Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple - Kanipakam
Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy temple is located in Kanipakam village in Irala Mandal in Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh. It is on the banks of the Bahuda River.
Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka is the main deity of the temple. The significant feature of the Moola Vigraha (Main deity) is that it faces North, which is a rarity.
The sun’s first rays fall on the Lord’s feet. Gradually the sun's rays disappear after reaching the head of the Lord. A fascinating fact associated with this temple is that Sri Vinayaka Idol's size is increasing daily.
Lord Vinayaka looks like an Elephant. As Diety is sitting, their legs and stomach are increasing and visible.
The "Swayambhu" idol of Sri Varasiddi Vinayaka emerged from the well. Later, people built a temple around the well.
This idol of Lord Ganesh is still growing in size even today as the silver armor donated 50 years ago by an ardent devotee is not fitting to the idol today.
"Kani" means wetland and "Pakam" means the flow of water into a wetland,; this place is called Kanipakam, Lord Ganesh named Kanipakam vara Siddhi Vinayaka. The Lord is an incarnation of Lord Ganesh.
The temple is a facing temple with a Dravidian Style of architecture. Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple 7 Tier Raja gopuram. Behind the Nandimandapa is a large Monolithic Dhwajastambha with a couchant Nandi on the top. The adhistana of the garbhagriha and antarala contains upana, tripattakumuda, gala cut into compartments, patta, gala and alingapattika.
The vimana above is of the dvitala type with a circular griva and sikhara. The vimana contains the various forms of Ganapati, Nritya Ganapati, Lakshmi Ganapathi, Sthanaka Ganapati, and Heramba Ganapathi.
The outer walls of the garbhagriha contain three empty Kostas which are flanked by pilasters and surmounted by a semicircular torana with kirtimukha at the top. Above the wall portion is a cornice decorated with simhalalata gables. Above the cornice is the calamari.
The Mukhamandapa is square on plan. The mandapa has four pillars and three square blocks with two octagonal shafts. The Mahamandapa has sixteen pillars with Vijayanagara capitals. The Mukhamandapa, Mahamandapa, and Prakara with Gopura are appear to have added to the temple complex during the 14th – 15th century AD. The temple tank is to the east of the temple. It has a small four-pillared mandapa in the center with a four-sided Nagara-Sikhara.
According to legend, three brothers were mute, deaf, and blind. They were digging a well to fetch water to their field. The device they were using fell into the well hitting a hard object. When they dug further, blood started to gush out of the well and the three got rid of their disabilities. The villagers rushed to the spot and found the deity of Ganesha. Villagers dug further, but they were not able to find the base of the deity. The deity sits in the well which is always full of water.
This temple was constructed during the 11th century.
Beginning on Vinayaka Chavithi day, the annual Brahmotsavam will be observed for 21 days. On these days, a large number of pilgrims from all across the country attend as the processional deity of Vinayaka is carried in a procession on several vahanams.
Temple Timings
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