Barsur Twin Ganesha Temple, Chhattisgarh

Address

Barsur Twin Ganesha Temple Barsur, Chhattisgarh 494441

Diety

Ganesha

Introduction

Twin Ganesha Temple is dedicated to the Lord Ganesha located in Barsur Town in Dantewada District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The Temple is located very near to Mama Bhanja Temple. The temple is situated on Jagdalpur to Bhopalpatnam route.

Puranic Significance

The story of Banasura, his capital Banasura, and his devotion to Lord Shiva is a fascinating part of Hindu mythology. Banasura, the son of Bali, established a new capital called Banasura in the Dandakaranya Vananchal region. His influence was so formidable that it intimidated not only other kings but even some of the deities. Banasura was a devout follower of Lord Shiva and worshipped a Rasalingam given to him by Vishwakarma, upon the instruction of Lord Vishnu. One of Banasura’s notable acts of devotion was using his thousand arms to play the Mridanga (a type of drum) during Lord Shiva’s Tandava dance, a celestial dance representing the cycle of creation and destruction. Additionally, Usha, Banasura’s daughter, and Chitralekha, the daughter of his minister Kubhand, were close friends and ardent devotees of Lord Ganesha. Both of them requested King Banasura to construct a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. In response to their wishes, Banasura built a twin Ganesha Temple, fulfilling the desires of his daughter and her friend, and further highlighting his devotion to the divine.

Special Features

The Ganesh Temple in Barsur is home to two remarkable idols of Lord Ganesha, and it boasts a unique distinction. Both of these idols, carved from sandstone, are monolithic and date back to the 11th to 12th century. The temple’s architecture features a newly constructed Mandapam, which houses these ancient idols. The larger of the two Ganesh idols is an impressive 7½ feet tall, making it the third-largest Ganesh statue in the world. The smaller idol stands at about 5½ feet in height. The temple complex has been fortified with grills on all sides for safety. While the temple structure itself has been lost to time, the precious idols have survived. In the vicinity, you can find remnants of pillars, stones, and damaged sculptures, scattered around the temple complex. The presence of these idols and artifacts speaks to the rich history and cultural significance of the site, making it a notable religious and historical destination.