Amazing Facts about Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai

There is no other deity in our Hindu pantheon so loved and revered as Lord Ganesha. The youngest child of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha came to become the elephant-headed god due to a fatal event in his childhood. However, Lord Shiva, in all his worldly might and power, set it right. Thus was born the affable and ever-lovable Ganpati Bappa we all know and adore!

You can witness the importance of Lord Ganesha from the fact that any puja of any god or goddess only starts after offering a prayer to him. Him being the purveyor of success and prosperity, it is natural that no deed in the world is complete without his blessings.

So, if you are an ardent devotee of Ganpati Bappa, this article is a must-read for you! Today, we will take a look at one of the foremost temples in the country dedicated to Lord Ganesha. We are talking about the Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir in Mumbai. Keep reading to learn some of the amazing facts about this extraordinary edifice of human architecture and faith!

Top Amazing Facts About Siddhivinayak Mandir You Must Know

Check out these top cool facts about Siddhivinayak temple:

By Women For Women

While the original temple structure was a small shrine dedicated to Ganpati Ji, a rich Agri woman by the name of Deubai Patil funded the current monumental structure of the temple. It is said that Lady Patil was a devoted follower of Ganesha but remained childless her entire life.

Thus, to ease the misery of other women who wished to have a child, she funded Siddhivinayak Mandir in 1801. To this day, people believe that anyone who prays to the deity here is able to conceive a child.

Trunk on the Right Side

While Ganpati Bappa has several avatars, each with its unique characteristics and significance, the general image has his trunk on the left side. However, in Siddhivinayak Temple Dadar, the trunk of the idol lies on the right side. Thus, this makes it unique among all other temples and deities.

Single Stone Slab Idol

It is said that the entire 2.5-foot-high idol was carved out of a single slab of black stone. Back in the 18th century, this was a marvel of engineering and primitive artistry. To be able to carve such a wide idol from a singular slab is astonishing. However, we do see the miracles of ancient Indian engineering in almost every temple and monastery from the olden times. Thus, this should not be such a surprise!

One of the Richest Temples of India

While most people associate Padmanabhswamy Temple or Tirupati Mandir when they think of rich temples, Siddhivinayak Mandir is no less than any of them. By some accounts, the temple receives annual donations to the tune of 100 million rupees on average. This makes it one of the wealthiest temples in India.

Moreover, this also led to the temple authorities getting embroiled in a controversy in 2004 when it was accused of mismanaging funds. With increased supervision, though, such concerns have been put to rest.

Bollywood’s Favourite Temple

If you wish to visit Mumbai and get a chance to witness some Bollywood celebs face to face, Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is one of the best places to be. From Amitabh Bachchan to Deepika Padukone, all of these celebs are ardent followers of Ganpati Bappa and do not leave a chance to seek his blessings before any movie release!

Even our beloved Sanju Baba, when released from prison, made the first trip to Siddhivinayak Mandir before going anywhere else!

Ceiling of Gold

If you wish to witness sheer opulence and luxury, this temple will not disappoint you. The inner roof of the temple is entirely clad in gold, giving it a brilliant shine unlike any other!

Discovery of Hanuman

During a routine excavation operation for the construction of a road in front of the temple, workers unearthed an idol of Hanuman in 1952. Not to let it go astray, the temple priest at the time decided to make a space for it within the Siddhivinayak Mandir itself and consecrated it. To this day, the Hanuman ji idol remains in its very own temple inside the complex.

Shares and Stocks Donation

Mumbai is the house of the Bombay Stock Exchange, and this spirit of investment has gripped Ganpati Bappa as well! After all, he is the very giver of wealth and success! Thus, if you do not wish to donate in cash or kind, Siddhivinayak Mandir accepts stocks and shares as donations as well!

Conclusion

So, these were the top facts to know about Siddhivinayak Mandir. Did you know any of them, or maybe not even a single one? Well, now you do, and we hope this has piqued your curiosity enough to pay this monumental temple in Mumbai a visit! If you wish to know any kind of Siddhivinayak temple information such as timings, ideal days for visit and so on, do give the temple website a visit for the latest updates!