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The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is
a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh. It is located in
Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was originally built by Laxman Vithu
and Deubai Patil on November 19, 1801. Though it is one of the richest
temples in Mumbai, the current generation of Patil is staying in state
of despair near the temple.
The temple has a small mandap (hall) with the shrine for Siddhi Vinayak
("Ganesh 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. |
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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.
Siddhivinayak is well known as “Navasacha Ganapati” or “Navasala
Pavanara Ganapati” ('Ganapati bestows whenever humbly genuinely prayed a
wish' in Marathi) among devotees.
History
Consecrated 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 sikhara. 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.
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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 sq m 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. |
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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.
Controversy
The Siddhivinayak temple receives donations of around Rupee 100 - 150
million every year, which makes it Mumbai city's richest temple trust. 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".
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.
Sources: Wikipedia
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