For more than two centuries, the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, has been devoted to fulfilling the desires of those who come to worship there and is famous Ganpati in Mumbai.
Shree Ganesh is the first deity to be worshipped in India before starting any new endeavor or commercial venture, owing to his divine name as the problem-solver (Vighnaharta).
The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir, which is in Prabhadevi, is unquestionably one of the most famous and important sites of worship in Mumbai.
Under official documents, the temple was dedicated for the first time on Thursday, November 19, 1801. A tiny building that housed the black stone idol of Shree Siddhivinayak, which was around two and a half feet broad, served as the temple’s focal point at the time.
Its most notable characteristic is the trunk’s tilt to this god’s right side. The idol features four hands (Chaturbhuj), with a lotus in the top right, a tiny axe in the upper left, holy beads in the bottom right, and a bowl filled with Modaks in the lower right (a delicacy which is a perennial favorite with Shree Siddhivinayak).
Riddhi and Siddhi, goddesses of holiness, fulfillment, prosperity, and wealth, represent the deity on both sides. Like Lord Shiva’s third eye, an eye is etched on the deity’s forehead.
The Daily Schedule is as follows
Wednesday to Monday
- 5.30 AM to 6.00 AM – Kakad Aarti
- 6.00 AM to 12.15 PM – Shree Darshan
- 12.15 PM to 12.30 PM – Naivedhya
- 12.30 PM to 7.20 PM – Shree Darshan
- 7.30 PM to 8.00 PM – Aarti
- 8.00 PM to 9.50 PM – Shree Darshan
- 9.50 PM – Shejaarti
Timings on Tuesdays
- 3.15 AM to 4.45 AM – Shree Darshan
- 5.00 AM to 5.30 AM – Kakad Aarti
- 5.30 AM to 12.15 PM – Shree Darshan
- 12.15 PM to 12.30 PM – Naivedhya
- 12.30 PM to 8.45 PM – Shree Darshan
- 9.30 PM to 10.00 PM – Aarti
- 12.00 AM – Shejaarti
After ‘Shejaarti,’ the Temple will be shuttered entirely till the following day.
Live Darshan of Shree Siddhivinayak Temple
Poojas
Visiting hours for the Pooja booking office are daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Pooja Booking Counter outside Gate No. 3.
The following poojas are only done under qualified priests’ clear instructions and guidance.
- Ashtottar Naam Pooja
- Avartan Panchamrut Pooja
- 2 Avartan Shodashopchar Pooja
- 5 Avartan Shodshopchar Pooja
Temple Idol
Among the most notable altars is Ganesh, the son of Lord Shiva, who is revered and worshipped by many devotees who come to the temple to offer their prayers and offerings.
In addition to being 2.5 feet high and 2 feet broad, the statue of Shree Siddhivinayak has a trunk on the right side, made of black stone. The upper right-hand holds a lotus, while the left hand holds an axe in its grip. ‘Modaka’ is held in the lower right hand, while the lower left clutches a rosary in the lower right hand.
The holy thread, which resembles a serpent, is wrapped around the neck. All the details on the statue are carved into a single block of stone. On each side of Shree Siddhivinayak are the idols of Riddhi and Siddhi.
Goddesses of success, wealth, and prosperity, Riddhi and Siddhi, are two of the most powerful deities in Hinduism. This is a rare sighting of Shree Siddhivinayak, whose trunk has been twisted to the right since the trunk is typically seen bending to the left in this form.
Several changes were made to the deity’s sanctum sanctorum before it was transformed into a beautiful moorty, achieved via a series of more than two weeks of ceremonies.
Temple Architecture
The old architecture of the temple was built in the ancient architectural style, consisting of a hall, a sanctum sanctorum, some open space, the temple’s administrative office to the right, and a water tank in the front.
By visiting the Kashi–Vishveshwar temple, located between the Matunga signal and the Citilight Cinema, one may get a sense of what it may have been like in the past.
Ar designed the temple’s new architecture. Shri. Sharad Athale of SK Athale & Associates, after thoroughly studying temples in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
Dry, hot, and semi-arid weather prevails most of the year in both states’ climatic characteristics. Given the hot and humid climate, severe monsoon season lasting almost 4 months, and closeness of the temple to the sea, architects concluded that Ambernath’s Shiva Temple would be an excellent model for this new temple.
