Idagunji Sri Ganesha Temple- Karnataka

Address

Idagunji Sri Ganesha Temple- Karnataka

Idagunji Road, Idagunji Katri,

Uttara Kannada District,

 Karnataka 581423

Moolavar

Sri Ganesha

Introduction

• Location: Shree Vinayaka Devaru is dedicated to Lord Ganesha (Vinayaka) and is located in the town of Idagunji, in Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka, on the west coast of India. This region is renowned for its temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and Idagunji is one of the six famous Ganesha temples along the coast, collectively known as the “Ganesha Coast.”
• Devotee Numbers: The temple attracts around 1 million devotees annually, making it a significant religious site in the region.

Puranic Significance:

The temple’s importance is deeply rooted in legend and mythology, particularly during the transition from the Dvapara Yuga to the Kali Yuga (the current age).

• The Legend of Ganesha’s Blessing:
  • As the Kali Yuga approached, sages feared the impending challenges of the new era, as Lord Krishna was about to depart for his divine abode. The sages, led by Valakhilya, began performing austerities in Kunjavana, a forest area on the banks of the Sharavati River, to seek divine intervention and overcome obstacles.
  • Faced with difficulties in performing their rituals, the sages sought guidance from the divine sage Narada. Narada advised them to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, to successfully complete their sacrifice.
  • Narada selected the location near the Sharavati River for the rituals and called upon Lord Ganesha to bless the site. The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva had visited this area in the past to combat demons who threatened the earth, creating sacred lakes like Chakratirtha and Brahmatirtha. Narada and the sages created another sacred pond called Devatirtha.
  • After performing rituals and hymns in praise of Lord Ganesha, the deity was pleased with their devotion and agreed to remain at the site, ensuring that the rituals could be completed without hindrance. A new lake, Ganesha-tirtha, was also created to supply water to the temple.
  • The temple at Idagunji is believed to have been established by devotees around the 4th-5th century CE.

Special Features:

1. The Central Icon:
   • The central icon of Lord Ganesha at the temple is **believed to date back to the 4th-5th century CE. It depicts Lord Ganesha in a dvibhuja (two-handed) style, similar to the idol at the nearby Gokarna Ganesha Temple.
   • The idol shows Ganesha standing on a stone slab, holding a lotus bud (Padma) in his right hand and a modak (a sweet) in his left hand. He is adorned with a garland across his chest styled like a yagnopavita (sacred thread) and a necklace of small bells.
   • Unique Feature: Unlike many other Ganesha idols, there is no rat depicted as his vehicle (vahana) in this image. The idol is 83 cm tall and 59 cm wide, placed on a stone pedestal.
2. Idol Characteristics:
   • The standing idol of Lord Ganesha has extremely short legs and a depression on the head.
   • The two-handed or “Dwibhuja Ganapathy” idol holds Modaka (sweet) and Padma (lotus) in its hands and is carved from black stone.

Festivals:

• Ganesh Chaturthi: The most significant festival celebrated at the temple is Ganesh Chaturthi, which honors the birth of Lord Ganesha. During this festival, the temple attracts a large number of devotees, and various rituals and processions take place to celebrate the occasion.

Century/Period

4th-5th century CE.

Nearest Bus Station

Idagunji 

Nearest Railway Station

 Honnavara

Nearest Airport

Bangalore

Location on Map

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