Meet The Swayambhu Ganesha at Kanipakam!

Meet The Swayambhu Ganesha at Kanipakam!

Hello readers! Today I’m going to tell you a story. A story of how Lord Ganesha manifested himself in Chitoor. So once there were three brothers who suffered with one handicap each. One had speech impairment, other had a hearing impairment and the last one was visually impaired. Despite their disability, they worked hard and made a living by practicing agriculture on a small piece of land. For agriculture they drew water from a well near by. Once when the well dried up they decided to dig it. So one of them went in and started digging it, he sensed a stone like formation. He dug further and was surprised to find that blood was oozing out of that spot. The blood was all over the place in very little time. Soon the news of this strange incident spread throughout the village and everyone gathered at the spot. Lord Ganesha emerged from the spot and people called it the Swayabhu [self manifested] Ganesha.

This was followed by offerings of fruits and flowers along with other forms of worship. Later a temple was erected which came to be known as Kaniparakam. The word was eventually modified to its present form Kanipakam. The story of this temple does not end here. One Mrs. Lakshmamma got an armor [kavacham] made for the Lord as an expression of her devotion. This armor was made fifty years ago and does not fit the Lord anymore. Why? Because the deity has been continuously growing in size. Lot of people flock to witness this miracle. The Kanipakam temple was built by the Chola king Kulothunga Chola I in the 11th century. Emperors of Vijayanagara dynasty changed the architecture and expanded the Kanipakam temple. There is a belief in this temple that the presiding deity of the temple is the upholder of truth. People are taken here to resolve disputes by means of a special oath. So when are you visiting the miraculous Lord at Kanipakam?

- Kruti Beesam