Category Archives: Ganesha Shrines in Karnataka
Dodda Ganesha of Bhankur Village gets new coat for every wish
The Gods love a splash of colours going by a unique tradition which has been prevalent in Bhankur village in Shahabad taluk for decades. People offering sweets, coconuts, clothes, cash and jewellery to the gods once their wishes have been fulfilled, is quite common. But what getting the idol painted in a new colour to fulfill a vow ? That’s something which is sure to make many sit up in their seats.
At Bhankur, devotees do exactly this, painting the idol of lord Ganesha in new colours once their vows are fulfilled. Result: the 10-feet high “Dodda Ganesha” gets a change of colour eight to ten times in a month. This practice has been in vogue for the last thirty five years or so, though the idol itself is more than a hundred years old. “Earlier, Dodda Ganesha used to get a new coat of paint once in three-four months. But with so many devotees now visiting the place, there is a new colour once in 4-5 days”, says 40-year-old Veeranna, a social worker from the village.
Situated atop a hillock with huge granite boulders, the legend has it that the idol is that of Udbhava-Ganesha (natural and not man-made). Villagers aver that the idol grows by an inch or two every year. There is also a belief that to arrest the idol’s growth, someone once hit it with a hammer thus stopping the growth. There is no temple or priest around with the devotees performing pooja on their own. When their vows are fulfilled, they get boxes of paint and hire the services of nearby painters to get it painted. Though the place has been drawing large crowds, no steps have been taken to develop infrastructure.
Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/ganesha-gets-new-coat-every-wish-123
Ganapathi Temple Idagunji, Karnataka
Idagunji is a small place in Honnavara taluk, Uttar Kannada district, which has the famous Vinayaka temple. The temple is the main attraction at Idagunji, receiving more than 1 million devotees per year.
Idagunji, Ganapathi temple is an ancient temple with a history of more than 1500 years, it is a major tourist attraction in the Karavali coast of Karnataka, India. This place has got its own name for its beautiful idol of Lord Ganapathi. The importance of Edakunj kshetra has been mentioned in the Sahyadri khand of the Skandapuran. ‘Eda’ (Wamnadi) means ‘to the left’ and ‘kunj’ means garden. The place thus got its name, as it is located on the left banks of the river Sharawati. This temple is a major piligrim spot which attracts more than 1 million devotees per year. The temple is midway between Gunavanteshwar and Murudeshwar and is 1/2 hr drive from either temple.
The Idol
The temple is quite big. The Ganesha idol is in a standing posture, with extremely short legs, and a depression on the head. The “Dwibhuja Ganapathy” or two handed Ganesha is holding Modaka and Padma (Lotus) in his hands. The idol is of black stone.
Speciality
PANCHAKHADYA is prepared for LORD GANAPATHI it is the special prasada of this temple.
Location
Idagunji is located about 14 kms south east of Honnavar taluk of North Canara District of Karnataka State India. Be it a small child, or an old man, Lord Ganesh here is very beloved with a sweet spiritual smile in his eyes. Idagunji has also got a hall which facilitates religious ceremonies and marriages in this holy shelter. Idagunji has also taken up meal facilities.
The Story
Idagunji Devasthana is an ancient temple with a history of more than 1500 years. The story of the temple is as follows. At the end of ‘Dwapara Yuga‘ great saints were praying to the Sutha-Pouranika at Badarikashrama.
Shri Krishna had implied to eliminate the on coming doshas of ‘Kaliyuga’. The divine saint, Valakhilya initated narrating the significance of Kunjavana.
Valakhilya along with other immortal saints was per forming penitential activities in a forest. They started experiencing diverse hindrance in penitentiary activities.
The holy saint was agitated by these obstacles. He sough solace and worshipped Lord Krishna. Narada the noble saint approached Valakhilya. Narada received cordial and satiate wel-come with due rituals. Valakhilya explained his difficult situation to the divine saint and requested him to suggest pragmatic solutions to deal with the obstacles on his way. Narada advised him to worship God Vigneshwara (the remover of obstacles) before starting the penance again.
After sketching out this to all the saints, Narada with the help of the saints fabricated another lake named “Devatirtha”.
He then offered to bring Ganapathi (Vinayaka) along with other Gods including the Holy Trinity. Narada approached Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara to attend the “Puja” at Kunjaranya offered by the saints. He also took the liberty of requesting Parvathi to send her son, Ganapathi to the saints for the removal of obstacles.
