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Ode to Divinity If you look around carefully, you will find him everywhere. From bill boards, to temples, from reclining in cars to even as jewellery – we are talking about the omnipresent and most loved lord Ganesha.

Words: Bindu Gopal Rao

f you visit the coastline tall single stone that is self In fact, it is said that Ganesha of you can manifested and is believed to be appeared in the dreams of the experience myriad forms growing every year. farmers and asked them to keep of the elephant-headed him in the open and not inside a God, as well as understand Mahatobar Shri Siddi temple building. Incidentally the differentI legends associated Vinayaka Temple, Idagunji name of the place comes from with the temples. Here are some Located in Idagunji town of ‘Sowthe’ meaning cucumber places that you can visit on your Honnavara taluk, in North Canara and ‘Adka’ meaning field as next trip. district in Karnataka, this ancient cowherds offered cucumber to temple dates back to 1,500 years. the deity while praying to him. Shri Vinayaka Temple, It has a standing idol of Ganesha The temple is decorated with lot Anegudde with two hands holding his of bells offered by devotees who Situated in Kumbhashi, favourite sweet ‘modak’ in one and have special wishes. Anegudde, 100km from a lotus in the other. It is believed , this tiny village has that this location was earmarked Shri Siddivinayaka become popular because of by the Gods themselves where Temple, Chandaguli the Shri Vinayaka temple. Also saints offered penance. Impressed Also known as the Ghante called Kumbhashi, the word with this, Ganesha decided to Ganesha Temple (Ghante Anegudde comes from ‘Aane’ stay here. means bell), it is located at meaning ‘elephant’ and ‘Gudde’, Chandaguli around 18 km meaning ‘hillock’. Legend has it Southadka Ganesha from . The location is that when this place was hit by Temple scenic and surrounded with severe drought in the past, Sage This temple is in the Belthangadi lush paddy fields, areca nut Agasthya performed penance Taluk of Dakshina and coconut plantations. The to appease the rain God and the district. The idol of Ganesha temple has several bells of all demon Kumbhasura created is in the midst of an open field sizes depending on the kind of trouble. This is when Bheema, without a formal temple structure. problem being faced. Usually one of the Pandavas, received It is believed that this idol was devotees who pray here come a weapon from lord Ganesha to worshipped by the royal family back to offer their thanks once kill Kumbahasura. Hence, this ruling this place which was their wishes are fulfilled. The place has a well-known temple destroyed by enemies. Local idol of Ganesha is beautiful and dedicated to Lord Ganesha. cowherds found the idol and the sight of the bells all around The main idol here is a 12 feet installed it in a cucumber field. is mesmerising.

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Shri Mahaganapathi in Kannada) around the waist and is a place close to where Temple, Sharavu bells and plaited hair. There are five Ganesha is resting on the foot The coastal town of Mangalore footprints in front of the temple that of a granite rock in a cave that is fun is home to the Shri Sharavu has a historical significance and is always filled with water up to the Facts Mahaganapati temple located currently being preserved by the neck level. Part of a natural rock in the heart of the city. With a archaeological department. formation, this idol of Ganesha is history dating back to over 800 self-manifested and believed to years, legend has it that when king Sri Siddivinayaka Temple at be the only idol resting in water. Veerabahu was ruling here, he Hattiangadi Dating back to thousands of accidentally killed a cow while he Located 8 km from , the years, the three feet tall idol can Shri Vinayaka was hunting. To absolve himself idol of the ancient Siddivinayaka be seen from a small opening Temple celebrates Sankastahara of the sin, he was advised by Sage temple is carved in a 2.5 feet high in the wall when the arathi is Chaturthi with pomp. Bharadhwaja to install a Shiva Saligrama stone and was built being performed. The reason On one of the special linga and build a temple here. It during the 8th century. The temple why the idol is immersed has an days, 18,000 ‘Kotte Kadbu’ or idlis are was much later that lord Ganesha, is situated on the bank of river interesting legend. When fighting cooked in jackfruit self-manifested on the southern Varahi and is the only temple where a demon Tripurasura, lord Shiva leaves. wall of the temple along with Ganesha sports matted locks fired an arrow that missed him. Siddhilakshmi and it is believed locally called jata-hair and the curly Shiva felt that this was caused by that praying to this form will grant hair is left loose at the back with Ganesha and fired another arrow you what you wish for. the trunk bent towards the left. The at him. But the arrow could not Siddivinayaka School of Ancient harm Ganesha and took him to Batte Vinayaga Temple at Scriptures is housed here where a sea called the Madhu Sagara. various cultural events including Ganesha drank the entire honey Located 16 km north of Udupi in the Yakshagana Kammata is held. and blessed Shiva, who killed the Barkur, this is where you will see demon. To help Ganesha, Shiva Shri Sharavu lord Ganesha facing towards north Guddattu Jaladhivasa brought him to this place and said Mahaganapati temple also sees and leaning towards the west. The Ganapathy Temple that those who immerse him in cultural activities idol has a cloth (batte means cloth A one-of-its-kind temple, this cool water will be blessed! including dance and drama shows as well as the traditional dance forms like the The coastal Yakshangana. town of Mangalore is home to the Shri Sharavu Mahaganapati temple located One of the pujas at, in the heart of Mahatobar Shri Siddi Vinayaka Temple, the city is called Appane Cheeti or permission (Appane) letter (Cheeti). You can place a letter on the right and left foot of the lord. If the letter on the right falls, it is considered a Yes and left is No.

#Udan Update Trujet now connects Vidyanagar to Hyderabad.

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