Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Puducherry – The Temple

Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Puducherry – The Temple

The temple is built in 7913 sq. ft. with outer mandapam, Rajagopuram, Dwajasthambam (18 ft. tall gold plated), front mandapam, Mahamandapam, Sanctum, Prakarams, Kitchen, Office and Marriage Hall. The main deity of this temple, Manakula Vinayagar (Pranavamurthy), is facing east. The temple was once bordered on the east side by Orlean Street (Now Manakula Vinayagar Koil Street), south by Jawaharlal Nehru Street, north by Law-de-Louristhon street and west by a canal running north-south. In India, this is the only Ganesh temple with a tower covered fully with gold. He stands by three legs a rare feature not to be seen elsewhere.

The presiding deity placed in Karuvarai area 4 X 4 square place as the sanctum and the Vimanam above covered fully with gold plated. The presiding deity Moolavar in Sanctum blesses his devotees with four hands, the top two holding Angusam, Pasam and the right lower hand with abayadana muthra and the left one varadhana muthra. The Kavasam for Moolavar deity in 14 parts like Gireedam, two ears, Thumbikkai, 2 chest parts, belly, two legs, four hands, peetam were made in 916.7 pure gold with Hallmark certificate.

The stage (peetam) set for the God is on a well which many may not know. This may be a well or even a tank. A six-inch radius pit runs on the left side of the peetam, the depth of which could not be measured and it is always full of water. While we have not heard of a night shrine for Vinayaka in any temple, there is one in the Manakula Vinayakar temple. He stays here with his consorts. The idol taken to this shrine, called Palliyarai, will have the feet part alone.

The interiors of the temple are decorated with forty incarnations and forms of Lord Ganesha, carved on the stone walls of the temple. Close to the roof, one sees different Vinayaka figurines indicating the various appearances evoked in innumerable temples in India, Japan, Java, Nepal and China. Some of the figures, like the one in which Parvati is holding Vinayaka as a babe on her hip, have been imaginatively created. The little niche in the west corner has Bala Ganapathi with mango, jackfruit, plantain and sugarcane in his four hands.

In the Northwest corner an identical niche has Balasubramanya as the deity. Being a child with two hands, he is seen holding a lotus in his right hand. On the northern side, we have the Rest-Hall where we see Vinayaka with his consorts. There is a bigger hall where we have an array of processional deities. Among them are Haridra Ganapati, Narthana Ganapati, Lakshmi Ganapati, Subramania with Valli and Deivayanai, and a Spatika Lingam. Adjacent to this wall is a large mandapam where abishekam for the processional deities takes place. The mounts used for the processions can be seen here. They are Surya Prabha, Chandra Prabha, the Peacock, Adhikara Nandi, a silver Elephant, the Wish-yielding Tree and a silver Bandicoot.

There are also three temple chariots. One is made of wood and another of silver, while the third one is gold-plated. 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 Vijayadasami day the said Golden Chariot run outside of the temple i.e. only in the maada Veedhis. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa.

Thollaikkathu Siddhar:

Thollaikkathu Siddhar lived 300 years ago. He was about 6 feet height. He got enlightenment from this deity and attained Samadhi in this temple. From then on people bring their new born here for worship before going to any other temple.