The temple is scheduled to open in 2018. This Shiva Temple is built on a solid stone foundation and has withstood the harshness of the local climate excellently. The efforts of Ar. Shri. Sharad Athale of SK Athale & Associates has resulted in a full architectural makeover of the Siddhivinayak temple, which may now be seen in its current state.
The temple has been constructed around the idol in a unique multiangular, six-storeyed building that rises to the heavens and is topped with a central gold-plated dome. The idol has been preserved throughout the construction.
The other tiny crowns surrounding it are gold, representing panchayats (village councils) (five metals). The interior is accessible via three major entrances.
The father-son pair of Suresh and Mitesh Mistry created the Makhar (framing) of the sanctum sanctorum, following a long-standing family tradition and creating a beautiful and complex design.
They have provided their services at renowned religious institutions, which speaks much about their level of knowledge. The temple’s crown was made by a Marathi craftsman using traditional techniques.
Renovations to the temple began in 1990 and are expected to be completed by 2000. In three years and costing three crore rupees, the project was finished. Marble and pink granite were the primary stones utilized in the construction.
The temple was intended to be a great example of architectural design. It was, therefore, possible to transform a temple that had been standing for 200 years into a beautiful, multistory, palace-like structure.
The first level of the temple is a mezzanine floor primarily utilized for poojas and darshan (admission to the temple). The kitchen prepares Shree’s Maha Naivedya (offering), and a restroom is on the second level.
The Naivedya cooked in the kitchen is transported to the sanctum sanctorum through elevators. Using surveillance cameras, the floor is constantly monitored for security and alertness. Additionally, the administrative offices of the supervisor and deputy supervisor are located on this level.
The primary office of the temple is located on the third level. Among its many features are a committee member’s chamber, a CEO chamber, a member’s chamber, an auditorium, and a computer room equipped to handle all contemporary administrative and information data processing needs.
The temple’s library, located on the fourth level, has an extensive collection of 8000 volumes on religion, literature, medicine, engineering, economics, and other topics. New titles and editions are regularly added to the site.
In addition, the library includes a study area where students may use the library’s valuable collection of books on medicine and engineering for reference or further study. The library and study hall are available to the public at no charge.
The fifth level is mostly utilized for food preparation for festivals, fire offerings, and other purposes. It was formerly used to hold a solar heater, which was removed during restoration.
The temple’s top is crowned with a cluster of crowns, 47 of which are gold-plated and include the central 12-foot crown and three excellent foot crowns, and 33 of which are 3.5 feet tall.
The crown installation and Kumbhabhishek ceremony for the magnificent and graceful temple took place on June 13, 1994 (Hindu Calendar: – Jestha Shukla Chaturthi Shaka 1916) under the auspicious hands of Shree Shankaracharya Dakshinamnay, Shree Shraddha Pitha, Shamgeri, and Shree 2008 Bharti Tirtha Mahaswamiji, on the auspicious day of Jestha Shukla Chat.
When the temple was being renovated, the crown of the temple was taken down in an organized and orderly manner, following traditional rituals. It was then adorned and placed in the hall for public sight. During the restoration, every precaution and attention was taken to maintain the holiness and purity of the temple and the idol.
To maintain open space up to the top of the temple’s multistory construction, the walls around the center have been constructed so that the region above the sacred sanctum sanctorum is shielded from foot traffic on the upper floors.
With its spectacular gold-plated dome, Shree’s grandeur, power, and presence are represented in the temple’s primary crowning glory. Devotees who cannot view the main idol due to traffic congestion or time limitations often seek the darshan of the dome, which provides them with the same level of comfort.
During the Aashadhi and Kartika Ekadashi festivals in Pandharpur, when many devotees (varkari) gather to get a sight of the goddess Vithal, they often come to the Vithal Mandir and have darshan of the temple’s crown.
With excellent entrances, including three major doors with a height of 13 feet, the sanctum sanctorum of the restored temple is large and elegantly designed. They are so tall that they allow more than 300 worshippers to view the idol at the same time from the main hall and the mezzanine level, all at the same time.
The center hall, which surrounds the sanctum sanctorum, has high seats and a flight of steps. Immediately beyond the stain is a massive platform for poojas, maha poojas, and other ceremonies.
