Ganesha or Vinayaka is popularly known to be a bachelor. The majority of Vinayaka temples in the South portray him in that state. The Vinayaka who is married is more prevalent in Maharashtra.

Many may not know that a small temple in Chennai has the lord in his married state.

The Sree Siddhi Buddhi Samedha Sree Karpaga Vinayaka temple in Rajah Annamalaipuram has become famous for the manifestation of the lord with his consorts.

Tucked away in a quiet residential area, but barely a few minutes from the busy C.P. Ramaswamy road, the temple exudes a unique quiet and calm.

Established in the year 1960, when there were hardly any houses in the locality, the temple has completed over three decades of existence in the Second Cross Road of Rajah Annamalaipuram.

For those who may be intrigued about the marital status of Vinayaka, there are two popular stories.

Lore has it, that "Siddhi" and "Buddhi" were the two maidens who were conceived in the meditation of Brahma.

Lord Brahma requested his son Narada to entreat Lord Vinayaka to marry his daughter. Lord Vinayaka agreed and the marriage was solemnised in a grand fashion with Lord Vishnu attending the wedding as the "Ma pillai thozhan".

The other story goes thus. Lord Vinayaka upon attaining the age for marriage, was asked by his mother goddess Parvathi as to whom he would like to wed?

The Lord answered saying "somebody who is as beautiful and as virtuous as yourself." To which his mother replied,"find yourself such a maiden and I shall wed her to you."

Thereupon it is believed that Lord Vinayaka retreated to tanks, road junctions, river banks where maidens used to congregate. Some believe that Lord Vinayaka’s quest has still not ended.

Getting back to the temple, there are shrines of Lakshmi Narayana, with Sree Devi and Bhoo Devi, Sree Durgambigai, Sree Valli Devasena Samedha Sree Subramanya, the Navagrahas, Sree Anjaneya, Sree Dakshna Murthy and Sree Iyappa.

In the year 1985, the temple celebrated the "Rajatha Mahotsava Laksha Homa" which was attended by the saint of Kanchi, Sree Jayendra Saraswathi, the Shankaracharya of Sringeri.

The temple conducts a number of spiritual activities and classes are conducted for "Vishnu Sahasranama" from time to time.

There is a small hall where devotees can meditate.

The location in a peaceful residential area, the unique sight of the Lord with his consorts, make the Siddhi Buddhi Vinayaka temple, as it is popularly known, a haven of peace.

Ambujam Anantharaman

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