Manakula Vinayagar Temple opening and closing time
Timings: 5:45am - 12:30pm and 4:00pm - 9:00pm (10:00pm on Fridays) Timings are subject to change during holidays and festival days.
Location: Francois Martin St, White Town
Approximate visiting time: 20 min plus traveling time
Manakula Vinayagar Temple places of worship - it is situated just behind Raj Nivas and shares a close distance with Arabindo Ashram. Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple in puducherry exist before 1666. According to sasthra, Lord ganesh is named in 16 types based on his various forms out which this god facing the east cost near bay of bengal it has been named as bhuvaneshar ganapathy, now called as MANAKULA VINAYAGAR. "Manal" means sand and "Kulam" means pond near the sea, earlier which was full of sand around pond. So the people called the god as Manal Kulathu Vinayagar which translates as 'God near the pond of sand'. Later it is named as MANAKULA VINAYAGAR. During 1700 french prohibited performing poojas and festivals particularly on fridays in the temple. The ancient temple was constructed three centuries ago and still stands in all its magnificent glory. The temple is dedicated to the worship of LORD GANESHA. The monumental interiors of the temple are decorated with forty incarnations and forms of LORD GANESHA, carved on the stone walls of the temple. The golden spire forms the superstructure of the temple and is the steeple that crowns the place of worship. Within the premises of the temple lies the shrine devoted to LORD MURUGAN. The architecture in which the temple structure is stylized is typical of the Deccan era and bears similarity with temples of other states of South India. During the tenure of Dupleix, there were attempts to destroy the temple but the temple was finally spared owing to strong protests from the Hindu population and the threat of British and Maratha invasion of the territory.Devotees and pilgrims gather in large numbers in the temple everyday to offer their prayers to the reigning deity and to seek blessings of LORD GANESHA. The pilgrims are entertained by the temple elephant Lakshmi who gathers coins from the tourists and showers blessings through her trunk.The stone carvings and the golden shrine create a blissful aura around the temple making it a true abode of the temple deity, LORD GANESHA. Festivals: Brahmothsavam The Mega festival of LORD Manakula Vinayagar is celebrated every year for 24 days during the month of august and september. Apart from this, an elephant can also be found here.
The golden chariot was made purely on the basis of collection of donations from the devotees. The total weight of the gold used in this chariot is 7.5kg with the estimate of around Rs.35 lakhs. The height & breadth of the chariot is 10ft & 6ft. The chariot was fully made up in teakwood covered by copper plates duly engraved with beautiful art works and the plates duly attached with golden rakes. At first the running of the said Golden Chariot was held on 05-10-2003 in a grand manner. At present most of the devotees are very much interested to fulfill their prayer by pulling the Golden chariot inside the temple on payment of fixed fees. Once in year i.e. on Vijayadhasami day the said Golden Chariot run outside of the temple i.e. only in the maada veedhis.
Moolavar deity (Sanctum), the existing Vimana was fully covered with golden plate by using the gold of lOKg weight, which was made on the basis of donations from the devotees. The first Maha kumbabishegam with golden vimana was held on 24-01-1999. In the Vimana, the circular plane in between the roof and the sigaram were laid with various Vinayagar posture embossed in gold plate which is a feast to devotees' eyes.
The Kavasam for Moolavar deity in 14 parts like Gireedam, two ears, Thumbikkai, 2 chestparts, belly, two legs, four hands, peetam were made in 916.7pure gold with Hallmarked certificate, under the estimate of 1.28 crores, the amount was fully collected from the devotees on their gracious donations. On the first time, the golden kavasam wearing ceremony was held on 2008. Afterwards, on important festival days, the said goldenkavasam weared in Moolavar deity by devasthanam for the free dharshan of the devotees and other days the said kavasam will be weared to moolavar only on payment as fixed.
