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Mumbai Siddhivinayak Temple
Prabhadevi’s Shree Siddhivinayak Temple is a well-known and beloved Greater Mumbai Desire Fulfilling Shrine. This historic monument serves as a haven of worship for travelers from all over the world who come to find comfort. The Shalivahan Samvatsar underwent its first refurbishment on Kartik Shuddha Chaturdashi in 1723, according to the Hindu calendar year (A.D. 1801). All ceremonies were performed in accordance with Hindu religious commandments. Based on the facts at hand, it is clear that the shrine has been around for the past 200 years.
A marble replica of the same idol may also be found in the South Mumbai Banganga complex. These two idols appear to have been sculpted by the same artist. Given that the Banganga shrine complex is about 500 years old, it can be inferred that the Prabhadevi temple’s shrine building is approximately 500 years old.
On the advice of the revered Saint Shri Jambhekar Maharaj, a householder named Shree Govindrao Phatak implemented the regular temple Pooja Archa and the ensuing arrangements in (A.D. 1936). Aside from his work at a nearby mill, the former truly carried out this task. Later, on December 31, 1973, he was forced to retire from the army due to advancing age and the end of his term. The trustee management committee was established during this time. Officers appointed by the government as trustees were given control over the temple’s management. They designated the necessary personnel, such as Pujaris, the temple priests, to carry out the Pooja Archa and support the Committee. A lake that had existed on the entire area of ground allocated to the temple was leveled up during this time, in 1954, and the developed land was leased to the Shree Siddhivinayak Co-operative Housing Society. It is clear that the main reasons for doing this were to raise funds to pay for the temple’s expenses and to supplement the meager income that was available to it at the time. The shrine was becoming more and more well-known every day. Nonetheless, a local newspaper included some contentious writing on the trustee management. A few legal disputes came up. The shrine’s income was increasing, but the funds earned in this way were not being used properly. For the devotees, the shrine is a place of intense faith, devotion, and dedication. The previous administration recognized that these disagreements not only undermined the sacred site’s veneration but also affected the number of people entering it. In order to oversee the shrine’s activities through a single committee, the government decided to create a new trustee management body and to draft an independent legislation. As a result, it was changed into a separate Act called the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust (Prabhadevi) Act, 1980. Under its rules, the government created a new committee with a maximum of nine members as well as a president and treasurer. This committee’s executive officers serve as ex-officio secretaries.
The shrine’s old, little structure was making it more difficult for the increasing number of worshippers to get Shree’s Darshan, or the pleasant sight of Lord Ganesh, every day. There could be enough for up to 15 people to seek Darshan. It was intended to enlarge and renovate the current shrine construction in order to provide the amenities of simple and quick Darshan, fulfillment of services and devotion, including facilities for offerings and numerous ritual procedures. The proposed project’s foundation stone was placed on April 27, 1990, an auspicious day in Samvatsar, on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya-Vaishakh Shuddha Tritiya of 1916. The then-chief minister, Shri Sharad Chandraji Pawar, laid the stone. Several challenges were eventually overcome in order to fully create the current majestic and palatial edifice. On a sublimately huge scale, the Vaastu’s Kalas (Dome) Pratishthapana was performed and celebrated. The then-chief minister, Shri Sharad Chandraji Pawar, gave the event its start.
