Siddhivinayak Temple

In the Hindu religion, before commencing any new task, project, or other auspicious rituals, Lord Ganesha is worshipped first, following which, other pujas can be performed. Ganesha is known as the destroyer of obstacles and therefore is also known as “Vighnaharta”. 

The Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Ganesha, is located in Prabhadevi in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The temple was built nearly two centuries ago. It is believed that the desires of people who pay a visit to this temple will be fulfilled upon their visit. 

As per early records available in the Government’s archives, the Siddhivinayak Temple was first constructed in 1801. At that time, it was a small structure with a two and a half foot black stone idol of Shree Siddhivinayak. 

Siddhivinayak Temple’s Old Architecture

The old structure of the Siddhivinayak Temple was constructed using an ancient architectural style. In the earlier structure, there was a hall, a garbha, i.e. sanctum sanctorum, and an open space. The temple’s administrative office was located on the right and there was a tank containing water at the front of the temple.

Siddhivinayak Temple’s New Architecture

The renovation for the new structure of the temple started in 1990, and it took almost three years to complete. The Siddhivinayak Temple, as it stands today, has undergone a complete architectural overhaul and has been completely transformed in comparison to its earlier structure. It is to be noted that even in the new structure, the idol of Ganesha has been kept intact. The new temple structure is built as a unique multi-angular, six-storeyed building. 

There are a total of three main entrances to get into the interior section of the Siddhivinayak Temple to view the idol of Ganesha. The frame of the sanctum sanctorum has been crafted with fine intricate designs, and the temple has marble and pink granite.

The Siddhivinayak Temple’s Multiple Levels

• First Floor: The first floor is primarily used for darshan and puja activities.
• Second Floor: The second floor has a kitchen to make Maha Naivedya (offerings to Ganesha), a restroom, and administrative offices.
• Third Floor: The third floor contains the central office to take care of all temple activities. 
• Fourth Floor: The fourth floor houses the temple’s library which has a collection of almost 8,000 books on various subjects such as religion, literature, medicine, engineering, economics, etc. These books are continuously updated and new books are constantly being added. The library, and the study hall attached to the library, are open for everyone to use and are free of cost.
• Fifth Floor: The fifth floor is mostly used for food preparation which is required during festivals. 

The Siddhivinayak Temple’s Design

The multistoried structure of the Siddhivinayak Temple is designed in such a manner that all the walls are circled at the centre. This type of structure creates an open space up to the summit and also fulfils the aim of keeping the portion above the holy sanctum sanctorum away from people’s feet.

The main crown is a majestic dome plated with gold, representing Ganesha’s power and presence. The garbha of the temple has spacious entrances, and its three main entrances are almost thirteen feet tall, allowing more than three hundred devotees to see the idol of Ganesha at the same time from the main hall. 

The central hall has a tall seating area with stairs, and beyond that is a large platform. The platform also offers a view of the idol, specifically on auspicious days like Tuesdays, Sankasthi Chaturthi, and Angarkhi Chaturthi. On these days, almost 2 lakh devotees visit the Siddhivinayak Temple to get a glimpse of the Ganesha idol.

The Ganesha Idol

Ganesha, the son of Shiva, is worshipped by a large number of Hindu devotees. The idol of Ganesha at Shree Siddhivinayak Temple is carved in a 2.5 foot high and 2 feet wide black stone structure. One of the most outstanding features is the trunk’s tilt to one side. The idol has four hands, with each hand holding: a lotus (top right hand), an axe (top left hand), holy beads (bottom right hand), and a bowl containing Modaks, a type of food.  

Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust

The temple is managed by the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust, which is a Government-controlled Trust. It functions according to the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple (Trust) Act, 1980. The Trust is mainly involved in managing the following activities: 

• Providing seamless darshan facilities to the devotees
• Maintaining the temple’s property and administration management
• Conducting daily pujas, ceremonies and festivals
• Conducting medical assistance to poor and needy patients at affordable rates
• Providing hospital and educational services

Temple’s Activities

Apart from the religious and cultural activities, the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust is also involved in several charitable activities. They also conduct other social activities, such as medical outreaches including a dialysis centre, providing medical assistance, equipment and infrastructure to Government and municipal hospitals, holding health and blood donation camps, eye checkup camps, and orthopaedic camps.

The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust also encourages educational activities through an ultramodern library and reading room, a digital library, and a library for the visually impaired. They also conduct the Book Bank Scheme for students and institutions. The Trust is also actively involved in donations for water projects, the Little Hearts Marathon, and the medical ward at Wadia Hospital. 

Conclusion

The Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, Maharashtra is an ancient and famous shrine worshipped by Hindus. First constructed in 1801, the Siddhivinayak Temple receives people throughout the year but mostly on Tuesdays, Sankasht Chaturthi and Aangarak Chaturthi because they are considered auspicious days. The Siddhivinayak Temple’s new design, which began its work in 1990, contains multiple features which are utilised by its visitors.