While human beings build temples, one can always discern a divine guidance in their development. The ways of God are inscrutable and what may seem a setback at first glance could well be the seed for a great event and the beginning of a momentous phenomenon. Little did the devotees of Varasiddhi Vinayaka know this when the Government of the day objected to roadside temples. The small idol of Varasiddhi Vinayaka installed on the compound wall of the CPWD quarters was threatened with demolition. The devotees pleaded with the concerned Minister and permission was granted to allow the temple to continue till the devotees made permanent alternate arrangements.

The founder of this temple Balaramamurthy Naidu and the Secretary V.Srinivasan purchased land from the Housing Board at the present location of the temple and began erecting the edifice, which today is a landmark of Besant Nagar. In 1969, the original idol of Varasiddhi Vinayaka was brought by the late Samayapuram Ramanatha Swamy. When the temple was constructed, the devotees got made a vigraha of Vallabha Ganapathy and installed the two forms of Vinayaka in one sanctum sanctorum. The vigraha of Vallabha Ganapathy is larger in size.

The main concept expounded in this temple is the concept of Vigneswara Panchayadham, where the synergy of Siva, Vishnu, Amba, the Navagrahas and Balasubramania is evident. On the three sides of the main shrine, one can see Gajakeswari Lalithambigai, Satyanarayana and Dakshinamurthy. Vallabha Ganapathy has on his lap Vallabhai , the daughter of Marreecha Munivar, whom Vinayaka is said to have married. In this form, he is known as Lakshmi Ganapathy in Northern India and is said to be representing Vishnu and Vallabha Lakshmi.

On a metaphysical plane, Vallabha Ganapathy is said to signify the process of sublimation; a process through which something negative is converted to a positive force. With the presence of Satyanarayana in the temple, each pournami day Satyanarayana puja is performed. Over 300 devotees participate in this puja. Over the years, this temple has become renowned for the number of pujas, which are performed here. Secretary Srinivasan is justly proud when he recounts that the temple has seen four mahakumbhabhishekam, two Adi rudram, fifteen Sudharsana homam and nithya Ganapathy homam.

In the month of Marghazhi, 1000 girls below the age of 12 are given new clothes and they recite Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai during this period. The festivals of Sree Rama Navami and Ganesh Chathurthi are celebrated with devotion and fervour with both the festivals culminating in annadhanam for the poor. The temple has a gopuram in the forefront and one can see the main deity as one enters. To the right is the mani mantapam and in the rear is the hall where music concerts and discourses are held. There is also a dispensary where a doctor is available form 4 to 6 pm. five days a week.

The yantram on which the main deity is installed was made under the guidance of the Shankaracharyas of Kanchi and Sringeri. The President of the temple says that any one who comes to the temple and prays is taken care of immediately by the Lord, who solves all problems and blesses his devotees with prosperity and good health.

Ambujam Anantharaman

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