Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1805 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Manakula Vinayagar Temple

Puducherry, Puducherry · 11.9357°, 79.8336°

GaneshaUndetermined
Sacred since
1000 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
predates French rule; renovated 2015
Undetermined

History & significance

A Ganesha temple 400 m from the Bay of Bengal in Puducherry, of considerable antiquity and older than the French settlement. Attempts to destroy it under Dupleix were abandoned in the face of protest; it was renovated in 2015 and owns a golden chariot of 7.5 kg of gold first drawn in 2003.

Sthala katha — the legend

A saint called Thollaikkathu Siddar is said to have received enlightenment from the deity here about three hundred years ago and taken samadhi in the temple, and newborn children are brought to this shrine before any other.

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Related sites

Kola Valvill Ramar Temple
Thiruvelliyangudi · India
dating unrecorded
Sthalasayana Perumal Temple, Tirusirupuliyur
Thirusirupuliyur · India
dating unrecorded
Thirukkavalampadi
Thirunangur · India
dating unrecorded
Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram
Thirunangur · India
dating unrecorded
Thiruvanpurushothamam
Thirunangur · India
dating unrecorded
Perarulaalan Perumal Temple (Thirusemponsei Koil)
Thirunangur · India
dating unrecorded

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Undetermined