The
visit to Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple at Puducherry was a part of “Visit to Shiva,
Vishnu, & Jain temples and Christian Churches in and around Pondicherry /
Puducherry”, on 07th June 2025.
This
location of the temple was on the banks of a Manal (Manal- மணல்)
Kulam, hence called Manalkula Vinayagar, which has become Manakula
Vinayagar.
Manakula
Vinayagar was praised by Mahan Vanna Sarabam, Dhandapani Swamigal, Sri V M
Subramaniya Iyer, Puduvai Maha Vidwan P A Ponnuswamy, Sri Ellapillai, Ramanuja
Chettiar, and Bharathiyar. Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar praised Manakula
Vinayagar when he was in Puducherry.
வாழ்க
புதுவை மணக்குளத்து
வள்ளல்
பாத மணிமலரே-!
ஆழ்க
உள்ளம் சலனமிலாது!
கண்ட
வெளிக்கண் அன்பினையே
சூழ்க!
துயர்கள் தொலைந்திடுக!
தொலையா
இன்பம் விளைந்திடுக!
வீழ்க கலியின் வலியெல்லாம்!
கிருத யுகந்தான் மேவுகவே!
……..பாரதியார்
Moolavar : Manakula Vinayagar
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with two two-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, golden plates covered
dwajasthambam, and the vahana Moonjuru are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar
Vinayagar is in a sitting posture with both legs folded. Moolavar is with 4 hands,
holding pasa & Angusam in the upper hands, and the lower right hands are in abhaya
varada hastam. The deva koshtas are empty.
In
praharam Balaganapathi (Sannidhi with Silver Vimanam), Thollai Kathu Siddhar,
Balamurugan, Chandikeswarar, Chariots (Gold), Utsavar Manakula Vinayagar,
Sakthi Ganapathi Palliarai, Spatika Lingam, and Yaga salai.
Balaganapathi Sannidhi with Silver Vimanam
The
praharam walls feature paintings and stucco bas-reliefs of various forms of Vinayagar, as well as his thiruvilaiyadals.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple spreads over 7913 sq. feet, consists of the Sanctum sanctorum, ardha
mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Kalyana Mandapam, and Utsavar sannidhis. The sanctum
sanctorum measures 4 X 4 Square. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and
adhistanam. The pilasters are of the Brahma Kantha style. The prastaram
consists of valapi and kapotam. An eka tala vesara sigaram is on the prastaram.
Vinayagar’s various postures are in the greeva koshtams. It was said that the
vimana is covered with golden plates, weighing about 10 kgs.
The
front mandapa ceiling and inside maha mandapam and side walls are adorned with
bas-reliefs of Vinayagar and historical scenes paintings. Some of them are the Birth of Lord Vinayagar, the killing of Kayamuga Sura, Vinayagar marrying Siddhi
and Buddhi, Vinayagar blessing Nambiyandar Nambi, etc.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTION
The
temple may belong to the 17th century (300 years old). The street where
the temple is located is called Weaver’s Street. During French rule, the French people also started
living on the same street was renamed as Orlean Street. The Vinayagar idol was
removed and thrown into the sea by the French people. Miraculously, the idol
appeared on the very next day in the same place. Later, a temple was built near
the Bay of Bengal shores as per the Ganapathy Agamam and was named Bhuvanesa
Vinayagar Temple.
The
praharam on the south side measures 106.56 sq. feet, and was donated by the Mother of
Sri Arabindo Ashram for extension on 25th December 1968.
It
is believed that in 1930, a new idol of Vinayagar and a Nagabandham were
installed adjacent to the old Vinayagar, and a maha kumbhabhishekam was also
conducted.
The
Golden car was made out of 7.5 kg of gold at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakhs in 2006. The Car measures 10 feet high and 6 feet wide.
The
Golden-plated Moolavar Vimanam kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 24th
January 1999.
LEGENDS
Nearly
300 years before, a saint Thulai Kathu Siddhar (துளை
காது சித்தர்), standing 6 ft tall, broad forehead, glittering, blissful eyes, a big hole bearing ear, a small potbelly with a hand extending up to the knee cap, and hands with lotus regai, guru medu, and sanimedu at a height showing
arul gnana ragai. He has gained enlightenment from this deity and attained Samadhi
in this temple. From then on, people bring their newborns here for worship
before going to any other temple. Also, some believe
that Vinayagar was installed on the Samadhi of Thollaikathu Siddhar.
As
per Mother Mira of Arabindo Ashram, in 1930, during meditation, Manakula
Vinayagar came in the form of bright golden light with a luminous golden aura.
Vinayagar promised her that shower her with abundant money to run the ashram. In
1939, during the 2nd world War, when the ashram was in financial crisis,
Manakula Vinayagar helped, after Maha Kumbhabhishekam. As a mark of gratitude
in 1968, the south side prahara land measuring 106.56 sq. feet was gifted to
this temple.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Sankadahara Chaturthi,
Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc. A golden car procession will be held on Vijayadhasami
day. The annual 24-day Brahmotsavam will be conducted in August –
September. Apart from this, the other
festivals like Tamil and English New Year days, Maha Shivaratri, Vaikasi
Visagam, Aani Thirumanjanam, Pavithra Utsavam, Vijayadasami, Annabhishekam,
Kandar Sashti, Karthigai Deepam, Arudra Darshan, etc, are also celebrated.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 05.45 hrs to 12.30 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to
21.30 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
landline number +914132336544 may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
temple is on Orlean Street (Now Manakula Vinayagar Koil Street), Puducherry, 400
meters from Puducherry beach, 2 km from the Puducherry Railway Station, 3 km from the Bus Stand, 30 km from Cuddalore, 41 km
from Viluppuram, and 169 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station to Puducherry.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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