Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Legends of the place : Once upon a time there lived 3 farmers with physical deformities and they were dumb,deaf and blind by birth. They owned a piece of land. In olden days water was drawn from the well by way of Piccota system. As one of them used to irrigate the field through the channels, the other two used to ply on the piccota. On one such operation they found that the water in the well got dried up and they could no longer pull water out of the well. One of them got into the well and started digging it up. He was taken aback to see the iron implement hitting a stone like formation. Later, the farmer was shocked to see blood oozing out from it. Within a few seconds the entire water in the well turned blood red in color. Thus, startled by this divine experience all the three became normal getting rid of their deformities. As soon as the villagers came to know this miracle, they thronged to the well and tried to deepen the well further. But their attempt proved futile because the ‘Swayambhu’ idol (self manifested) of Lord Vinayaka emerged from the swirling waters of the well. After this miracle, coconuts were offered and the thirtham from the coconuts covered the entire area. This led to the modification in the usage of the word ‘Kaniparakam’ and was later pronounced as ‘Kanipakam’. Even today the idol is in the original well and the springs of the well are perennial and eternal. During the rainy season, the holy water from the well overflows even today. The holy water from the well is offered to the devotees as Tirtham (Holy water). After the self elevation of Lord Vinayaka Swamy at Kanipakam, two brothers namely, Sankudu and Likhithudu wanted to have Darshan of Lord Swayambhu Sri Vinayaka and they made their journey by walk. After having Prolix journey, the younger Likhitudu became very tied, hungry and wanted to take mango fruit from the tree, and asked his brother to help him. The elder brother warned him not to take the fruit, since it belongs to the king. But the younger brother who was too tired, hungry and thirsty took the Mango fruit and ate it. The Elder brother Sankudu dragged his younger brother to the king and narrated the theft of fruit committed by his brother and requested to impose punishment. Unfortunately, the king became angry and vehemently ordered cut off the both hands of the younger brother who had stolen the fruit without permission, and the punishment was implemented. The Elder brother became very sad for this unfortunate incident which resulted loss of hands of his brother and at last he desired to take a holy bath in the river near the Swayambhu Vinayaka Temple before going to darshan, and when both the brothers immersed in to the river by praying the Lord Vinayaka. Surprisingly, the hands of the younger brother Likhitudu have come out as existing early. Then both the brothers have taken the darshan of the Lord Vinayaka Swamy and offered their vows blessing them.