There are dozens of temples (if not more) dedicated to Ganesha in India, but one of the most popular is the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. Not only is the temple a tourist attraction, it is among the most admired temples in India.
It’s in a convenient location among the millions of people living in Mumbai, and easily accessible by travelers.
Even though this temple is quite modern, especially compared to the many ancient temples in India, it still has an interesting historical tale. The temple is the pride of Mumbai and not only is it beautiful, it has an incredible story that shows the beauty of Mumbai and the devotion of Indians from all over the country.
A Modern Addition to Hinduism
While many temples dedicated to things like Hinduism are generally thought of as being ancient, many people in the modern age contribute in this way to their religion.
While the Siddhivinayak Temple is quite old - about 223 years old in 2024 - it is by no means ancient, especially compared to the other temples in India that range from the 3rd century BCE!
Humble Beginnings
First built in November of 1801 by Laxman Vithu, the original temple was a modest 3.6 square meter brick square with a small brick dome, called a shikhara. Inside was the idol of Ganesha, which is still used in the modern shrine.
This Shree Siddhivinayak idol is carved from black stone and is rather small at only 2.5ft high and 2ft wide. This idol is interesting because it shows Ganesha’s trunk curling to the right, rather than the left.
The trunk to the right signifies Pingala or the Surya Nadi, masculinity, and immediate results. Referred to as the Valampuri Ganesha, worshippers must take care to pay their respects appropriately, or else their wishes may twist for the worse.
Ganesha is also carved here with four arms (Chaturbhuj). His upper right-hand holds a Lotus, a small hatched (Pershu) in the upper left, Japmala (holy beads) in the lower right, and Ladoo Vati (or Modak) in the lower left (Lord Ganesha’s favorite sweet). He wears a snake like a sacred thread (upavita). Interestingly, the idol may actually be 500 years old or so, as an identical one from that time can be found in the Banganga complex in South Mumbai.
Ganesh is also shown with three eyes, like Lord Shiva. He is seated in Padmasana and is accompanied by his mouse-companion Mooshak, to symbolise to worshippers the wish to overcome selfishness and desires.
The two consorts of Ganesha - Goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi - also accompany him, one wife on either side. Riddhi symbolizes wealth and prosperity while Shiddhi symbolizes intellect and spiritual powers. The perfect pair for a wish-granting deity!
Since the original temple was only meant to be a small offering in honour of Ganesha, it wasn’t meant to accommodate all the people who would begin attending the temple for darshan or other reasons. Things quickly become far too crowded!
Something needed to be done to make more room for worshippers.
"As Vighneshwara, Ganesha is the god of obstacles. He removes as well as places obstacles. His work is both negative and positive. He prevents the people from the execution of their evil designs by putting various hurdles in their path." - B.R. Kishore in: "Lord Ganesh"
Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust
The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust aims to promote and preserve Hindu religious values, especially among the youth and has various charitable initiatives.
The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust undertakes various charitable activities
Healthcare Initiatives: Providing medical assistance and support to underprivileged individuals, including free medical camps and health check-ups.
Educational Support: Offering scholarships and financial aid to students from economically weaker sections to help them pursue their education.
Community Welfare: Engaging in activities that promote the well-being of the local community, such as food distribution during festivals and emergencies.
Cultural Programs: Organizing events and programs that promote Hindu culture and values, especially among the youth.
Disaster Relief: Providing aid and support during natural disasters or emergencies, including food, shelter, and medical assistance.
These initiatives reflect the Trust's commitment to social welfare and community development.
SiddhiVinayak Temple Donations
Donations to the Siddhi Vinayak Temple can be made in various ways. Visitors can offer cash, gold, silver, or any other valuable items as a form of donation. The temple also accepts online donations through its official website. Additionally, devotees can contribute by participating in various charity programs and initiatives organized by the temple.
You have the option to donate to Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust online using either your Cash Card, Credit Card, Debit Card, or Internet Banking Account (Netbanking) through this website.
Historic Events of the Temple
Though the temple hasn’t been around for ages, it still has a tale or two that make it unique and revered.