There is a view of Shree Siddhivinayak from this platform, which also adds to the pleasure of those doing poojas on this platform. Every day on important days such as Tuesday, Sankashthi Chaturthi, and Angarkhi Chaturthi (when the number of devotees exceeds 2 lakhs), devotees gather on the platform to offer Shree their prayers and blessings.
On certain days, the poojas are performed on the mezzanine level, which offers a beautiful view of Shree Sidhivinayak and the surrounding area.
Immediately after completing the pooja rites at 1 AM, devotees may have darshan from the mezzanine level, which allows devotees to return to work in ten to fifteen minutes.
The whole architectural design is based on the comfort of the devotees and their surroundings. The repair and restoration work was done to the temple’s physical structure and the faith of the devotees who came to worship there.
Giving Back to the Community
The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust is active in various philanthropic endeavors. Here are a few examples.
Celebrating religious festivals and Utsavs, such as
- Maghi and Bhadrapd Ganeshotsav
- Mahashivratri pooja
- Angarki Chaturthi pooja
- Ramnavami pooja
- Magh Mahotsav
- Ganeshotsav
- Gudipadwa Celebrations
- Navratrotsav
- Kumbhabhishek
There will be cultural events during
- Maghi and Bhadrapad Ganeshotsav
- Diwali Pahat and other festivals
- Program for young dancers and choreographers
The following social activities are carried out like
- Medical activities such as Dialysis centers & Medical assistance, Equipment and infrastructure to government and municipal hospitals, Camps such as health & blood donation and eye examination; and orthopedic camps
- Educational activities such as Ultramodern Library & Reading Room, Digital Library, and a library for the visually impaired
- Book Bank Scheme for students and institutions
- A donation for water projects and a Little Hearts marathon will be made.
- Conducting an eco-friendly Ganesh painting competition
- World Handicap Day
- Children’s Day celebrations
- An Oath of Unity
- Medical camps, eye camps, and orthopedic camps
- Facilitation for 12th-grade students
- Medical ward at Wadia Hospital
Other activities include
- Actions promoting environmental conservation, such as rainwater collecting, Solar energy harvesting, eco-friendly festival celebrations, and converting flower debris into compost, are all possibilities.
Famous Places Nearby:
Mount Mary Church Bandra – The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, commonly known as Mount Mary Church, is a Roman Catholic Basilica in Bandra, Mumbai. Even though the church tower is 100 years old, the history of the current statue of Our Lady dates back to the 16th century when Jesuit priests from Portugal got the figure to the present place and built a chapel.
Girgaon Chowpatty – The Girgaon Chowpatty Girgaon Chowpatty Beach can be a local spot to explore and the most famous beach in Mumbai. The beach is a popular destination for massages, yoga, and strolls at a leisurely pace.
It’s also a popular spot for those looking to relax with their family and friends after work. You can relax on the beach, sipping hot tea, bhelpuri, and panipuri while watching the sunset on the Arabian Sea.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja Terminus is one of the most important railway stations connecting Mumbai with other national regions. In addition to its importance in the commercial world, It’s a landmark structure constructed in the Victorian-Gothic style.
It was previously known as Victoria Terminus. British engineers and Indian artisans worked for a decade to construct this structure.
Gateway of India – This stunning stone arch overlooked the Arabian Sea and was built to commemorate the first visit by King George V and Queen Mary. It is among the most popular spots for a visit to Mumbai for the people of Mumbai who visit to stroll around or watch the ferries that enter and leave the harbor.
It is also known as the Gateway of India and is the location for many luxurious boat excursions. It is a must-visit location for any Tourist who comes to Mumbai.
Taj Mahal Hotel – The most famous and Prestigious luxurious Taj Mahal Hotel is situated opposite the structure of the Gateway of India.
Marine Drive – Another famous attraction in Mumbai where you can sit beside the sea or walk on the promenade. It’s where you will see couples, Children, and early morning walkers enjoying the fresh sea breeze.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya – is around 5 km from Marine Drive.
Jehangir Art Gallery – is a famous art gallery only 5 km from Marine Drive.
Flora Fountain – in Fort is another famous structure between Marine Drive and the Gateway of India. It is just a water fountain with an exciting history and landmark in Mumbai.
Official Website of https://www.siddhivinayak.org/
