Uchishta Ganapathy Temple/ மணிமூர்த்தீஸ்வரம் உச்சிஷ்ட கணபதி கோயில், Manimoortheeswaram, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to Sri Uchishta Ganapathy Temple, at Manimoortheeswaram, Tirunelveli, was a part of “Tirunelveli Heritage Walk”, organised by CultureCircuits, on 11^th to 13^th July 2025. Thanks to Balakumaran GS and  Krishnakumar TK for arranging this walk.

This is one of the temples exclusively dedicated to Ganapati/ Vinayagar, also called Uchishta Ganapati Temple, with Rajagopuram, Dwajasthambam, etc. Another specialty of this temple is situated on the banks of the Thamirabarani River, which flows as Utharavahini (from South to North). The presiding deity is the 8^th of the 32 forms of Ganapati.

Moolavar: Sri Uchishta Ganapati

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, dwajasthambam, and the vahana Moonjuru are in the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Uchishta Ganapathy is in the Sanctum Sanctorum. His consort Neelavani/ Neelasaraswati is on his right lap, and his trunk touches the naabikamalam of Neelavani.

In the inner praharam, Kushi Ganapati, Varatheertha Ganapati, Swarna Ganapati, Vijaya Ganapati, Arka Ganapati, Guru Ganapati, Santhana Ganapati, Heramba Ganapati, Sakthi Ganapati, Sankadahara Ganapati, Durga Ganapati, Runaharana Ganapati, Vallaba Ganapati, Gayathri Ganapati, Siddhi Ganapati, Veer Ganapati, Siva Sakthi Ganapati, Sri Nellaiappar as Shiva Lingam, Gandhimathi Amman, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar,  Pathanjali Munivar, and Vyagrapada.

On the outer praharam, Kanni Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Swarna Agarshna Bairavar, Chandran, Suryan, and Nagars.

Sri Valli Devasena Subramania

Pathanjali Munivar and Vyagrapada.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple spread over an acre with the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistana with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam kudam, palakai, and pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. An eka tala brick nagara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Vinayagar’s various forms are on the greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple belongs to the 14^th to 15^th Century Pandya period. Later, the temple received contributions from Vijayanagara Kings, Vijayanagara Nayakas, Nattukottai Nagarathars, etc.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2016.

LEGENDS

It is believed that the presiding deity Uchishta Ganapati was installed by Heranda Maharishi, one of the disciples of Mukthala Maharishi. As per the legend, in Kaliyuga Mukthala, Maharishi sent Heranda Maharishi to the South to propagate the Ganapti worship. Heranda Maharishi installed this Uchishtaa Ganapati on the banks of the Thamirabarani River, as per Manthramaakarna rules. This Chatur bhuja Uchishta Ganapaati, with his consort Neelasaraswati, is the 8^th form of the 32 forms of Ganapati as a presiding deity, and is a rare one. 

As per another legend, a Demon called Vidhyaharan did a penance on Brahma to get a boon of immortality. Brahma gave darshan and told him that he cannot give the immortality boon; instead, he asked him for another alternate boon. Vidhyaharan, this time, asked that he should be killed only by a person with a wife, and without using any weapon. Brahma gave the boon. After getting the boon, Vidyaharan started to torture the Devas. Unbearable the torture; the Devas sought help from Mummurtis. Adiparasakti created Ganapathy from the yagna conducted by the Mummurtis. At the same time, Brahma also did a yagna and created Neelasaraswati as his daughter. Marriage was conducted for Ganapathy and Neelasaraswati. Now, Indra asked Vidyahara to fight with Ganapati, when Ganapati was with his wife, without any weapons. Vidhyaharan couldn’t bear the brightness of Ganapati got fainted, and died.

The sun rays fall on Chithirai 1^st day. Devotees worship Uchishta Vinayagar to remove marriage obstacles.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Sankadahara Chaturthi, Deipirai Ashtami day for Bairavar, Tamil New Year day when Sun rays fall on Moolavar, Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Archagar +919443549441 and the Trustee +919787671258 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Uchishta Ganapati Temple at Manimoortheeswaam is 4.8 km from Nellaiappar Temple, 7.5 km from Thalaiyuthu Railway station, 6 km from Tirunelveli Junction, 7 km from Tirunelveli New Bus Stand, 54 km from Thoothukudi, 57 km from Tenkasi, and 166 km from Madurai.

The nearest Railway Station is Tirunelveli Junction.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Donor and Nandi

 Chandran - Suryan

Prayer for house construction

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---