The Respect and Significance of Lord Siddhivinayak
An historic and well-known shrine is the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganpati temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. This was built on November 19, 1801, encircling the central shrine. Back then, the area was covered in a large number of coconut palms and shrubs. The idol of Shree Siddhivinayak is made of black stone, standing 2.5 feet tall at the base and roughly 2 feet broad. The idol has a tipped trunk on the right side, a Lotus in the upper right arm, a little hatchet called Parshu in the second arm, a Japmala, or chain of holy beads, in the lower right arm, and a Ladoo Vati, or bowl, in the left arm that holds Lord Ganesh’s favorite sweet treat. The idol, which resembles Lord Shiva and has three eyes, is sculpted on a black stone housing that features Mooshak, the Lord’s mouse-carrier. In the lotus position, or Padmaasan, Lord Shree is seated on the throne base. The Chief of the Ganas, Lord Ganesh, also known as Ganapati, is often referred to as Mahaganpati. He is accompanied by the Goddesses of wealth and success, Siddhi and Riddhi, and he assumes the elephant-headed form of Nar-KunjaRoop. In particular, the idol is Sanjeevan, which means “resuscitative.”Â
The Temple of Siddhivinayak
Many thousands of devotees come to the temple on Tuesdays, the auspicious days of Sankasht Chaturthi and Aangarak Chaturthi, to seek blessings and have their wishes granted. The temple is a five-story building with a central core that is encased in walls. Every effort is made to provide the devotees plenty of open space. On June 13, 1994, the temple’s new building was completed. The original zenith was taken down during construction and replaced with a new, gold-coated structure that weighed 1500 kg and stood 12 feet tall. For those who choose to do Satyanarayan Pooja, Ganesh Yaag, or the pooja with material offerings or objects of worship via a sanctified fire pit in observance of Lord Ganesh, there is a wide pavilion on the ground floor that is 13–14 feet tall. The first story serves as a mezzanine level where devotees do Pooja and seek auspicious darshan. The second story serves as both a rest area for the Brahmin priest community and a kitchen for preparing Naivedya, the sacred food offering that is blessed by Lord Ganesh. Sanctum: An elevator connects the second-floor kitchen to the Lord. The structure is protected by a CCTV camera network. The third level includes the Board Room, Committee Hall, Reception, and Telephone Operators Section in addition to divisions for the Chairman, Treasurer, Trustee, and Executive Officers of the Trust. Executive Officer Cabin, Administrative Department with Cash Counting, Ornamental Valuation, and Accountancy sections, and Lounge with contemporary amenities, including sections for Dy. Executive Officer, Finance, and Account Officer, are located on the fourth floor. The Mahaprasad Department is located on the fifth level.
Shree Siddhivinayak: Beautiful and hopeful thoughts
When Shree RamKrishna Jambhekar Maharaj, who lived in the Prabhadevi neighborhood of Mumbai, went to Akkalkot to see Shree Swami Samarth, the latter emerged from his Samadhi and greeted him. The two used to spend hours together in a spiritual conversation beneath the nearby banyan tree. Like a mother who eagerly awaits her kid and exults at meeting him, Shree Swami Samarth was fond of Shree Ram Krishna Jambhekar Maharaj. On one such evening, Shree Jambhekar Maharaj was seated with Shree swami Samarth when the latter inquired, “Ramakrishna, what do you wish to have?” “If you give something, please give glory to my Shree Siddhivinayaka,” Shree Jambhekar appealed to Swami Samarth at that moment, pleading with Shree Swami for nothing personally. Shree Swami Samarth was overjoyed to hear this. The notion of accomplishing one’s goals with the hope that, by honoring Shree Siddhivinayak, the devotee flow will never stop blessing them! “What a wisdom you have!” he murmured, extending his celestial arms to embrace Shree Jambhekar and bringing him closer. I’m fortunate to have someone like that. Visit your Shree siddhivinayaka of Prabhadevi when you get back to Mumbai. You put a Mandara seedling there. Shree Siddhivinayak will expand inch by inch, just as you, Mandar, will. When the Mandar blossoms, Shree Siddhivinayak will also grow gloriously on that day. stated Swami Samarth. “Tathastu” and vanished in the direction of the banyan tree. It wasn’t long until Shree Jambhekar Maharaj crossed his mind. When Maharaj arrived back in Prabhadevi four days later, he planted a Mandar sapling in the Shree Siddhivinayak temple on the upcoming Tuesday. He pleaded, “Shree Swami Samartha, I have done my work,” as they joined hands there. Please grant my request. After uttering these words, Shree Jambhekar Maharaj briefly stood in front of Shree Shree Siddhivinayaka and uttered, “O Ganaraya, may the word given by Shri Swami Samarth come true and may you attain glory in this world.” May the radiance of that grandeur draw multitudes of followers to you. May all the believers’ wishes be fulfilled.
Shree Siddhivinayak, the magnificent and wish-fulfilling man of today, makes this event a reality every minute.