The Temples of Kundapura

Anegudde Temple, Kumbashi, Kundapur Taluk

Anegudde Sri Vinayaka Temple is situated in Kundapur taluk in Udupi district, between Kota and Koteshwara towns. The area where the temple stands is called Kumbhashi. Among the several temples in Kubhashi Anegudde Sri Vinayaka Temple is the oldest and the most popular in this region.

Legend

Anegudde Temple is considered as the creation of sage Parashurama. With the passage of time the area where the temple is situated has been called in different names. According to the legends when drought hit this area sage Agasthya came here to perform Yagna to please the rain god. During the yagna, demon, Kumbhasura started bothering the sages. To rescue the sages Bhima killed the demon with the help of the sword gifted by lord Ganesha.

Festivals

Vinayaka Chauthi is celebrated with pomp and gaiety in Anegudde Vinayaka Temple

Guddattu Vinayaka Temple, Kundapur Taluk

Lord Ganesh has always been a mystery to the world. Believed to be the remover of obstacles, has always been worshiped first among other Goods. This god of international acclaim is envisaged in different shapes and environments.

Here is something that has to seen to be believed. Guddattu Vinayaka is the only Jaladhivasa Ganapathi available in the country and is unique of its kind. The temple stands on the foot of a huge granite rock, which itself looks like a sleeping elephant. On the eastern portion of the rock, at the ground level there exists a cave, and the ‘swayombhi’ (emerged on its own) Ganesha with his legs folded, trunk twisted towards the right, is seen in a sitting posture.

The cave will always be kept filled with water which submerges the deity up to neck level. The three feet Idol of Lord Ganesha is a black stone sculpture with a little gap around. The lord is visible clearly through a hole when the aarti is preformed or with the help of a wick lamp.

Even though the entire Sanctum  Sanctorum is a natural one, Mukhamantapa, Thirthamantapa, Hebbagilu, Pauli, etc. were constructed with granite structure as per temple Vastu and is a very attractive one. On either side of the rock, there is forest and lush green paddy fields and the place is serene and picturesque. Even though nobody knows as to when it came to existence, the temple is perceived to be very ancient.

The special pooja here is as unique as the idol itself. The maha pooja called ‘Ayarakoda’ which means ‘Sahasrakumbabhisheka’ starts with draining the water from the cave and performing various rituals such as Tailabhyanjana, Panchamrutha, Rudrabhisheka etc and aarti to the idol inside the cave. For the pooja conditions,  abhisheka with water chanting ‘Paramana Sooktham” till the water overflows from the cave, that is upto neck level of the idol.

All those performances requires about thousand pots of water and hence Pooja is called “Ayarakoda” (Ayara means thousand in Tamil & Malayalam). Then Mahamangalarathi will be performed and lunch will be served. This is very famous seva and devotees have to book their dates at least six months in advance. Apart from this, Ganahoma, Mudiakkikadabu, Kayi Moodaganapathi, Panchakajjaya, etc will also be performed.

Guddattu Vinayaka Templle is about 35 km from Udupi via Brahmavara – Barkur, Shiriyara, about 15 km from Kundapur via Koteshwara – Hunsemakhi -Guddeangady, about 10 k.m. from Shankaranarayana via Halady – Bidkalkatte – Shiriyara.

Hattiangady Vinayaka Temple, Kundapur Taluk

The eighth-century Sri Siddhivinayaka Temple at Hattiyangadi in Kundapur taluk is a historical and well-known pilgrimage center for Hindus of the coast. Hattiyangadi (Pattinagara) was the capital of Alupa Kings, who ruled the Tulunadu during the seventh and eighth centuries. They had close ties with some other Jain cities such as Purigere (Lakshmeeshwara) and Hombuja (Humcha). Later Hoysala and Honnekambala Kings ruled Hattiyangadi, which was also known as Goshtipura, as it hosted a number of intellectual debates.

Hattiangadi, about 8 km to the northeast of Kundapur, which is famous for the ancient Siddhi Vinayaka Temple, also houses many other ancient Temples and Jaina Basadis. Gopalakrishna, Lokanatheshwara, Maraladevi, Shankaranarayan, Shivamunishwara, Ekantheshwara, and Shaktharabrahma Temples are found here.

Hattiyangadi, which was once the capital of Alupa Kings, is now a small village. But it has still managed to retain its attraction with lush green mountains on one side and the curvaceous Varahi River on the other. On the bank of the river, there is a spot called Aramane Adi, which earlier housed a palace. At an elevated spot nearby is the Chandranath Basadi and behind it is the Jattiraya’s Temple.

It was a sacred place for the meditation of Sri Govindarama Yathivarya (Saint) during 16th century. The Saint blessed his disciple and the then Temple priest Rama Bhatta, who later cultivated a number of poetic works and got the reputation as Kavi (poet) Rama. The saint had also predicted that the Temple would become famous worldwide during the next three hundred years. What a true prediction it was! Now, the Temple is attracting a number of devotees from all parts of the world.

Hattiangadi is well known for its Siddivinayaka Temple, which is supposed to have been constructed around the seventh or eighth century. The Lord Ganapathi Temple is situated on the bank of River Varahi. It is the only Temple in India, where the idol of Lord Vinayaka sports a jata-hair. The idol itself is carved of a Saligrama stone and is 2.5 feet high and Vinayaka’s curly hair is left loose at the back. The trunk is bent towards the left.

It is believed that the idol may be in standing posture. The deity’s right hand is situated inside the basement and holds a vessel full of Modakas in its left hand. According to experts, the deity is of Bala Ganesha, which has just two arms and various ornaments are also found on the idol. The statue grows in size every year and this is visible from the fact that it has outgrown the silver casting. The entire shrine is carved from black marble. Since God is supposed to grant the wishes of the devotees, the title ‘Siddi’ is conferred on Lord Vinayaka.

Sahasra Narikela Ganayaga (a Yaga using 1008 coconuts), Sri Sathya Ganapathi Vratha, Laksha Doorvarchane, Sindhura (kumkum) Archane, and others poojas are offered here for Lord Vinayaka on special occasions such as Sankashtahara Chaturthi, Ganesha Chowthi, Navarathri and on every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday on the request of the devotees. Devotees are offering poojas such as Ashtadravyathmaka Ganahavana and Trikala Pooja every day.

The renovated temple was inaugurated in 1980 by the then Chief Minister of Karnataka Devaraj Arasu. The Temple was once again renovated and was built in granites in 1997. Thirty-two Ganapathi idols as explained in Mudgala Purana were also installed in the Temple premises. A Navagraha Mandir was also added. A concrete tower has been established on Tallur Vandse Highway to welcome the devotees coming to Hattiyangadi Siddhivinayaka Temple. The Temple is running the Central Gurukula English Medium residential school, which is intending to impart quality education.

The devotees coming from far are provided free food at Sri Balchandra Prasada the Temple-dining hall that accommodates 400-500 people at one sitting. On the top floor are the Pravachana Mandir and Sabhagruha. The Temple has well-equipped lodges, choultry, seminar hall, Yaga Shala. Goshala (cowshed), and Kalyana Mantapa for the benefit of the devotees.

The Temple also houses the Siddivinayaka School of ancient scriptures, where students are given free accommodation, food, clothes, and education. Various developmental activities are conducted with the help of the money received in charity. Various cultural activities are held throughout the year along with state-level Yakshagana Kammata-workshop, study, and demonstration of medicinal herbs and shrubs, agricultural and yoga camps, etc.