Manakkula Vinayakar Temple

An important itinerary of the Pondicherry pilgrimage is a visit to the Manakkula Vinayakar Temple. The ancient temple had been constructed three centuries earlier and still stands in its magnificent glory in the union territory of Pondicherry.

The temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha. The monumental interiors of the temple are decorated with forty incarnations and forms of the Ganesha carved and designed 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, the 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 art and architecture. The temple's architecture bears similarity with the temples of the other states of South India.

The devotees and the pilgrims gather in large numbers in the temple everyday to offer their prayers to the reigning deity and to seek the blessings of the God. The pilgrims are entertained in the temple by the temple elephant called Lakshmi who gathers coins from the tourists and showers blessings of the god through his trunk.

Built more than 300 years ago, the ancient Manakkula Vinayakar Temple still stands in the territory of Pondicherry in all its grandiosity. The stone carvings and the golden shrine create a heavenly aura around the temple making it a true abode of the temple God, Lord Ganesha.