Anegudde Shree Vinayaka Temple, Karnataka

Address

Anegudde, Kundapura taluk,
Udupi District, Karnataka
India – 576 257.

Moolavar

Shree Vinayaka

Introduction

Anegudde is located 9 km south of Kundapura, in Udupi District. Anegudde is also popularly called as Kumbashi. The name Kumbhashi is said to be derived from demon Kumbhasura. Anegudde is rewarded one of the seven ‘Mukti Sthalas’ of Karnataka (Parashurama kshetra). The temple at Anegudde is dedicated to Lord Vinayaka (Ganesha). Anegudde is the combination of two words – ‘Aane’ meaning ‘Elephant’ and ‘Gudde’, which stands for ‘hillock’ as it is the abode of the elephant-headed god, Lord Vinayaka.

Puranic Significance

It is one of the ‘Sapthakshetra’ of ‘TULUNAADU’ and also called as Mukti Sthala. The Lord is called Siddhi Vinayaka or Sarva Siddhi Pradaayaka will grant and fulfill his devotees’ wishes. People believe in him that he will solve many of their problems and hence the place is known as “Mukti Stalas” which means “Place where you can attain Salvation”. The garbagriha or the main sanctum has the Lord Vinayaka in Chaturbuja (with 4 arms) in huge rock like structure covered in silver armour. Two arms are posing as “Varada Hasta” granting boons, and two hands indicate to attain salvation. The Temple is believed to be 1500 years old. All around the shrine there are sculptural depictions from the Bhargava Purana. Anegudde means elephant (Aane) hillock (Gudde) and it is the abode of the elephant god, Sri Vinayaka. It is one of the seven places of pilgrimage in the region called ‘Parashurama Srishti’ which are believed to be created by sage Parashurama.

Tulabharam, a custom of offering to God valuables in weight equivalent of a person is frequently done in this temple by devotees. Auspicious ceremonies like wedding, naming ceremony etc. are also held here. All around the shrine there are sculptural depictions from the Bhargava Purana. People from far off places come here to take blessings from Lord Vinayaka. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great splendor. Lunch is served to devotees as prasadam.

It is believed when drought hit this area, the sage Agasthya came here to perform yagna to please the rain god. The demon Kumbhasura tried to disrupt the yagna by troubling the sages performing the yagna. To rescue the sages Lord Ganesha blessed Bheema, the strongest among the Padavas with a sword, using which Bheema killed the demon and facilitated the completion of the yagna. In Theertha Prabandham Shri Vadirajaru, since Bheema Killed demon using the sword (Asi) the name of the place is termed as Kumbhashi.

As myths run, a devotee (Vishweshwara Upadhyaya) was living here, regularly worshipping Lord Ganesha. One day, a Brahmin Vatu (young boy) appeared in his dream and said that he was hungry. Taking Upadhyaya with him, the Vatu disappeared near a stone in Nagachala. Getting surprised by this unusual dream, he started off on the next morning in search of the spot, where the Brahmin boy disappeared in his dream. It was his usual path, which led to a pond, where he used to take his bath, bring sacred water for Abhishekam and collect flowers for worshipping Lord Ganesha. Soon he found the same granite stone, which he witnessed in his dream and was covered by wild flowers giving it a divine appearance. Impressed by this sight, Upadhyaya hurriedly took his bath in the nearby pond and worshipped the deity and offered wild flowers and fruits. He continued to do so for a long time. One day, he saw a cow standing there pouring in milk from her udder on the deity. After this incidence, his devotion became stagnant and worshiped his God with more devotion. People generously donated land on which a straw hut was constructed to enable Upadhyaya to continue his worship. Thus started a new tradition of worship at Kumbhashi, which did not stop at any stage.

Special Features

The temple celebrates special pujas in Karthikai month-December-January to wake up the birds and to protect them and the cattle from attack of diseases. This is called Pakshi Sankara Puja. He (Sankara) appears with four hands including two Abhaya Hastha to protect those surrendering at His feet and granting boons. He appears with silver covering alankara. It is believed that the Vinayaka idol is growing big. The Kailash darshan of Lord Shiva with Mother Parvathi is beautifully depicted at the entrance.

The idol of 12 feet tall Aane Gudde Vinayaka in the very elephant form itself is made of a single stone., He is praised as Swayambu vinayaka with a Vaishnava style tilak on the forehead., Devotees praise Him as Vishnu Roopa Ganapathi and Vishnu Roppa Paramatma., Ranga Puja is conducted on Fridays for the welfare of all in the world – Loka Kshema., Devotees joining the puja light lamps., Lighting lamps in the temple is followed by devotees during the months Aipasi, Karthikai, Margazhi and Thai covering October-November to January-February., During the Sankatahara Chaturthi, devotees offer Tulabaram to Lord – offering things equal to one’s weight., This is a very important commitment by the devotees., Lord Vinayaka also graces as Deepa Ganapati reforming those addicted to liquor and other bad habits.

The Anegudde Vinayaka Temple situated on the hill attracts a large number of pilgrims. Important new activities in the area are started after a worship of this deity. The Temple of Mahalingeshwara is surrounded by a lake and pooja is offered to a shallow pit in which “water from the Bhagirathi (Ganga)” is said to collect. The right side of the lake is called Surya-Pushkarini and the left-side the Chandra-Pushkarini. There are also shrines of Suryanarayana, Channakeshava and Lakshminarayana on the banks of the tank and a branch of the Sode Mutt.

All around the shrine there are sculptural depictions from the Bhargava Purana. People from far off places come here to take blessings from Lord Vinayaka. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great splendor. The Prasadam here, as in most Temples in coastal districts, is the Panchyagajjya, which is a mixture of dal, sugar, copra, milk and honey. Devotees arriving from distant places are offered food and shelter. Vinayak Chaturthi and Chaturthi of every month are celebrated amidst much pomp here.

Festivals

Ganesh Chaturthi is the main festival celebrated at Anegudde temple and Sankashta Chaturthi is also celebrated with great devotion. On the Chauthi / Chaturthi (the 4th day after the full moon) of every lunar month, special poojas are held at the temple. Devotees frequently perform several poojas and take prasadam at this temple. The car festival (Rathostava) of this temple is held during first week of December.