Valakhilya requested Narada to show him an appropriate place to worship the deity. Narada along with Valakhilya and other saints wandered westward in search of a suitable place. They came across the Sharavati river which racefully caressed and consolidated with the ocean.
Narada chalked out an exact place located a few miles away to the left of Sharavati. The place was named as Kunjaranya.
This would be a deserving place for their penitential activities. To add up to the significance of the place, Narada explained that in the past from time to time the Holy Trinity, Hari, Har and Brahma have come to this place to conduct their penance to stop the destruction of the “Asuras” (the demons). They also created lakes termed as “Chakratirtha” and “Brahmatirtha” which is truly a spiritual inspiration.
Narada’s charisma led all the Heavenly Gods along with Lord Ganapathi to attend the “Puja” with eminence and grandeur. The temple dedicated especially for this purpose was decked with attractive decor and the enormous glittering diamonds and stones. Ganapathi received the rites, rituals and ceremonious formalities on the second day of Poorvathretha Yuga Nrapavara Chanda Shakabda 813 Vibhava Samwathsara which was decided as Uttarayana Shishiraruthu Maghamasa Shukla Dwitheeya Budhavara Punarwasu Nakshatra (Uttarashadha Nakshatra Visvamuhoortha the most auspicious time by Brahma).
The great saints and Heavenly beings chanted the hymns in praise of Lord Ganapathi. Ganapathi, magnificently attired, was holding “Modhaka” and “Padma” in his hands.
Immensely pleased by the devotion rendered on him by the saints, Ganapathi expressed his desire to grant the wishes of his devotees. The other Gods were cherished and treated equivalently. They also blessed their worshippers. The other Gods appealed to go to their original places. Ganapathi emphasized his decision to stay and gratify the desires of his devotees. He also implied the Gods to leave behind a part of their omniscient power in the various lakes encompassed there.
The devotees can attain their hearts desires by dripping into the varied “Theerthas” and by offering pujas to Him. A lake was bestowed to provide water for bathing at Ganapathi’s request. It was named as “Ganeshtith”. So according to this Purana, Lord Ganapathi stayed in the place Kunjaranya which is now renowned as Idagunji.
This brief summary explains the legendary and historical significance of the sanctity place of Idagunji.
Mhatobar Shree Vinayaka Devaru has been granting the wishes of thousands of people who reguraly visit this place from year to year.
Related articles
- Siddha Vinayaka, Panchama, Ganjam, Orissa (mylordganesha.wordpress.com)
- Trinetra Ganesh Temple in Ranthambore (mylordganesha.wordpress.com)
Pay Homage To Holy Ganesha At Bangalore’s One And Only Dodda Ganesha Temple
Quietly nestled in the picturesque environs of Basavanagudi lies one of Bangalores most venerated religious sites, the Dodda Ganesha Temple. Located next to the equally revered Dodda Basavana Gudi Bull Temple the shrine is also located close to famed Bugle Rock Park which features a water tank decorated with the motifs of prominent figures in Karnataka. Occupying a prime position on Bull Temple Road the Dodda Ganesha Temple is also one of the most popular landmarks in the Garden City of Bangalore.
Attracting visitors from far and wide the holy site was converted into the sprawling temple with a monumental idol by Kempegowda I who was incidentally the founding father of Bangalore. Local folklore states that the monarch was strolling in the area in ancient times when he encountered several rocks and a particular boulder which had the likeness of Lord Ganesha etched on its surface. Kempegowda I then instructed his sculptors to convert the boulder into a larger-than-life idol of the deity carved out of a single stone slab.
Renowned for its sheer size and scale the massive idol measures a whopping 18 feet in height with an equally impressive width of 16 feet. Lord Ganesha who is also known as Satya Ganapthi and Shakthi Ganapathi is believed to dwell in this venerated locale which is frequented by many a devotee in search of solace and blessings. Locals believe that the idol in the temple is expanding on its right side. Bedazzled in many a decoration due to various ceremonies throughout the week the statue is perhaps best known for being bathed in 100kg of butter (or Benne Alankara) during festival time. The butter coated idol is undoubtedly one of the most unique sights in Bangalore with a whopping 100kg of Benne or butter used in a single coating.
Pilgrims and visitors can visit the temple from 7 am to 12.30 in the afternoon while the temple reopens at 5.30pm before closing for the day at 8.30pm every day.
