The western coast of India is renowned for stunning beaches and some superb temples. Among them, there are six Ganesha temples in this stretch right from the Karnataka-Kerala border to the upper Mangalore region. It is a popular belief in this part of the country that visiting all of them within a day can be highly rewarding and special blessings can be secured from Lord Ganesha by a devotee due to these temples’s immense sacred power. We take a look here at all of them one by one to get an insight into them.
Right on the Karnataka-Kerala border there is a small hamlet known as Madhur near to Kasaragod. This popular north Kerala temple is also known as the Madhananteshwara Siddhi Vinayaka Temple and is very famous in the region for a lot of miracles which take place over here. Initially, it was built as a Lord Shiva temple but later, it got more famous with Lord Ganesha. Although this temple is not in Karnataka, it has a tremendous following in both the states. The next temple on this route is the Sharavu Ganapathi Temple located in Mangalore at a distance of 50 km from this place.
This famous temple of Mangalore is considered to be a very powerful shrine of Lord Ganesha. The diety is considered to be a self-manifested god over here. As per the local history of the place, it is considered to have been built by the King of Tulu Nadu, Vira Narasimha Bangaraja during a long time back and the exact date is not available with anyone. Hence, this temple is very much revered by a lot of devotees due to its importance to the Ganesha circuit.
The third important Ganesha temple on this trail falls in a village called Anegudde which is located in a small coastal town called Kundapura. The place is mythologically also known as Kumbashi and hence the temple is called as the Kumbashi Vinayaka Temple. Here too, Ganesha is a self-manifested god having carved out of a rock. As per some legends, a Brahmin once dreamed of a young vatu that disappeared later on.
While searching for the dream he comes to his bathing spot and identifies a small rock with a particular shape. It is the same place where the temple stands now as it was built over there as a mark of respect.
Hattiangadi is situated in Udupi district on the banks of the Varahi River. This temple was built by the Alupa Kings and the granite edamuri idol is quite attractive inside it. It is a very holy place for a lot of devotees who come here in large numbers.
It is situated at a distance of 83 km from the Hattiangadi Temple and has a rich history of more than a thousand years! The local residents of the place attach great importance to this temple due to its miraculous powers. It is also a very popular temple in the whole area as a lot of people can be seen here at all times. The Idagunji Vinayaka Temple holds a very special place on this tour as it has been renovated in recent years but the old charm still remains.
The final destination on this route is this temple that is located at a distance of 69 km from the earlier one. Gokarna is a very beautiful coastal city that is also known for its lavish pristine beaches. The Mahaganapati temple over here is also very famous and visited by a lot of people due to its association with the Ramayana.
Legend has it that Ravana while going back to Sri Lanka with his Atmalinga met Ganesha over here, disguised in the form of a boy. Ravana wanted someone to hold the Linga as he could not place it on the ground. Thereafter, when the boy placed it on the ground, Ravana became furious and hit the boy and then Ganesha came to his own being. It was the same place where the temple stands now. It is also the last and one of the most powerful temples of the Ganesha temple tour.
All folklore and history of these places are very interesting to know and a tourist will surely love the homely atmosphere at all the places. It is also a reason why many devotees throng to these six temples to get special blessings of Lord Ganesha.