It is said that around 125 years ago, Shri Akkalkot Swami Samarth’s disciple Ramakrishna Jambhekar Maharaj obtained Siddhi. He buried two idols in front of this temple and foretold that for 21 years, a Mandaar tree would grow from these idols and that Ganesha would reside in the tree in the form of a Svayambhu in the branches.
Whether the tree ever grew is a difficult fact to prove!
A legend that has documentation is when, in 1952, a Hanuman idol was found nearby during road construction. Hanuman’s idol was added to the temple compound.
A Modern Expansion
In 1990, it was finally time to expand the temple to accommodate more people.
Sharad Athale, the architect of the modern temple, used pink granite and marble to achieve the elegant and contemporary look of the renovated temple.
It went from being a small, one-floor temple to a six-storied palace-like monument.
The first floor is a mezzanine floor mainly used for pujas and darshan. The second and third floors are the kitchen and administrative offices. The fourth floor is an extensive library, open to the public. The fifth floor is for Mahaprasad and preparing for festivals. The sixth floor is where the crowns are.
After this remodel, completed in 1993, about 300 devotees can fit on the mezzanine floor at once. Before, only a few people could be present at one time. Now, thousands of people are able to perform darshan more easily.
Why Was Siddhivinayak Temple Built?
Why was Ganesha chosen as the deity for this temple, and what are the benefits of worshipping Ganesha?
The Wish Granter
The story goes that the original temple in 1801 was commissioned by a wealthy Agri woman named Deubai Patil. She was childless due to infertility and wanted to build a temple that would give other infertile women a place to pray for the blessings of motherhood. But, this story is not verified.
Certainly, Deubai Patil commissioned the temple to be built by contractor Laxman Vithu, but her motives are not clear.
One thing is for sure, Ganesha is the right god to be praying to for wishes to come true. Deubai Patil likely wanted to promote reverence for a deity she liked.
Fun Facts About Siddhivinayak Temple
This intriguing modern temple has quite a few interesting facts to teach.
Ganesha’s Many Names
Lord Ganesha is known by many names. 108, in fact: the sacred number. The name of this temple stems from the fact that the Ganesha idol’s trunk curls to the right, which indicates rapid results to your wishes. This type of Ganesh is referred to as Siddhi Vinayaka, The Bestower of Boons.
Grand Location
The Temple is located in the Prabhadevi area of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, which is an upscale and popular area to live in.
Architecture Stylings
The original temple was built in the Hemadpanthi style of architecture, which is a blend of stone and wood. The new style of architecture is modelled after Shiva Temple at Ambernath. The modern architects took the hot, humid climate (and monsoon season) into consideration when building the new temple.
Remover of Obstacles
It is believed that praying at the Siddhivinayak Temple can quickly fulfil one’s desires and grant good fortune since Ganesha is known for granting prosperity. It’s said that if you pray to Ganesha before embarking on a new endeavour, it will be blessed with success.
Famous Devotees
Many celebrities and public figures have been known to visit this temple due to its auspiciousness. Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt visited the temple soon after being released from prison in 2016 and Apple CEO Tim Cook paid morning respects during his visit to India.
Siddhivinayak Temple During Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great fervour at Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. The temple is beautifully decorated and devotees throng the temple to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha. The idol of Lord Ganesha is adorned with flowers and ornaments and is worshipped for ten days.
The significance of the Siddhivinayak Temple during Ganesh Chaturthi lies in the belief that Lord Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and the provider of good fortune. Devotees believe that by worshipping Lord Ganesha during this festival, their wishes will be fulfilled and their obstacles will be overcome.
During Ganesh Chaturthi, Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai gets extremely crowded as it is one of the most popular and revered temples in the city. Thousands of devotees visit the temple during this time to seek blessings from Lord Ganesha. The temple management takes several measures to manage the crowd, such as setting up barricades and organizing queues.
Plan Your Visit to Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai
Ready to set out for your trip to Siddhivinayak Temple? Here’s what you need to know before you visit.
How to Reach Siddhivinayak Temple
Since the temple is located in Mumbai, it’s quite easy to find and explore.
By road, you can drive from just about anywhere to the temple. There are buses you can take from major cities to Mumbai, and you can take autos or taxis within the city.
The Dadar Train Station is only a 10-minute drive away from the temple. Dadar connects with major railroads like CST Termina, Churchgate, and Santacruz.
