Siddhivinayak Mahaganapati Temple
Encyclopedia
The Siddhivinayaka Mahaganapati Temple is a Hindu temple
located in Titwala
- a small town in the Kalyan
taluk of Thane district
- near Mumbai
, Maharashtra
, India. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu, elephant-headed god of wisdom Ganesha
. Titwala is believed to be the putative site of the hermitage of sage Kanva, foster parent of Shakuntala
who was born here. The place is steeped in ancient legend and the temple is frequented by a very large number of devotees on account of the belief that separated married couples could be united and marriages of desired people could be fixed easily if the Ganesha image installed in the temple is worshipped with devotion.
According to legend, this village was part of Dandakaranya
forest where the Katkari tribe lived (the tribal hamlets are located even now close to the town across the Kalu river, approached only by boats). Sage
Kanva had his hermitage here. Kanva was the author of several hymns of the scripture Rigveda
and one of the Angirasas
. He had adopted Shakuntala
, who was abandoned immediately after her birth by her parents, sage Vishwamitra and the celestial damsel
Menaka
. Shakuntala’s story has been narrated in the Hindu epic Mahabharata
and dramatized by Kālidāsa
, considered the greatest poet and dramatist in Sanskrit
language, in his play called the Abhijñānaśākuntalam
(“The Recognition of Shakuntala”).
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.
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 recognize her.
According to local legend, sage Kanva, realizing the gravity of the issue faced by his adopted daughter Shakuntala, directed her to build a shrine in honour of god Ganesha
as Siddhi Vinayaka. He assured her that by her sincere prayers Siddhi Vinayaka would bless her and she would once again join her husband Dushyanta. This eventually came true after considerable effort and lapse of time and by which time Shakuntala who had conceived after marrying Dushyanta, also gave birth to a son who came to be known as Bharata
according to Mahabharata epic. Pandavas and Kauravas were descendants of Bharata.
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 2 lac rupee
s.
stones. On the right of the main entrance door is a shrine containing a Shiva
-linga. In front of the temple, there is also an impressive lamp tower. The temple Shikhara (pinnacle) is decorated with sculptures of the Ashtavinayaka, central images from eight revered Ganesha temples near Pune
, Maharashtra. In the main sanctum, on the right corner padukas (foot wear) of Shri Vengaonkar Joshi, a Ganesha devotee is also seen.
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 Rs 15 million, 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.
and Ganesh Jayanti
is celebrated with great fervour, when more than 50,000 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). The temple is often frequented by devotees from Mumbai
.
, an industrial suburb of Mumbai. In its further course of 45 kilometres (28 mi), the river receives effluents from several industrial units.
, a local form of Krishna
and his consort Rukmini
.Sri Shani Temple near Sri swamy Samarth Math, Sadguru Nivas " ,Titwala ( E ).Sri Sai Baba Temple,at Titwala ( E ),Sri Hanuman Temple near Titwala Station . Another renowned temple is at Ambarnath
, close by, which is dated to the 11th century that has been constructed in the Hemadpanthi
style of architecture, which is named after its introducer and founder, the prime minister named Hemadpant
in the court of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri.
, the third railway station from Kalyan on Mumbai-Nashik line. But Mumbai Suburban Railway
transport provides better and frequent access from Mumbai via the Kalyan, Thane, Mumbai line. From Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
of Mumbai, local trains operate to Titwala, Asangaon
and Kasara. The railway station is in fact situated Mande village 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) away from Titvala towards the north-east.
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
located in Titwala
Titwala
Titwala is a small town near Kalyan in Maharashtra, India. Situated at the banks of a seasonal river Kalu, It is the site of a venerated temple of Ganesha, and also the putative site of the hermitage where Shakuntala was born....
- a small town in the Kalyan
Kalyan
Kalyan is a city in Thane district of Maharashtra, and a major railway station lying at the junction of the north-east and south-east lines of the suburban Mumbai division of the Central Railway, 53 km north-east of Mumbai. Kalyan is also a major Taluka place, a tehsil of the Thane district...
taluk of Thane district
Thane District
Thane is a district in northern Maharashtra state in western India. As of 2011 it is the most populated district in the nation. The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai , Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar,...
- near Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, India. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu, elephant-headed god of wisdom Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
. Titwala is believed to be the putative site of the hermitage of sage Kanva, foster parent of Shakuntala
Shakuntala
In Hindu mythology Shakuntala is the wife of Dushyanta and the mother of Emperor Bharata. Her story is told in the Mahabharata and dramatized by Kalidasa in his play Abhijñānaśākuntalam .-Etymology:Rishi Kanva found her in forest as a baby surrounded by Shakunta birds...
who was born here. The place is steeped in ancient legend and the temple is frequented by a very large number of devotees on account of the belief that separated married couples could be united and marriages of desired people could be fixed easily if the Ganesha image installed in the temple is worshipped with devotion.
