Manakkula Vinayaka Koyil

The Manakkula Vinayaka temple is among Pondicherry’s oldest and most revered shrines. Because a large sandy pond (Manarkulam) existed in ancient times where the deity currently resides, a small square sandy pit next to the deity commemorates it now, since the original pond was filled. The fact that water still seeps into this pit to this day is considered a special affirmation of its sacred origin. Once called Bhuvanesa and later Vedapuri Vinayagar, this pre-15th-century temple therefore became known as the Manakkulathu Vinayagar.

Some key recent events in the life of this temple:

1961: When the Sri Aurobindo Memorial Fund Society purchased property to the south of the temple, the Mother of Pondicherry’s Sri Aurobindo Ashram arranged the transfer of a portion on the northern side of the property, by way of gift, to the Manakkula Vinayaka temple to provide space for parikrama. She had a special relationship with Manakkula Vinayaka: “In 1930 we were having regular meditations in the Prosperity hall,” she has said. “At one of these meditations, quite unexpectedly, Ganesh appeared suddenly to my inner view. He was of golden light and surrounded by a very luminous golden aura. His form was the usual one as on his images. It was the first time I ever saw him and I expressed some surprise over his sudden appearance. Then he told me, ‘You see I am a living being quite real and concrete - and to give you a concrete proof of my reality I shall send to you henceforth, all the money you will need.’ Read more →