Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

Important information

  • Location: SK Bole Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028
  • Festivals: Ganesha Chaturthi For Other Festival Details Click here
  • Main Deity: Ganesh Idol For Other Deity Details Click here
  • Languages: Marathi & Hindi
  • Darshan Timings: 5:30 am to 10:00 pm; every day
  • Best Season To Visit: All Season
  • Entry Fee: Free
  • Originally Built by: Deubai Patil and Laxman Vithu Year 1801
  • Contact Number: +912224224438
  • How To Reach

Shree Siddhivinayak Temple is one of the oldest spiritual temples devoted to Lord Ganesha. Situated in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra, is one of the most popular and also sacred temples devoted to Lord Ganesha. The name Siddhivinayak means “Vinayak that grants one’s wishes.” The Lord is known locally as “Navasacha Ganapati” and also “Navasala Pavanara Ganapati.” In Marathi, it means “Ganapati grants a dream whenever prayed with genuine devotion.”

History

The Siddhivinayak Mandir evolved from a small, tiny place of worship to the Grand Temple that stands today in the latter half of the twentieth century. Earlier, the Siddhivinayak temple was a small construction highlighting the black idol of Shree Siddhivinayak, carved out of stone.
The credit for the construction of the temple goes to Vithu and also Deubai Patil. Built in the year 1801, Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is visited by people belonging to almost all the sects of the society. 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 constructed the temple so that the Lord could grant children to other barren women. Ramakrishna Jambhekar Maharaj, a devotee of the Hindu saint Akkalkot Swami Samarth, buried two divine idols in front of the presiding deity of the temple on the orders of 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.

Importance

In the latter half of the twentieth century, the Siddhivinayak Mandir developed from a small shrine to the grand temple of today. The temple owes its fame to politicians as well as Bollywood celebrities seeking the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
Siddhivinayak is popular as “Navsacha Ganapati” or “Navasala Pavanara Ganapati” (‘Ganapati presents whenever humbly genuinely prayed a dream’) among devotees. Facilities for performing different kinds of puja are made available by the temple authorities.

Architecture

The Siddhivinayak Temple is designed exquisitely and also truly is one of the most magnificent shrines in Mumbai. The idol of Lord Ganesh is sculpted from a single black stone, which is about 2 1/2 feet tall.
The trunk of the Ganesh idol is tilted towards its right and the figure is represented with four arms, carrying a lotus, an axe, modakas (sweet dumplings) as well as a garland of beads, respectively. On both sides of the idol, figures of ‘Goddess Riddhi’ and also ‘Goddess Siddhi’ are mounted. On the forehead of the deity is an eye, which almost looks like the third eye of Lord Shiva.

On both sides of the Lord Ganesh idol, are placed one idol each of Riddhi and also Siddhi goddesses who are appearing like peeping out of the Ganesh idol from behind. Because of these two deities along with Lord Ganesh, this temple is known as the Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple. These goddesses signify sanctity, success, wealth, and prosperity.
The temple encompasses a small hall or ‘mandapam’ where Lord Ganesh is placed. The ‘Gabhara’ is an octagonal shelter, which is about ten feet wide that covers the idol of Lord Ganesh. The roof inside the Gabhara is gold plated as well as enhances the charm of the idol. One can observe intricate designs and also 8 different images of Lord Ganesh that are carved perfectly on the wooden doors of the temple. The temple complex covers an area of 2550 sq. meters.
In the year 1990, the renewal of the temple started and with the expenditure of about 3 crores rupees, it was finished in 3 years. The white marble and colorful granite used under this gorgeous temple is a fabulous example of a well-structured design. The renewed temple is like a palace of multistory fine architectural design. The main puja and darshan of the shrine are fixed on the first floor of the temple.

The second floor is mainly used for the kitchen for making from Prasad or Naivedya of Shree Ganesha, there is also an administrative office and a room for relaxation. On the third floor of the temple main office of the management, set up, a discussion hall, office of C.E.O., I.T., and computer department office. On the fourth floor of the temple building, there is an enormous library with a compilation of more than 8,000 manuscripts on religion. Groceries preparation for carnivals is on the fifth floor.

