Mottai Vinayagar Temple, Madurai
Mottai Vinayagar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha
located at Madurai City in Madurai District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is situated on West Masi Street at a walking
distance from Koodal Azhagar Temple.
Legends
Mother
Parvathi created a youth for her security and named him Ganapathy. She appointed
him as the security for her kingdom. When Devas came to her kingdom for
worship, Ganapathy refused to let them in. When they tried to trespass, Ganapathi
fought and drove them away. The Devas went to Lord Shiva and appealed to him to
enable them to worship Parvathi. Lord Shiva came to Ganapathy and held talks
with him. Ganapathy maintained his determination and refused entry to Lord
Shiva too. Angry Shiva chopped off the head of Lord Ganapathy.
Mother
Parvathi pleaded with the Lord to give her son life again. Lord Shiva fixed the
head of an elephant and elevated him to the highest status of being Number One
and ordered that all must worship the deities in the temples only after
worshipping Lord Vinayaka. Lord Shiva also made Ganapathy, the head of his
Ganas – security force. As a token of this incident, Lord Vinayaka appears in
this temple without head as Mottai Ganapathy.
History
The
history of the Temple, though not documented, is believed to belong to the
period of King Chandrasekhara Pandyan in 1530 AD. Veerasekhara Cholan waged a
battle against King Chandrasekhara Pandyan, who sought the help of King of
Vijayanagar Kingdom. Following which, Nagama Nayak came down to the city and
established his rule here. Disappointed, the Pandya King again sought the help
of Vijayanagara King, who again sent Viswanatha Nayaka to arrest his father
Nagama Nayaka in Madurai.
But
later looking at the sorry state of the country, Viswanatha Nayaka declared
himself king of the Madurai country and imposed ‘deshaprashtam’ (they should
not mingle with people and suffered ostracism) on the Pandya king and his
family members. Moving far and wide, the members of the community collected a tax
called ‘Magamai’ from the community and established their own educational
institutions and temples as they were not allowed to enter the common temple.
The
Temple
Presiding
Deity is called as Mottai Vinayakar. Lord Ganesha is always identified with elephant-head
and trunk. But, here the deity at the temple has no head, hands or legs. Recently,
the temple authorities have removed the hundi of the temple and people can
perform puja all by themselves.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple remains open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. continuously.
Festivals
Vinayaka
Chaturthi is grandly celebrated in the temple in August-September.
Prayers
Doctors
in the hospitals of the area undertake surgeries only after offering a coconut to
Lord. Students pray for progress in education and others for progress in
profession and trade. Traders place the keys of their shop and office keys at
the feet of Lord Vinayaka before starting their daily business. Hence, the Lord
is praised as “Vyapara Pillaiyar”. The practice of seeking his approval with
chits is still in vogue in the place. Devotees offer garlands of grass, vastras
to Lord and contribute for the renovation of the temple.
Contact
Mottai
Vinayakar Temple,
East
Masi Street, Madurai – 625 001
Phone: +91 452 438 0144
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 700 meters from Koodal Azhagar Temple, 500 meters
from Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, 700 meters from Periyar Bus Stand, 7 Kms
from Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Terminus, 1 Km from Madurai Railway Junction
and 11 Kms from Madurai Airport. It is very easy to reach the temple as it is
situated very near to both the bus stand and the railway station. This
temple is located at West Masi street at a walking distance from Koodal Azhagar
Temple.
Location