மணக்குள விநாகர் திருக்கோயில், புதுச்சேரி
This is the most popular temple in the city of Pondicherry. Frequented by locals and foreign visitors alike, it is very popular among tourists. You see a lot European visitors here.
Manakula is derived from Manal ( மணல்- sand) and Kulam (குளம் - pond). Apparently there was a pond here with a sandy bottom. It is nowhere to be seen now. It is an ancient temple and has been in existence for at least the last 500 years. The French built a fort here in 1688 and mention this temple as an obstacle to the expansion of the fortifications. In 1701 the French tried to demolish the temple but the skilled workforce of Pondicherry who were crucial to the French colonial economy threatened to leave Pondicherry en masse and the French backed down. In 1708 a group of people led by foreign missionaries heavily vandalized the temple. There is also a legend that a French official once tried to remove the Ganesha idol and throw it in the sea. Every time he did that the idol miraculously and inexplicably reappeared in the sanctum. He finally got injured while trying to get his men to destroy the idol and became an ardent devotee.
Despite its storied history, the temple today sports a very modern look with polished, shiny granite floors and newly painted interiors. The moolavar - Lord Ganesha sits on a well which apparently is very deep. Usually Lord Ganesha is depicted as a bachelor, but there is an image in this temple where he appears with two consorts which is very unique. Photography is strictly prohibited and we could not take any pictures inside the temple unfortunately.
It is located in the city of Pondicherry. We visited in May 2023. We stayed in Pondicherry.
Credits: Google Maps
Комментарии