Anegudde Shree Vinayaka Temple

Overview

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. According to the history, when drought hit this area, Sage Agasthya performed penance to appease the Varuna, the Rain God. During the penance, demon Kumbhasura started troubling the sages. Bheemasena gets weapon from Lord Ganesha to kill Kumbahasura and assassinate him at this place. 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.

About The Temple

Anegudde Shri Mahaganapathi Situated in Kumbhashi, Anegudde is about 100 kilometres from Mangalore and 9 kilometres from Kundapur. It is one of the most beautiful Temple in the region with peaceful ambience. It is also 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 garba griha 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.

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. Kumbhashi is located on the NH 17 at a distance of 96 kilometres from Mangalore, 9 kilometres from Kundapur, and 30 kilometres from Udupi. Kumbhashi is located about 400 kilometres from the state capital Bengaluru. Frequent bus service is available from Mangalore or Udupi or Kundapur to Kumbhashi. One can either walk from Kumbashi bus stand using the stairs or hire an autorickshaw to reach Anegudde temple at the top of the hill. The nearest airport is at Bajpe near Mangalore. The nearest railway station is at Barkur, near Kundapur.

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.

General Information:

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.

What Takes It Famous Special:

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.

About the Deity

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 poja 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.

Sri Vadiraja Yathi, in his Theertha Prabandha epic said that when drought hit this area sage Agasthya came here to perform yajna to please the rain god. The demon Kumbhasura tried to disrupt the yajna by troubling the sages performing the yajna. To rescue the sages Lord Ganesha blessed Bheema, the strongest among the Padavas, with a sword (Asi), using which Bheema killed the demon and facilitated the completion of the yajna. The main sanctum sanctorum contains the majestic figure of Vinayaka resplendent in silver Armour, in standing posture. Of the four arms two are "varada hasta" indicating his inclination to grant boons. Two hands point to his feet, as a means to salvation. The Vinayaka here is said to be a swayambhu (emerged by himself) who manifested in Dwapara Yuga. What is striking is the very large head of the God with huge ears. 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. 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 is celebrated amidst much pomp here. The custome of "Tulabaram"? offering things to God equivalent to the weight of a person is practiced here.

Legends and Stories

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 exlained, 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.

Festivities

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.

Special Pujas

Ganesha Chauthi or Chaturthi of every lunar month is celebrated with special poojas and devotees throng to the temple on these auspicious days.

Tulabharam

This is a unique custom of offering to the God. The person can offer commodities equivalent to his or her weight to the temple. Rice, jaggery, coconut etc are offered as Tulabharm.

Poojas

poojas are held at the temple. Also the Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great splendor. In recent times His Holiness Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt inaugurated a huge dining hall which is able to accommodate 1000 people. Lunch is served to devotees as ‘Maha Prasada’ everyday.

Prasad & Offering

Prayers

Students pray for good education, job opportunities. Devotees also seek wedding, child and profit boons in business.

Thanks giving: Realizing their wishes, on any day convenient to them, devotees do alankara to Lord Ganapathi with 400 kgs of rice, 1008 or a minimum of 125 coconuts. They call it Moodu Ganapathi puja and Arisi (rice) Ganapathi puja.

Best Season to Visit:

July to late January.Morning, Afternoon, Evening.

Rare Facts

This temple is a miracle-based one. It has a 12-feet tall Aane Gudde Vinayaka idol is made of a single stone in the form of very elephant itself. It is not as in Tamilnadu temples. Devotees call it Swayambu Vinayaka. The Tilak on the forehead is of upward Vaishnavite Nama style.

Significance

Fulfillment of Wishes

Lord Ganesha is known to grant all wishes of his devotees and bless them with wealth, prosperity, luck and good health, auspicious beginnings of work, removal of obstacles, renewal of energy, success, wisdom, agricultural productivity, prosperity and child boon. It is believed that the devotees' wishes are fulfilled by the lord without fail. The idol is in a standing posture and has been sculpted with four arms and two arms show the ''Varada Hasta'', or granting boons. Lord Ganesha is the Hindu god of prosperity and wealth. It is also known as the Mukti sthala, where devotees with full focus and devotion can free themselves of earthly desires and attain salvation. Lord Vinayak is known to grant all wishes of his devotees. 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. People from far off places come here to take blessings from Lord Vinayaka. On the Chauthi or Chaturthi (the 4th day after the full moon) of every lunar month, special Sthala Purana(Lands' Legend).

Accesibility

Air

The nearest airport to the Anegudde village is at Bajpe, which is situated close to Mangalore.

Rail

The nearest railway stoppage to Kumbhasi village is Barkur, which is close to Kundapur. The place is well-connected by major railway stations of the state. The village Anegudde is situated on the National Highway 17 (currently known as NH-66). The place bears a distance of 96 km, 30 km and 9 km from Mangalore, Udupi and Kundapur respectively. The village Kumbhasi is 400 km away from the capital of the state, Bengaluru. One may walk straight from the Kumbhasi bus stand through the stairs to reach the temple of Anegudde at the top of the hill.

Road

Bus services are constantly available from Mangalore, Kundapur and Udupi. You can also board a bus from Kumbhasi bus stoppage to reach the temple of Anegudde.

Address

Anegudde Shree Vinayaka Temple,
Anegudde, Kundapura taluk,
Udupi District,
India - 576 257.