Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, is an iconic place of worship in Mumbai. The shrine, which is more than 200 years old, is one of the richest temples in India and frequented by celebrities, Bollywood stars, politicians, and commoners alike. The popular belief is that Siddhivinayak Ganapati will fulfill the wishes of anyone who prays at this temple with a true heart. No wonder, travelers visiting Mumbai often make it a point to offer their prayers at this Ganapati temple, which is also a top tourist attraction in Mumbai.

Read on to know more about Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple, including its history, timings, architecture, visitor info, and other interesting details.

Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai: History

Siddhivinayak Temple traces its roots to the year 1801 when it was originally built by a man named Laxman Vithu. The construction of the shrine was funded by a rich, childless woman named Deubai Patil with the belief that Lord Ganesha will grant the wishes of other women who haven’t had a child yet.

The original temple was a small brick structure that measured 3.6 meters * 3.6-meter square feet. A dome-shaped shikhara adorned the structure and within it was housed a black stone idol of Ganapati, which is kept intact even today. According to local legends, Ramakrishna Jambhekar Maharaj (who was an ardent follower of Akkalkot Swami Samarth, a Hindu saint) buried two idols in front of the Siddhivinayak idol as per the instructions of his guru. As was foretold by Swami Samarth, 21 years later, a Mandar tree grew at the spot where these two idols were buried. The tree had an image of Svayambhu Ganesha on its branches.

When a Hanuman idol was discovered during a road extension work in 1952, a small shrine dedicated to Him was also added to the temple compound. Over the years, the fame and local lores associated with this temple spread far and wide. The shrine underwent a massive renovation in 1990 at an expense of 3 crore Indian rupees turning a 200-year-old, modest shrine into one of the most eye-catching and grand temples in Mumbai.

Siddhivinayak Temple: Architecture

The present-day structure of Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai was designed by an architect named Sharad Athale. While the idol of the deity was kept intact, everything else about the temple was given a makeover. As a result, a uniquely designed six-storied structure replaced the old temple. This new structure is crowned with a gold-plated Kalash placed above the central dome.

Apart from it, 37 other smaller gilded domes adorn the temple structure. Fine marble and pink granite were used to rebuild the shrine. There are 3 entrances that lead to the temple interiors. The wooden doors of the temple exhibit exquisitely carved images of the eight manifestations of the presiding deity of the temple, known as Ashtavinayak.

The Presiding Deity and Idol

The idol at Siddhivinayak Temple is carved out of a single piece of black stone. It shows Lord Ganesha as chaturbhuj or having four hands, holding a garland of holy beads, a lotus, a small ax, and a plate of modak in each. Siddhi and Riddhi, the two consorts of Lord Ganesha, are placed on either side of the Ganapati idol. On the forehead of the idol, a third-eye is etched, which resembles that of Lord Shiva’s.

One of the unique features of the main idol at Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai is that the tilt of Lord Ganesha’s trunk is towards the right. Most Ganapati idols in the country have their trunks tilted towards the left.

Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai: Today

Today, the Siddhivinayak Temple is one of the top religious places and historical monuments in Mumbai. The 2.5 feet-tall idol of Ganesha inside this temple attracts Bollywood celebs, sportspersons, politicians, and devotees from across the country. It is estimated that the temple receives around 100 to 150 million rupees as donations from the devotees every year.

The annual festival of Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated at Siddhivinayak Temple in a grand manner. And on normal days, the temple witnesses the maximum number of visitors on Tuesdays, which is considered to be an auspicious day for worshipping Lord Ganesha.

There is a lane outside the temple called Phool Gali, where you can find many stalls selling garlands, coconuts, and modak.

Lesser Known Facts about Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

• When Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt was finally released from the prison on 25 February 2016, this temple was among the first few places he visited after arriving in Mumbai.
• In 2012, when Apple CEO Tim Cook came to India, he started his trip by first offering morning prayers at this temple.
• It is believed that if anyone whispers their wish in the ears of the two huge silver mice installed within the temple premises, the wish gets conveyed to Lord Ganesha directly.
• Such is the popularity of the shrine that on Tuesdays, the queue for darshan sometimes extends up to 2 km.