The Gabhara

The Gabhara (sanctum sanctorum) of the new temple structure has actually been designed with the aim of achieving maximum convenience and comfort for devotees. It is a spacious enclosure with 3 major doors of about 13 feet in height. This helps with the ‘Darshan’ of Shree Siddhivinayak from either the area surrounding the Gabhara or the stage (Sabha Mandap) constructed to conduct poojas and festivities, under the directives of the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust.
A mezzanine floor with a viewer’s gallery has been constructed in balance with the Gabhara thus allowing 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 utilized as a platform for the usual Darshan sought by
the devotees who are not able to spend hours in serpentine queues to go inside the Gabhara.
An approximated 1.5 to 2 lakh people utilize this center every Tuesday, and also on Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi the common Darshan starts at 2 a.m. Tuesday early morning stops only at regarding 1 a.m. i.e. Wednesday morning. On Tuesdays, the mezzanine floor is made open after 1 p.m. i.e. after all poojas, Abhishek, etc. are conducted.

Old Architecture

The old temple had an ancient architectural style, including a hall, a sanctum sanctorum, some free open space, the temple’s administrative office to the right, and a water tank in the front. One can get a suggestion of what it may have looked like by visiting the Kashi– Vishveshwar temple located near the Matunga signal near Citilight Cinema.

New Architecture

The contemporary structure of Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai was created by a designer named Sharad Athale. While the idol of the deity was maintained intact, everything else about the temple was given a transformation. As a result, a uniquely designed six-storied structure changed the old temple. This new structure is crowned with a gold-plated Kalash placed above the central dome.
Apart from it, 37 other smaller gilded domes decorate the temple structure. Great marble and pink granite were used to rebuild the shrine. There are 3 entries that result in the temple interiors. The wooden doors of the temple display exquisitely carved images of the eight manifestations of the presiding deity of the temple, known as Ashtavinayak.

Idol

The idol at Siddhivinayak Temple is carved out of a single piece of black rock. It shows Lord Ganesha as chaturbhuj or having four hands, holding a garland of holy grains, a lotus, a small ax, and also a plate of modak in each. Siddhi as well as Riddhi, both consorts of Lord Ganesha, are placed on either side of the Ganapati idol. On the forehead of the idol, a third eye is etched, which resembles that of Lord Shiva’s.
One of the unique features of the main idol at Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai is that the tilt of Lord Ganesha’s trunk is towards the right. Most Ganapati idols in the country have their trunks tilted in the direction of the left.

Festivals

  • The Major Festivals is Ganesh Chaturthi
  • Angarak Sankashti Chaturthi (Agariki Sankashti Chaturthi the fourth day of the fading half (Krishna Paksha) of the Hindu Calendar Month falls on a Tuesday.)
  • Sankashti Chaturthi (Sankashti Chaturthi is the fourth day of the waxing half (Shukla paksh) of the Hindu Calendar Month.)
  • Vinayaki Chaturthi (Vinayaki Chaturthi is the fourth day of the waxing half (Shukla paksh) of the Hindu Calendar Month.)

Nearby Attractions

  • Prabhadevi Beach (1.3 km)
  • Shivaji Park (2.3 km)
  • Worli Fort (2.8 km)
  • Mahim Beach (3.5 km)
  • Nehru Planetarium (4.3 km)
  • Mahim Fort (4.9 km)
  • Haji Ali Dargah (6.2 km)
  • Shree Mahalakshmi Temple (6.7 km)

How to Reach

  • By Train: Nearest Railway Station – Dadar (Western Railway)
  • By Road: The Total distance from Dadar Railway Station (West) to Shree Siddhivinayak Mandir is 1.5 kilometers. It is about 20 minutes walking distance. If you hire a taxi from Dadar Station.
  • By Air: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the nearest Airport which is around 9 km from the Temple.

Temple Timing

Darshan Timing

Morning TimeAfternoon TimeEvning Time
06.00 to 12.15 12.30 to 19.20 20.00 to 21.50

Pooja & Arti Timing

Temple’s Schedule (Wednesday to Monday) 

05.30 to 06.00 Kakad Aarti
12.15 to 12.30Naivedya
19.30 to 20.00Aarti
21.50 Shejaarti, Temple doors closed

Temple’s Schedule (Tuesday) :

05.00 to 05.30Kakad Aarti
12.15 to 12.30Naivedya
21.30 to 22.00Aarti
00.30  Shejaarti, Temple doors closed

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