Manakula Vinayagar Temple

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Porch of the Manakula Vinayagar Temple, the temple is on the left
Temple elephant in front of the entrance

The Manakula Vinayagar Temple ( Tamil : மணக்குள விநாயகர் கோவில் Maṇakkula Vināyakar Kōvil [ ˈmaɳəkːulə ʋiˈnaːjəɡər ˈkoːʋil ]) is a Hindu temple in the city of Puducherry (Pondicherry) in southern India . It is dedicated to the god Ganesha (Vinayagar) and is one of the most famous temples in Puducherry.

The Manakkula Vinayagar Temple is located in the so-called Ashram Area in the center of Puducherry not far from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram north of the central Bharathi Park (Government Park). The temple is bordered by Jawaharlal Nehru Street to the south, Manakula Vinayagar Koil Street to the east, and Law de Lauriston Street to the north. The building has a floor area of ​​735 square meters. The most striking feature of the temple is the large superstructure ( pandal ) that spans Manakula Vinayagar Koil Street, which is closed to traffic at this point, in front of the temple entrance. The temple elephant is also here, a popular attraction for temple-goers and tourists alike. There is a small gopuram (gate tower) above the entrance , otherwise the compact temple structure does not stand out from the surrounding house front. The center of the temple interior is the main shrine crowned by a golden turret ( Vimana ) with an image of Ganesha. In front of the main shrine is an anteroom, which is surrounded by a walkway ( prakara ).

The main deity of the Manakula Vinayagar Temple is the elephant-headed god Ganesha , who is usually called Vinayaka by the Tamils or Vinayagar in the Tamil form of the name . The name Manakula Vinayagar means " sand pond Vinayaka" and is supposed to refer to a sandy pond that was formerly near the temple. The Manakula Vinayagar Temple is said to have existed in Puducherry before the beginning of French rule (1673). Legend has it that the colonial rulers tried several times to throw the idol into the sea, but this always miraculously returned to the temple.

Web links

Commons : Manakula Vinayagar Temple  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 7913 square feet according to the temple website
  2. ↑ The Hindu : The legendary Manakula Vinayaga, June 12, 2008.

Coordinates: 11 ° 56 ′ 8.5 ″  N , 79 ° 50 ′ 1 ″  E