Location:Honnavar district,Karnataka,India
Nearest Station:Honnavara or Murudeshwara
History:More than 1500 years
Official Website:http://www.idagunjidevaru.com
Speciality:Here ganesha idol is in standing posture with 2 hands and short legs.One
hand he is holding Padma(lotus) and the other Modaka (a kind of sweet).
Mantra:
Vakra-Tunndda Maha-Kaaya Surya-Kotti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryessu Sarvadaa
Recommendation:Ganesha is worshipped as first of all Gods before undertaking any venture,he is believed to be removing the obstacles coming in the way.A visit to this temple before starting any new venture is advisable.For any issues in horoscope with respect to the planet ketu ,visit Ganapathi temple.
Story:
At the end of 'Dwapara Yuga' great saints were praying to the
Sutha-Pouranika at Badarikashrama. Shri Krishna had implied to
eliminate the on coming doshas of 'Kaliyuga'. The divine saint,
Valakhilya initiated narrating the significance of Kunjavana.
Valakhilya along with other immortal saints was performing
penitential activities in a forest. They started experiencing diverse
hindrance in penitentiary activities. The holy saint was agitated by
these obstacles. He seeked solace and worshipped Lord Krishna. Narada
the noble saint approached Valakhilya. Narada received cordial and
satiate wel-come with due rituals. Valakhilya explained his difficult
situation to the divine saint and requested him to suggest pragmatic
solutions to deal with the obstacles on his way. Narada advised him to
worship God Vigneshwara (the remover of obstacles) before starting the
penance again.
Valakhilya requested Narada to show him an appropriate place to
worship the deity. Narada along with Valakhilya and other saints
wandered westward in search of a suitable place. They came across the
Sharavati river which gracefully caressed and consolidated with the
ocean.
Narada chalked out an exact place located a few miles away to the
left of Sharavati. The place was named as Kunjaranya. This would be a
deserving place for their penitential activities. To add up to the
significance of the place, Narada explained that in the past from time
to time the Holy Trinity, Hari, Har and Brahma have come to this place
to conduct their penance to stop the destruction of the "Asuras" (the
demons). They also created lakes termed as "Chakratirtha" and
"Brahmatirtha" which is truly a spiritual inspiration.
After sketching out this to all the saints, Narada with the help of
the saints fabricated another lake named "Devatirtha". He then offered
to bring Ganapathi (Vinayaka) along with other Gods including the Holy
Trinity. Narada approached Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara to attend the
"Puja" at Kunjaranya offered by the saints. He also took the liberty of
requesting Parvathi to send her son, Ganapathi to the saints for the
removal of obstacles.
Narada's charisma led all the Heavenly Gods along with Lord Ganapathi
to attend the "Puja" with eminence and granduer. The temple dedicated
especially for this purpose was decked with attractive decor and the
enormous glittering diamonds and stones. Ganapathi received the rites,
rituals and ceremonious formalities on the second day of Poorvathretha
Yuga Nrapavara Chanda Shakabda 813 Vibhava Samwathsara which was decided
as Uttarayana Shishiraruthu Maghamasa Shukla Dwitheeya Budhavara
Punarwasu Nakshatra (Uttarashadha Nakshatra Visvamuhoortha the most
auspicious time by Brahma.
The great saints and Heavenly beings chanted the hymns in praise of
Lord Ganapathi. Ganapathi, magnificently attired, was holding “Modhaka”
and “Padma” in his hands.
Immensely pleased by the devotion rendered on him by the saints,
Ganapathi expressed his desire to grant the wishes of his devotees. The
other Gods were cherished and treated equivalently. They also blessed
their worshippers. The other Gods appealed to go to their original
places. Ganapathi emphasized his decision to stay and gratify the
desires of his devotees. He also implied the Gods to leave behind a
part of their omniscient power in the various lakes encompassed there.
The devotees can attain their hearts desires by dripping into the
varied "Theerthas" and by offering pujas to Him. A lake was bestowed to
provide water for bathing at Ganapathi's request. It was named as
"Ganeshtith".So according to this purana , Lord Ganapathi stayed in the
place Kunjaranya which is now renowned as Idagunji.
