Siddhivinayak Mahaganapati Temple
Siddhivinayak Mahaganapati Temple | |
---|---|
श्री सिध्दीविनायक महागणपती मंदिर | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
Deity | Ganesha |
Location | |
Location | Titwala |
State | Maharashtra |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 19°18′02″N 73°13′18″E / 19.30056°N 73.22167°E |
Architecture | |
Type | North Indian Architecture |
Creator | Shakuntala on sage Kanva’s directive |
Completed | original structure: Ancient (unknown) present structure: 1965–66 |
The Siddhivinayaka Mahaganapati Temple is a
Legend
According to legend, this village was part of
King Dushyanta of Gandhara Kingdom while on a battle campaign was passing through the forests when he and Shakuntala fell in love with each other and got married according to the Gandharva rite (exchanging garlands as a marriage vow) in the hermitage. Since Dushyanta had to leave Shakuntala after some time due to unrest in his capital city, he gave Shakuntala a royal signet (a ring) as a sign of their love, promising her that he would return for her.[4]
Once, while Shakuntala was in the hermitage in a pensive dreaming mood thinking about her husband Dushyanta, she did not pay the desired reverential attention to sage Durvasa who was visiting the place. Durvasa, known for his short temper, felt offended by this slight, cursed Shakuntala saying that the person she was dreaming of would forget about her altogether. However, later, Durvasa toned down his curse to mean that the person who had forgotten Shakuntala would remember everything again if she showed him a personal token that had been given to her. As per the curse, Dushyanta refused to recognise her.[4]
According to local legend, sage Kanva, realising the gravity of the issue faced by his adopted daughter Shakuntala, directed her to build a shrine in honour of god
History
The Siddhivinayaka Mahaganapati temple built by Shakuntala with the stated legendary background was submerged under a tank. During the rule of the Peshwa Madhavrao I, to resolve the drought situation in the town, the tank was de-silted to provide drinking water to the town. It was during the de-silting operations that the temple was found buried. The image of god Ganesha was found by Peshwa sardar Ramchandra Mehendale buried in the silt. Soon thereafter, the renovation of the temple was undertaken and a stone temple was built. Peshwa Madhavrao I consecrated the ancient Ganesha image in this new temple, after the conquest of Vasai fort. Initially, the temple was very small with a wooden sabha mandap (audience hall), which was in a run-down condition. Since the Peshwa temple had also degenerated over time, in 1965–66, renovation work was initiated again and a new temple was constructed at the same location at cost of ₹200,000 (US$2,400).[3][5][6][7][8]
Architecture and recent renovations
The current temple is built on 3–5 acres (1–2 ha) land donated by the Peshwas, which was further supplemented by 12 acres (4.9 ha) of additional land donated by Joshis, the hereditary priests of the temple. The existing audience hall, after renovation, measures 90 feet (27 m)x45 feet (14 m) and has been provided with galleries that overlook the main hall. The raised platform on which temple has been built with stone is 3.5 feet (1.1 m) in height. The temple hall has marble flooring. Recently, the eyes and the navel of the image have been decorated with
In May 2009, the temple trust and the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) have completed renovation of the temple – initiated 5 years ago. At a cost of ₹15 million (US$180,000), the renovation work provides regulated entry arrangements and basic facilities to cater to a very large number of devotees who visit the temple. The lake, Titwala Talav next to the temple, has also been de-silted recently and facilities created for boating.[8]
Devotees and auspicious days
Based on the popular legend narrated, Hindus believe that by devotional worship of the Titwala Ganesha, marriage to one’s wished person will take place and marital discord will be happily resolved.[9] The temple is visited by lacs of devotees,[8] particularly on Angarika Chaturthi (Angariki) – a Tuesday that follows on the fourth day of the lunar bright fortnight. Tuesday as well as the fourth day of the lunar fortnight are considered auspicious days to worship Ganesha, both of which attract a fair number of worshippers to the temple. Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesh Jayanti is celebrated with great fervour, when more than 500,000 people congregate for worship in the temple. Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav is the central festival of Ganesha that falls on the fourth day of the bright lunar fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August–September). Ganesha Jayanti or Maghi Ganeshotsav is the birthday of Ganesha, which falls on the fourth day of the bright lunar fortnight in the Hindu month of Magha (January–February).[5][10][11] The temple is often frequented by devotees from Mumbai.
Topography
The Kalu river, is a small river that flows close to Titwala in its upstream reaches. The Kalu River also flows close to Ambivali, a little farther from Titwala. This river after flowing westwards, in its downstream, receives the small Bhatsa River, which in turn joins the Ulhas River near
Other shrines
At this pilgrim centre, apart from the Ganesha Temple, the other famous temple is dedicated to
References
- ^ "Find out which day of the week is dedicated to which Lord!". Zee News. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "TITWALA GANESH MANDIR". TripAdvisor.
- ^ a b c d "Places:Titvala". Maharashtra Gazetteer. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Study Guide for Kalidasa: The Recognition of Sakuntala". Source: Kalidasa: The Loom of Time. Penguin Books. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
- ^ a b c "Titvala". Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC). Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- ^ a b c "Famous Temples in Greater Mumbai". iv) Shree Mahaganpati (Titwala). Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Titwala". Retrieved 14 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d Masurkar, Alpita. "Siddhivinayak Temple at Titwala gets a makeover". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
- ^ DNA. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
- ^ "Titwala". Archived from the original on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Maghi Ganeshotsav celebrated with reverence". The Times of India. 7 February 2003. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- )
- ^ "Shrines around Mumbai – Titwala". Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. 2004. Retrieved 14 August 2009.