Manakula Vinayagar Temple
Phone : 91-413-2336544
Email : [email protected]
Website : www.manakulavinayagartemple.com
An important itinerary of Pondicherry pilgrimage is a visit to the Manakula Vinayagar Temple. The ancient temple was constructed three centuries ago and still stands in all its magnificent glory.
In Tamil ‘Manal’ means sand and ‘Kulam’ means pond near the sea, earlier which was full of sand around pond. So the people called the god as Manal Kulathu Vinayagar which translates as ‘God near the pond of sand’.
The temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha. The monumental interiors of the temple are decorated with forty incarnations and forms of Lord Ganesha, carved on the stone walls of the temple. The golden spire forms the superstructure of the temple and is the steeple that crowns the place of worship. Within the premises of the temple lies the shrine devoted to Lord Murugan.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Murugan is the younger brother of the presiding deity of the temple, Lord Ganesha. The architecture in which the temple structure is stylized is typical of the Deccan era and bears similarity with temples of other states of South India.
Manakula Vinayagar Temple was in existence before the French came and settled in Pondicherry i.e. before 1666. During the tenure of Dupleix, there were attempts to destroy the temple but the temple was finally spared owing to strong protests from the Hindu population and the threat of British and Maratha invasion of the territory.
Devotees and pilgrims gather in large numbers in the temple everyday to offer their prayers to the reigning deity and to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha. The pilgrims are entertained by the temple elephant Lakshmi who gathers coins from the tourists and showers blessings through her trunk.
The stone carvings and the golden shrine create a blissful aura around the temple making it a true abode of the temple deity, Lord Ganesha.
Festivals: Brahmothsavam
The Mega festival of Lord Manakula Vinayagar is celebrated every year for 24 days during the month of August & September. The Last Kumbhabishegam was held in the presence of Lt. Governor/Chief Minister, VIP’s etc. on 24.01.1999 (Sunday) from 10.00 am to 11.00 am.
Timings
5:45am – 12:30pm and 4:00pm – 9:00pm (till 10:00pm on Fridays)
(Timings are subject to change during Festival days and Holidays)
List of selected festivals for the whole year
January
New Year
Thai Ammavasai Thinam ( Kadal Theerthavaari)
Rathasabthami Vethapureswarar Thirukoil Thepakulam Theerthavaari
Kumbabishega Thinam Aanduvizha 1008 Sangaabishegam (Ashwini)
February
Maha Sivarathri Vizha
Vinayagar Sapadigalingam Naangu Kaala Poojai
March
Maasimaham Kadal Theerthavaari
April
Tamil New Year Celebration
May
Vaigasi Visaga Thiruvizha
June
Aani Thirumajanam – Narthana Ganapathy
July
Thatchanaayana Puniyakaalam Vizha
August
Bramachavam – 24 Days
(Vigeshwara Poojai muthal 108 Sangaabishegam varai)
September
Sri Vinayagar Sadhurthi
October
Pavithra Urchavam 7 days
Vijayathasami Thangathair veethiulla
Annabishegam
November
Kandasasti vizha
Karthigai Theeba Thiruvizha
Karthigai Thiruvathirai – Marathangathair veethiulla
December
Somavara Poojaigal
Aaruthra Tharisana Poojaigal
Francois Martin St, White Town
Puducherry