Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati: A journey into India’s Ganesha belief system

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The Siddhivinayak temple is one of the most beautiful historical architectures in Mumbai, India. Located in Prabhadevi, it is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites by locals and foreign devotees alike. Even Bollywood celebrities visit this temple of worship to receive blessing before the premiere of a movie or project. Up to 25,000 devotees visit the temple every day to say their prayers and seek blessing from Lord Ganesha. The word “Siddhivinayak” literally means “Ganesha who grants all wishes.”

The Siddhivinayak temple is considered as a historical masterpiece and is one of the top tourist spots in Mumbai. It was built in the early 18th century by professional contractor Laxman Vithu Patil. It was a wish of a wealthy lady of Agri Samaj of Matunga, Mrs. Deubai Patil, who was childless. She had the idea of constructing a Ganesha temple where women who are not able to bear children, like her, can sincerely pray and ask blessings from the Lord Ganesha.

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The statue of Lord Ganesha is built from a single black stone that stands around two feet tall. It has four hands. The upper hands hold a lotus flower and an axe; the lower hands hold a rosary and a “modak,” which is said to be the favorite delicacy of the Lord Ganesha. Beside the statues are figures of Lord Ganesha’s two wives: Riddhi, the goddess of success and Siddhi, the goddess of prosperity.

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