Chintamani Vinayaka

[Guest guest]

Vinakaya or Gananayaka is another name for Ganesha. Gananayaka is the lord of

Ganas or one who defeats Gana. A beautiful son named Gana was born to the King

Abhijit and queen Gunavati. He was very bright and strong.He was a great

devotee of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva, pleased with his devotion granted him some

boons like lordship over the three worlds and escape from death through things

possessing three gunas. However, this increased Gana's ego. He soon fell into

bad company. Once, after his hunting expedition he came to Kapila Rishi’s

ashram for taking rest. Kapila welcomed him and invited him for lunch along

with his entire army. Indra had given Kapila Rishi a jewel called CHINTAMANI.

With its help the sage fed the entire army with the tastiest food.When Gana saw

this, he wanted to possess the gem so the greedy Gana asked the Rishi to give

the jewel to him. When Kapila refused, Gana took away the Chintamani by force.

Kapila worshipped Ganapati who was pleased. There, Gana got a dream that Kapila

came with an army and one of Kapila’s companions cut Gana’s head with his axe.

Gana woke up and immediately started with an army to kill Kapila. He was

stopped by his father Abhijit who advised him to return the Chintamani to

Kapila. Ignoring his appeal, Gana reached Kapila Vana....Ganesha’s Shakti

called Siddhi came to the war. She created a warrior with a lakh hands. He was

called Laksha. He destroyed Gana’s army and arrested his sons. Gana became

furious and attacked Vinayaka with all his forces. In a fierce fight,Vinayaka

killed Gana with his axe. .Abhijit returned the Chintamani to Kapila and asked

for pardon. He got his grandsons Shulapani and Sulabha released and crowned them

in Gana’s throne. Kapila adorned Vinayaka with the Chintamani and worshipped

him. From that time Ganapati was called as Chintamani Vinayaka, Kapila Vinayaka

or Sumukha Vinayaka. As these incidents took place below a Kadamba tree, the

village around it was called Kadamba Thirtha.

After getting Gautama’s curse, Indra performed penance here and got released of

the curse. Brahma Deva meditated here to subdue his mind, which was wavering.

As his worries (chinta) were removed, the idol is called Chintamani. The palace

is called STHAVAR (STABLE) or THEUR.

King Rukmangada got cured from KUSHTA ROGA after worshipping Chintamani Ganesa

and bathing in Kadamba Thirtha.

Such is the greatness of this temple. The Ganesa idol here is facing east and

has its trunk left-turned. (Source – Mudgala Purana – II Khanda – 13th Chapter)

Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah.. Sai bhakt,

Deepa H debu7366

for Good Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.