Story of Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi - Mumbai - 2

It is learned that a very pious saint named Akkalkot Swami Samarth prophesied the appearance of Ganesha at the current place of temple. 

Akkalkot Swami Samarth asked his disciple named Ramakrishna Jambhekar Maharaj to bring some divine idols. He asked Ramakrishna to burry two divine idols in the courtyard of Maath (hermitage) of Shri Cholappa who was another disciple of Swami Samartha. At that time Swami Samartha was temperorily residing in the hermitage of Shri Cholappa. He foretold Ramakrishna that twenty one years later, a Samyambhu Ganesha would appear on the holy tree of Mandar Tree.

Thus, it happened. After twenty one years, a Mandar Tree grew at the spot. Since the Ganesha appeared from the Earth, He is referred to as svayambhu Ganesha. This idol  of Ganesha had a right side trunk is now installed as the prime deity in the Siddhivinayak Temple.

Ramakrishna was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha. He mediated rigorously for many years seeking Ganesha's blessings with chanting of Ganesha and Gayatri mantras. Consequently, he attained Assyssinian (siddhi). 

The math (abode of sage) of Ramakrishna is located near sea-shore in Dadar, Mumbai.

Story of Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi - Mumbai - 1

Here is the story related to origin of Sri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple, a popular temple located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. The temple is dedicated to Siddhivinayak (wish granting form) form of Ganesha, who is also known as Navasala Pavnara Ganapati.

Once there lived a rich woman called Deubai Patil. Deubai hailed from an agrian society of Matunga region in Mumbai.

One day during the prayer ceremony (Aarti), Deubai made a request to Lord Ganesha. She said, ‘O Ganesha! You are the creator, our saviors and bestower of all wishes. My Lord, I humbly vow to your feet and seek your permission to construct a temple in your pious name. I am a childless woman and know the plea of not having this dispensation. I plead you to grant your divine presence in this temple, where bare couples can seek your blessings for a child’.

It is believed that Lord Ganesha granted Deubai her request and the temple of construction began in 1801. The construction contract was given to contractor Laxman Vithu Patil and thus the temple (original) was built.

The temple of Sri Siddhivinayak is popular for fulfillment /granting of wishes, hence it is also known as Navasacha Ganapati or Navasala Pavanara Ganapati in the local Marathi language which means ‘the benevolent Ganapati who grants wishes when prayed to genuinely and humbly.

Story of Sri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple, Mumbai - 2

It is learned that a very pious saint named Akkalkot Swami Samarth prophesied the appearance of Ganesha at the current place of temple. 

He asked his disciple named Ramakrishna Jambhekar Maharaj to bring some divine idols. Of them he asked Ramakrishna to burry two divine idols in the courtyard of Maath   of   Shri Cholappa who was another disciple of Swami Samartha. At that time Swami Samartha was temperorily residing in the Maath of Shri Cholappa. He foretold Ramakrishna that twenty one years later, a Samyambhu Ganesha would appear on the holy tree of Mandar Tree.

Thus, it happened. After twenty one years of this, a Mandar Tree grew at the spot. Since the Ganesha appeared   from the Earth, He is referred to as svayambhu Ganesha. This idol  of Ganesha had a right side trunk is now installed as the prime deity in the Siddhivinayak Temple.

Ramakrishna was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha. He mediated rigorously for many years seeking Ganesha's blessings with chanting of Ganesha and Gayatri mantras. Consequently, he attained Assyssinian (siddhi). 

The math (abode of sage) of Ramakrishna is located near sea-shore in Dadar, Mumbai.

Story of Sri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple, Mumbai - 1

Here is the story related to origin of Sri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple, a popular temple located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. The temple is dedicated to Lord Siddhivinayak (wish granting form) of Ganesha, who is also known as Navasala Pavnara Ganapati.

Deubai Patil was a rich woman from agrian society of Matunga.

One day during the prayer ceremony, Deubai made a request to Lord Ganesha. She said, ‘O Ganesha! You are the creator, the saviors and bestower of all food wish. My Lord, I humbly vow to your feet and seek your permission to construct a temple in your pious name. I am a childless woman and know the plea of not having this dispensation. Therefore, I plead you to grant your divine presence in this temple, where bare couples can seek your blessings for a child’.

It is believed that Lord Ganesha granted Deubai her request and the temple of construction began in 1801. The construction contract was given to contractor Laxman Vithu Patil and thus the temple (original) was built.

The temple of Sri Siddhivinayak is popular for fulfillment /granting of wishes, hence it is also known as Navasacha Ganapati or Navasala Pavanara Ganapati in the local Marathi language which means ‘the benevolent Ganapati who grants wishes when prayed to genuinely and humbly’.

Penance by Lord Indra and The Emergence of Chintamani Ganesha

(Ahalya) was wife of Sage Gautam. She was a beautiful woman and was known far and wide for her grace. 

When Lord Indra came know about Ahilya he was attracted towards her and decided to seduce her.

One day, when Sage Gautam went to take bath in river Ganges Lord Indra disguised as Sage Gautam and had pleasure with Ahilya. When Sage Gautam returned, he came to know about the her act by virtue of his inner powers. Sage Ahilya Gautam was enraged and he cursed both Indra and Ahilya. 

Due to his curse, Ahilya lost her human form and turned into a lifeless stone, while Indra's body was wrecked with cracks and holes due to which he attained a repulsive form. Due to this he came to be known as Sahastraksha (having thousand eyes).

Indra deeply repented his action and sought contrite from Sage Gautam. 

Sage Gautam had mercy Indra and revealed that he would get rid of curse if he did penance to please Lord Ganesha.  

Lord Indra mediated for several years seeking penance from Lord Ganesha in Kadamb Nagar (Kadambnagar). One day Lord Ganesha pleased with his penance appeared and relieved him of the curse. The cracks on his body healed, creating a peacock. The holes on Indra's body (considered as his thousand eye) transformed to patches on the peacock's feathers. 

Lord Indra took bath in a pond called Chintamani Sarovar, and erected a temple named Chintamani Ganesh in Kadamb Nagar (now known as Theur). It is one of the Ashtavinayak Yatra temple.  

(Note - Years later when Lord Rama went to forest, his foot touched a stone. Due to his divine touch the stone gained a human form. She was Ahilya who was ridden of her curse.)