Sri Sankatahara Ganapathy Temple

A brief on Sankatahara Ganapathi Temple
Managed by Vasundhara Enclave Sarveswara (VESS) Regd. New Delhi, India

In ancient India when south part was ruled by Cholas, Pallavas and Pandian, temples were built keeping in mind travelers and economically weaker section people could come and take shelter in it. Now the trend is changed. When people settle down for their profession sake in other than their native land where the culture could also be different, they build a temple of their own culture and structure.  Thus a temple has come up at Vasundhara Enclave of Indian capital city where amidst 56 dwelling apartments a good number of south Indians have settled down for their profession sake. 

In the year 1999 some of the south Indians residing in the said locality got together and formed a cultural society called “Vasundhara Enclave Sarveswara Samaj” (VESS) with a vision to build a temple based on their own culture and traditional architecture. They acquired a land measuring 375 sq meter at a cost of Rs.8,44,397 in the year 2003 and started construction of the temple based on their own south Indian architectural tradition.

As a main idol for worship (Moolavar) the temple has got in its sanctum sanctorum “Sankatahara Ganapathy” installed performing formal consecration “Avarthana Ashtabandhana Maha Kumbha Abhishekam” based on ‘Agama sastras’ on April 22, 2005.    Besides the main idol, other idols like Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Goddess Durga, Navagrahas and Hanuman were also installed in the same premises as per ‘agama sastras’.  As may be known to many of us, Sri Sankatahara Ganapathi is one among the 32 different appearance made by Lord Ganesa at various stage. The installed idol here is a very huge idol weighing 450 kilograms.

A well versed Sivacharya (Priest) has been accommodated in the temple premises providing him a dwelling place, extending all facilities for devotees to perform various poojas as per their own wish, besides conducting Navagraha Samashti Homam on the second Sunday of every month and Ganapathi Homam on all Sankatahara Chathurti of every month. Besides, in the weekly congregations of recitation of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam, Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam and Sri Hanuman Chalisa participation of more and more devotees are on the increase.

Apart from the above festivals throughout the year event will be celebrated, like
Makara Vilakku, Thyagaraja Aradhanai, special poojas and abhishekam to Lord Sankatahara Ganapathi(Moolavar) on all Fridays falling in the Tamil month of Thai (January-February), Maha Sivarathri in February-March,Sri Rama Navami festival, Panguni Uthiram, Shankara Jayanthi in March-April, Tamil New Year Day, Ugadi Pandigai, Vishu in April-May, Special abhishekam and aradhanai to Lord Sankatahara Ganapathi on the day (Vaikasi) Visakha star falls in May-June, Adi Kruthigai, Adi Amavasai, All Fridays of Adi (July-August) are auspicious and on these days special alankaram to Lord Sankatahara Ganapathi is done, Avani Avittam is observed at the temple premises in August-September, Navarathri festivals, Vilakku Pooja are performed in September-October, on Deepavali day special abhishekam is performed to the Moolavar in October-November, Ayyappa Mandala pooja is performed  in November-December so as the south Indian population living in this locality to feel as if they are at their home land.

The temple is now being visited by devotees from adjacent colonies like Mayur Vihar Phases I, II and III, NOIDA and Ghaziabad besides Vasundhara Enclave.

As the temple activities are quite convincing for the contributions made by the devotees, more and more people come forward and work for the growth of the temple by contributing their service and/or money.

President of the Samaj, R.K. Vasan, added that the idol of Lord Ganesha is unique in many respects; it is the only idol holding Goddess Shakti on his left lap, one of the 32 manifestations of Lord Ganesha. The idol which is carved in a single granite stone is 4 ½ feet in height and weighs 450 kilograms, a largest monolithic idol in the entire north India.