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 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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