Kanipakam Temple is a popular Ganesha Temple located near Chittor town in Andhra Pradesh. The deity here is called Varasiddi Vinayaka Swamy.
It was constructed in the early 11th century CE by the Chola king Kulothunga Chola I and was expanded further in 1336 by the Emperors of Vijayanagara dynasty. Local legends claim that the idol of Ganesha continuously grows in size. The temple was too small to be patronized by Chola and Vijayanagara kings. The temples of Cholas and Vijayanagaras are normally magnificent in size and grandeur. Most of the present structures are of recent origin and the present major developmental and construction activities of the temple are well supported by offerings given to the temple by the devotees.
There is an interesting legend about the sthalapurana of this ancient temple which has 1000 years history. About 1000 years back, three physically handicapped blind, dumb and deaf persons were eaking their livelihood by cultivating a piece of land near Viharapuri village. On one day two persons were taking out water with the help of a picot and the thisd person was irrigating the land. After some time water was exausted in the well. One person took a spade and hit a stone inside the well and blood started flowing continuously, when the three handicapped pesons touched the water mixed with blood, surprisingly they became normal persons. After digging for some time they found an idol of Lord Sri Vinayaka in the well with an injury on the head oozing with blood. They could not take out the idol as it was growing in size,as they were digging. They informed the villagers about this surprising phenomena. People came running with cocunuts and other pooja materials to worship the Lord Sri Vinayaka. They broke thousands of Coconuts, the coconutwater was spread to an area of one and quarter acre. In the local language it is called as "Kani". That is how the place was called as "Kanipakam" since then.
|
|
