Siddhivinayak temple

The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ganesha. It is located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was originally built by Mr. Laxman Vithu and Mrs. Deubai Patil in November 19th, 1801.Fact|date=February 2007

The temple has a small mandapam (hall) with the shrine for Siddhi Vinayak ("Ganesha that grants your wish"). The wooden doors to the sanctum are carved with images of the Ashtavinayak (the eight manifestations of Ganesha in Maharashtra). The inner roof of the sanctum is plated with gold, and the central statute is of Ganesha. In the periphery of the temple, there is a Hanuman temple as well.

Importance and Status

The Siddhivinayak Mandir evolved from a small, tiny place of worship to the Grand Temple that stands today in the later half of the twentieth century. Fact|date=February 2007 The glory to the temple was bought not only by the politicians who frequented the temple but also numerous bollywood filmstars who continuously visit the temple to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Sanjay Dutt, an actor embroiled into controversy by possession of an AK-47 rifle during the Mumbai bomb blasts of 1993 also visited the temple and prayed to the lord for his acquittal in the TADA court case which might have implicated him for terrorism.Fact|date=March 2007

Controversy

The Siddhivinayak temple receives donations of around Rupee 100-150 million every year, which makes it Mumbai city's richest temple trust. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/954373.cms Siddhivinayak grants may be screened] Times of India. 10 December 2004. Retrieved on 1 March, 2007. ] In 2004, the "Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple Trust", which operates the temple was accused of mismanaging the temple donations. Consequently the Bombay high court appointed a committee headed by retired judge V P Tipnis to scrutinize the trust's donations and probe the allegations. The committee reported that, "The most shocking aspect of the matter is that there is no method or principle followed for particular institutions. The only criteria for selection was recommendation or reference by trustees or the minister or a political heavy-weight, generally belonging to ruling party". [http://news.webindia123.com/NEWS/showdetails.asp?id=272279&cat=India Draft guidelines for using Trust funds of Siddhivinayak: HC] UNI 9 March 2006. Retrieved on 1 March, 2007.]

In 2006 the Bombay High Court directed the State Government, the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust and the petitioner Keval Semlani to prepare "suggestive guidelines" for using the temple's trust funds. [http://news.oneindia.in/2006/12/13/state-to-finalise-guidelines-for-siddhivinayak-trust-funds-hc-1166016901.html State to finalize guidelines for Siddhivinayak Trust funds: HC] UNI December 13 2006. Retrieved on 1 March, 2007. ]

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