The idea of the construction of the temple struck to Late Deubai during the
prayer time, she humbly requested Lord Ganesh and said, “Although I
cannot have a child, let other ladies who are childless get the pleasure of child on visiting
the temple and praying you”. Looking at successful subsequent history of the temple, it
appears like the Lord Ganesh nodded to this humble request and pious thoughts and
deeds of Late Deubai Patil. It is, therefore, this Siddhivinayak is famous for it and known as
“Navasacha Ganapati” or “Navasala Pavanara Ganapati” in Marathi
(Ganapati bestows whenever humbly genuinely prayed a wish) among devotees.
The idol of Shree Siddhivinayak was carved out of a single black stone and is 2'6” (750mm) high
and 2' (600mm) wide with the trunk on the right. This is rather unusual appearance of Lord Ganesh.
The upper right and left hands hold a lotus and an axe respectively while the lower right and left
hands hold a rosary (japmala) and bowl full of “Modak” respectively. As it resembles the sacred
thread, a snake appears on the left shoulder to right side belly. On the forehead of deity is
an eye, which almost looks like the third eye of Lord Shiva. On both sides of the Lord Ganesh
idol, are placed one idol each of Riddhi and Siddhi goddesses who are appearing like peeping
out of the Ganesh idol from behind. Because of these two deities along with
Lord Ganesh, this temple is known as the Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple. These goddesses signify
sanctity, success, wealth and
prosperity.
Around 125 years ago, Shri Akkalkot Swami Samarth's great disciple, Late Ramakrishna Jambhekar
Maharaj, who was also ardent devotee of Lord Ganesh and Gayatri Mantra was blessed with Assyssinian
( Siddhi ). One
day Swami Samarth asked Shri Jambhekar to bring divine idols. Out of the idols, except two
idols, Swami Samarth told to bury
in the front courtyard of the house of Swami Samarth's another disciple Shri Cholappa, where
Swami Samarth used to temporarily
reside. Shri Jambhekar was also told to inhume remaining two idols in front of Lord Ganesh
that he usually worshipped. During his
attendance with Swami Samarth, Shri Jambhekar foretold that a Mandaar tree would grow
on the place after 21 years, Swayambhu
( Swayambhu ) Ganesh would appear on the sacred place. From that onward people's devotion would
grow in leaps and beyond.
After few years, Jambhekar Maharaj whose Math is near sea-shore at Dadar, Mumbai, asked Late
Priest Govind Chintaman Phatak to look after, perform regular religious pooja etc. of
Shree Siddhivinayak Temple. The predecessor
of Priest Phatak, there was Late Namdev Kelkar performing priest-wood job in the temple.
From the available information and records, the land of the temple complex was around
2550 sq.mtrs. There was a lake towards eastern and southern side of temple admeasuring approx.
30 x 40 sq.mtrs. This lake was built
by Nardulla in early 19th century, to overcome the scarcity of the water, faced by the area.
The lake was, later on, filled up, and now
it is playground and a part of Kakasaheb Gadgil Marg.
There was also a rest house, sought of Dharmashala and a pair of beautiful 3.6 in high, stone
masonry “Deepmalas”. There was also a dwelling unit for the owner of this complex. In the earlier
days when there were not many structures of residential and commercial type in its neighborhood
area. The devotees in large numbers started visiting the temple only after 1952 and the long
standing Q's were seen in 1965 onwards.
Since the owner had divided the original plot and subleased it to different parties and naturally the
space available around this old temple reduced and became quite small. After 1975, the number
of devotees visiting the temple started growing by real sense of Geometrical Progression. It became
difficult to enter the temple or even to have “Darshan” of Lord Ganesh, the devotees were finding
it quite troublesome to enter through the two small doors
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