Shri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir

The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh. It is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra. 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.

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

It was Constructed on 19 November 1901, 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 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.

History Behind the Siddhivinayak Temple
This temple was first established in 1801 at the behest of a wealthy lady named Deubai Patil, and consecrated for worship on the 19th of November that year. The structure was significantly smaller than the one which stands in its place today. The idol, however, is the same monolithic statue carved from a black stone. Although today, it is painted in a bright shade of orange, with gold plating some of its elements. The Siddhivinayak Temple received a vast transformation after the Government of Maharashtra decided to renovate it in 1990 and regulate the flow of tourists to ease congestion. The refurbishment works were completed in 1993.

Architecture of Siddhivinayak Temple
Siddhivinayak Temple is a 6-storey building with a dome at its apex. This prominent dome is plated with gold and adds to the attraction of the temple. The edifice is mainly built of marble and pink granite while the multiple domes in the premise are made of either gold or a combination of five metals. There are three entrances to the inner shrine on the ground level. It is this floor that visitors throng for pooja and darshan. The idol of Ganesha sits in the inner sanctum on an opulent throne of gold. He is flanked on either side by the idols of Hindu goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi.

The second floor is home to the kitchen where food is prepared to be offered to the idol. There are also some administrative offices on this floor. The third floor is the main office and the computer room. The fourth floor is a library and study hall with a collection of more than 8000 books on various genres. Access to this hall and all the books is free for all. The fifth floor is another kitchen – a larger one for cooking food during the festivals and special fire offerings. The sixth (and also the top) floor of the temple is the group of 47 gold-plated crowns which make up the roof.

Best Time to Visit
Siddhivinayak temple looks at its best during the festival celebrations. During the festivities like Maghi and Bhadrapd Ganeshotsav, Mahashivratri pooja, Angarki Chaturthi pooja, Shri. Ramnavami pooja, Magh Mahotsav, Ganeshotsav, Gudipadwa Celebrations, Navratrotsav, and Kumbhabhishek, special cultural and social activities take place in the temple, which attracts attention of people from all corners of India.