhivinayak Temple informed the Chief Poojari Shri Phatak

regarding this Idol. Then this Idol was placed in the premises of the Temple in

the-year 1952. When the Temple was renovated a separate Hanuman Temple was build

at that place. Even in the Hanuman Temple like Shree Siddhivinayak there are

rituals performed from dawn to dusk. Provision is made for Mahanaivedya. For

devotees every Saturday provision is also made to offer oil and a garland at a

nominal cost of Rs. 2/-

Shree Hanuman Mandir

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