Legend
Dandakaranya
Dandakaranya is a spiritually significant region in India. It is roughly equivalent to the Bastar District in the central east part of India...
forest where the Katkari tribe lived (the tribal hamlets are located even now close to the town across the Kalu river, approached only by boats). Sage
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
Kanva had his hermitage here. Kanva was the author of several hymns of the scripture Rigveda
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
and one of the Angirasas
Angiris
According to Hindu mythology, the Angiris are a group of celestial beings who are descendants of the Fire God, Agni and responsible for watching over humans performing Yagna and protecting the sacrificial fires...
. He had adopted Shakuntala
Shakuntala
In Hindu mythology Shakuntala is the wife of Dushyanta and the mother of Emperor Bharata. Her story is told in the Mahabharata and dramatized by Kalidasa in his play Abhijñānaśākuntalam .-Etymology:Rishi Kanva found her in forest as a baby surrounded by Shakunta birds...
, who was abandoned immediately after her birth by her parents, sage Vishwamitra and the celestial damsel
Apsara
An Apsara , also known as Vidhya Dhari or Tep Apsar in Khmer, Accharā or A Bố Sa La Tư , Bidadari , Biradali , Widodari and Apson , is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in...
Menaka
Menaka
In Hindu mythology, Menaka is considered one of the most beautiful of the heavenly Apsaras.She was sent by Indra, the king of the Devas, to break the severe penance undertaken by Vishwamitra. She successfully incited Vishwamitra's lust and passion when he saw her swimming naked in a lake near a...
. Shakuntala’s story has been narrated in the Hindu epic Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
and dramatized by Kālidāsa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
, considered the greatest poet and dramatist in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
language, in his play called the Abhijñānaśākuntalam
Abhijñānaśākuntalam
Abhijñānashākuntala or Abhijñānaśākuntalam) , is a well-known Sanskrit play by Kālidāsa. Its date is uncertain, but Kalidasa is often placed in the period between the 1st century BCE and 4th century CE....
(“The Recognition of Shakuntala”).
King Dushyanta
Dushyanta
Dushyant or Dushyanta was a great king in classical Indian literature and mythology. He is the husband of Shakuntala and the father of the Emperor Bharatha. He appears in the Mahabarata and in Kalidasa's play The Recognition of Sakuntala .-Historical king:According to the Mahābhārata, Dushyanta is...
of Gandhara Kingdom
Gandhara Kingdom
Gandhara is a kingdom grouped among the western kingdoms in the epic Mahabharata. The epic Ramayana also mentions it as a western kingdom. Gandhara prince Sakuni was the root of all the conspiracies of Duryodhana against the Pandavas, which finally resulted in the Kurukshetra War. Sakuni's sister...
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
Gandharva
Gandharva is a name used for distinct mythological beings in Hinduism and Buddhism; it is also a term for skilled singers in Indian classical music.-In Hinduism:...
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.
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
Durvasa
In Hindu mythology, Durvasa , or Durvasas, was an ancient sage, the son of Atri and Anasuya. He is supposed to be an incarnation of Shiva. He is known for his short temper. Maledictions or curses he gave in his rage ruined many lives. Hence, wherever he went, he was received with great reverence ...
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 recognize her.
According to local legend, sage Kanva, realizing the gravity of the issue faced by his adopted daughter Shakuntala, directed her to build a shrine in honour of god Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
as Siddhi Vinayaka. He assured her that by her sincere prayers Siddhi Vinayaka would bless her and she would once again join her husband Dushyanta. This eventually came true after considerable effort and lapse of time and by which time Shakuntala who had conceived after marrying Dushyanta, also gave birth to a son who came to be known as Bharata
Bharata (emperor)
Bharata was a legendary emperor of India, and is referred to in Hindu and Jain mythology. He was son of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala and thus a descendant of the Lunar Dynasty of the Kshatriya caste. Bharata conquered all of greater Greater India, uniting it into a single entity which was named...
according to Mahabharata epic. Pandavas and Kauravas were descendants of Bharata.
History
The Siddhivinayaka Mahaganapati temple built by Shakuntala with the stated legendary background was submerged under a tank. During the rule of the PeshwaPeshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
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
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
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 2 lac rupee
Rupee
The rupee is the common name for the monetary unit of account in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and formerly in Burma, and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupee" was introduced in the 16th century...
s.
