Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

As per legend, once Sage Agasthya was doing penance in the Coorg Hills. At that time, a group of maidens came that side and ignoring the Rishi, started playing and making noise. They happen to be various rivers taking the shape of maidens. The Rishi’s meditation was disturbed and when he opened his eyes, the other girls disappeared, leaving only Kaveri. Without realising that the sage was Agasthya, she started making fun of him. The rishi wanted to teach a lesson to the impetuous girl and contained her in his Kamandala (vessel). As the river was contained in the vessel, the people were starved of water. The devas were also worried and prayed to Lord Ganesa to help them. The Lord took the shape of a young boy and went to the place where the Rishi was meditating. He tilted the Kamandala and Kaveri came out with full force and started once again flowing as a river. The Sage opened his eyes and saw the mischief done by the boy. He hit the boy on his head with his knuckles. Vinayaka immediately showed His true form and disappeared. The Rishi felt miserable and the Lord consoled him. He advised the rishi to allow the flow of Kaveri. The Rishi still feeling bad, started following the river and visited various temples seeking atonement. Finally, when he reached this place, Ganesa once again appeared before him and calmed him. He then ordained that those who hit their heads with their knuckles and pray to Him, would be blessed. Hence this custom came into vogue and continues even today. 

Gauthama maharishi husband of Akalya left his ashram (after Akalya was turned into a stone due to curse) and was travelling through this village. The people of the village seeing this Gautamar maharishi realised that he must be their saviour and pleaded to him to invoke the rain God and make the land fertile. Gauthamar wondered for the reason of such a drought and he sensed that a Ganapathy consecerated by Maharishi Agastya was buried in the soil. He asked the people of the village to search for that idol. Before dusk the idol was brought out and Gauthamar appeased Lord Ganapathy with sadatchara mantra. Soon rain clouds formed and the village received a copious rain fall. River God Cauvery diverted herself through that village to have the darshan of Maha Ganapathy and continued her journey through that village. The village became fertile. As the village prospered because of Maha Ganapathy, it was then named as Ganapathy Agraharam.