HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE:
The Manakula Vinayagar temple is 300 years old and its early history is marked by trouble, with the French ruling that the annual festival around the streets of Pondicherry should not take place. This caused unrest among the people, and 15,000 of them gathered to set off towards Chennai.
As they were all workers at a textile factory, the authorities revoked their decision, fearing that work would be affected. This type of incident kept happening again and again till, strangely, Dupleix, the great French leader, himself developed an affection for the idol. Such are the winning ways of Lord Vinayaka!
DIVINESS OF THE TEMPLE:
The temple is now commonly called Manakkula Vinayakar, which is a corruption of the original Manarkula Vinayakar. The latter transcribes to the "Vinayaka who lives in a region bounded by sand". To the Eastern side of the temple lie the sea and the sands. Inside the temple, there is a small pond, which the priest will show to the devotee with the help of lit camphor.
Though the pond is close to the sea, the water is clear. It is believed that anything put into the pond will turn black in colour. Many poets have sung in praise of this temple and its deity. For many years, the temple did not have an Utsavar idol. This was installed and a grand kumbabhishekam took place in 1966 with the Kanchi Sankaracharya present.
The pujas are conducted in accordance with the Rig Veda. On Karthigai Deepam day, the Lord is taken in procession in a golden chariot. The temple itself is lovely, with the area around the main shrine having pictorial depictions of the different forms of Vinayaka.
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Manakula vinayagar temple