Architecture and recent renovations
The current temple is built on 3–5 acre (1.2–2 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 rubyRuby
A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum . The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires...
stones. On the right of the main entrance door is a shrine containing a Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
-linga. In front of the temple, there is also an impressive lamp tower. The temple Shikhara (pinnacle) is decorated with sculptures of the Ashtavinayaka, central images from eight revered Ganesha temples near Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Maharashtra. In the main sanctum, on the right corner padukas (foot wear) of Shri Vengaonkar Joshi, a Ganesha devotee is also seen.
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 Rs 15 million, 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.
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. The temple is visited by lacs of devotees, 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 ChaturthiGanesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival...
and Ganesh Jayanti
Ganesh Jayanti
Ganesh Jayanti , also known as Magha shukla chaturthi, Tilkund chaturthi,"Vinayak Chaturthi" and Varad chaturthi, is a Hindu festival. This occasion celebrates the birth day of Ganesha, the lord of wisdom...
is celebrated with great fervour, when more than 50,000 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
Magha (poet)
Magha was a Sanskrit poet at King Varmalata's court at Srimala, the-then capital of Gujarat . Magha was son of Dattaka Sarvacharya and grandson of Suprabhadeva...
(January–February). The temple is often frequented by devotees from Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
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 Bhtsal River, which in turn joins the Ulhas River near KalyanKalyan
Kalyan is a city in Thane district of Maharashtra, and a major railway station lying at the junction of the north-east and south-east lines of the suburban Mumbai division of the Central Railway, 53 km north-east of Mumbai. Kalyan is also a major Taluka place, a tehsil of the Thane district...
, an industrial suburb of Mumbai. In its further course of 45 kilometres (28 mi), the river receives effluents from several industrial units.
Other shrines
At this pilgrim centre, apart from the Ganesha Temple, the other famous temple is dedicated to VithobaVithoba
Vithoba , also known as Vitthala and Panduranga , is a Hindu god, worshipped predominantly in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh. He is generally considered a manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna...
, a local form of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
and his consort Rukmini
Rukmini
In Hinduism, Rukmini is the principal wife and queen of Krishna at his city of Dwarka. Krishna heroically kidnaps her from an un-wanted marriage at her request . Of Krishna's 16,108 queens, Rukmini is the first and most prominent...
.Sri Shani Temple near Sri swamy Samarth Math, Sadguru Nivas " ,Titwala ( E ).Sri Sai Baba Temple,at Titwala ( E ),Sri Hanuman Temple near Titwala Station . Another renowned temple is at Ambarnath
Ambarnath
Ambarnath is a city and a municipal council in Thane district in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Overview:The name Ambarnath literally means Lord of the sky. Ambarnath is the site of a very old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, dating back, to 10th century...
, close by, which is dated to the 11th century that has been constructed in the Hemadpanthi
Hemadpanthi
Hemadpanthi Sculpture is an architectural form or a style, which is named after its introducer and founder, the prime minister named Hemadpant in the court of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri. The period of discovery was during the 13th Century in Maharashtra. Main ingredients in the construction include...
style of architecture, which is named after its introducer and founder, the prime minister named Hemadpant
Hemadpant
Hemādri Pandit, also known as Hemādpant, was a prime minister from 1259 to 1274 C.E. in the regimes of King Mahādev and King Rāmchandra of Seuna Yādav Dynasty of Devagiri, which ruled in the southwestern part of India.- Origin :...
in the court of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri.
Access
Mumbai International and domestic airports are the nearest airports to Titwala, which is 75 kilometres (46.6 mi) away. Titwala is a railway station on the Central RailwayCentral Railway
The Central Railway is one of the largest of the 16 zones of Indian Railways. Its headquarters is in Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus...
, the third railway station from Kalyan on Mumbai-Nashik line. But Mumbai Suburban Railway
Mumbai Suburban Railway
The Mumbai Suburban Railway system, part of the public transport system of Mumbai, is provided for by the state-run Indian Railways' two zonal Western Railways and Central Railways. The system carries more than 6.99 million commuters on a daily basis. It has the highest passenger densities of any...
transport provides better and frequent access from Mumbai via the Kalyan, Thane, Mumbai line. From Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887...
of Mumbai, local trains operate to Titwala, Asangaon
Asangaon
Asangaon is a station on the Mumbai Suburban Railway system on the main line route between Kalyan and Kasara. lt is the only railway station for Shahapur city. Around 65 to 70 thousand commuters use this station on daily basis. It is terminal station for Asangaon local train....
and Kasara. The railway station is in fact situated Mande village 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) away from Titvala towards the north-east.