By air, you may fly to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The drive from the airport to the temple can be completed with a taxi.
Siddhivinayak Temple Timings
The schedule of the temple is rather complex. The temple is open every day, but the visiting hours change per day.
| Ritual | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Early Morning Shree Darshan (Tues Only) | 3:15 AM | 4:45 AM |
| Kakad Aarti | T: 5:00 AM W-M: 5:30 AM | T: 5:30 AM W-M: 6:00 AM |
| Morning Shree Darshan | T: 5:30 AM W-M: 6:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| Naivedhya | 12:05 PM | 12:30 PM |
| Afternoon Shree Darshan | 12:30 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Evening Dhup Aarti | W-M: 7:00 PM | W-M: 7:10 PM |
| Evening Shree Darshan (Wed-Mon Only) | 7:10 PM | T: 8:45 PM W-M: 7:20 PM |
| Puja & Aarti (Tues) Aarti (Wed-Mon) | T: 9:00 PM W-M: 7:30 PM | T: 10:10 PM W-M: 8:00 PM |
| Shree Darshan | T: 10:10 PM W-M: 8:00 PM | T: 11:30 PM W-M: 9:50 PM |
| Shejaarti | T: 11:45 PM W-M: 9:50 PM | T: 12:00 PM W-M: 10:00 PM |
On Tuesdays, the temple doors close for devotees at 11:30 PM. Also, the temple is closed to devotees from 8.45 p.m. to 10.10 p.m., but the Ganesha Darshan is possible from a far distance.
Furthermore, on specific holy days, the schedule changes again:
- Sankashti Chaturthi
- Open: 4:30 AM
- Close: After the last Shejaarti which starts 90 minutes after the moonrise
- Vinayaka Chaturthi
- Open: 5:30 AM
- The temple is closed to devotees from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM for Abhishekam, Naivedhya, & Pooja Aarti (Mahabhishek). Flowers and fruits are not allowed.
- Maghi Shree Ganesh Jayanti & Bhadrapad Shree Ganesh Chaturthi
- Open: 4:00 AM
- The temple is closed to devotees from 10.45 a.m. to afternoon 1.30 p.m. for Pooja, Naivedhya, and Aarti. At that time, Ganesha Darshan will be possible from a far distance.
What Pujas and Festivals are Observed at Siddhivinayak Temple?
Siddhivinayak Temple is extremely active, performing many pujas and celebrating many festivals regularly
Pujas Offered
- Aavartan Panchamrut Pooja
- Ashtottar Naam Pooja
- 5 Aavartan Shodashopchar Pooja
- 11 Aavartan Shodashopchar Pooja
- Ashirvachan
- Shree Satyanarayan Mahapooja
- Shree Satya Vinayak Mahapooja
- Atharvashirsha Sahastravatan
- Sahastra Namavali
- Atharvashirsah Havan
- Two Wheeler Vehicle Pooja
- Four Wheeler Vehicle Pooja
Festivals Celebrated
- Ganesha Chaturthi
- Sankashti Chaturthi
- Vinayaka Chaturthi
- Hanuman Jayanti
- Akshaya Tritiya
- Gudi Parva
- Ram Navami
- Ganga Dussehra
- Nag Panchami
- Gokulashtami
- Navaratri
- Mahashivaratri
- Maghi
- Bhadrapd Ganeshotsav
- Diwli Pahat
Fees and Rules of Conduct
There is no entry fee to see the temple, but you can avoid long lines by paying Rs. 100 per person for the VIP Darshan.
Strictly no photography is allowed inside the temple.
There is no formal dress code, however, visitors should be sure to cover up to their knees and elbows out of respect for the temple and the other visitors. Beachwear and revealing clothes will not be allowed on the premises.
References
- “Experience the Grace of Shri Siddhivinayak.” Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir Trust, 31 Oct. 2023, www.siddhivinayak.org/.
- “Shree Siddhivinayak Temple.” Nirvana India Enterprise, www.siddhivinayaktemple.co.in/article/id/239/-shree-siddhivinayak-temple/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
- “Siddhivinayak Temple.” Siddhivinayak Temple | Mumbai City | India, mumbaicity.gov.in/tourist-place/siddhivinayak-temple/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.
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