Kasaragod (Kerala): The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi marks celebrations of pomp and splendour for the beloved elephant-headed God across the country. But there is a temple in Kerala's Kasaragod district where Ganapati hardly receives any such grand celebrations but is the most beloved deity in the locality. All he needs is a pancake and he would bless the devotees, say the temple authorities.
Madhur temple: Ganesha is most beloved to devotees, but hardly receives grand festivals, why? Kasaragod's Madhur Mahanandeswara Siddhivinayaka Temple manifests a unique composition of the Kannadiga culture and Kerala culture.
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The temple architecture is a type of 3-tiered gajaprishta resembling the back of an elephant.
Madhur temple: Ganesha is most beloved to devotees, but hardly receives grand festivals One can also find beautiful wooden carvings depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The vast spacious gopurams give good ambience for the devotees to relax and enjoy the deity's presence.
The clay idol of Lord Ganesha is also different from the regular idols elsewhere in the country. Here the trunk of Ganapati is in right side. Usually, the deity holds some eatable in his trunk but Ganapati here holds the pot of elixir (amrita kalasam).
Here Lord Ganesh is termed as Balaganapati... a child deity.
As per the legends, it is believed that the 5000-year-old temple was built during the period of Maipady Venkatesh Varma Raja.
Legend has it that the idol of the temple was found by a Dalit woman by name Madaru.
Once she accidentally discovered an “Udbhava Murthy” (a statue that was not made by a human) of shiva linga and reported this incident to the ruler of that place.
Later, the ruler ordered for the consecration of the idol at this sacred place.
The place was named Madoor considering the munificence of Lord Shiva to Madaru. The river Payaswani later came to be known as Madhuvaahini meaning the river containing the essence of spirituality.
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The legend of Kumble says, in 1784 Tippu Sulthan attacked the place and he planned to ransack the temple.
Tippu struck the western roof with his sword. But once he took the theertha jala (the holy water) from the temple well he became calm and he changed his mind and left the temple.
The deep cut made by his sword is still kept as a historical monument.
Madhur temple: Ganesha is most beloved to devotees, but hardly receives grand festivalsMadhur temple: Ganesha is most beloved to devotees, but hardly receives grand festivals The well is still there and it is believed that the holy water has a magical power of healing.
Devotees from all over come to pay a visit to Lord Siddhivinayaka. Currently, the temple is managed by the government.
The temple also offers Veda classes to young during summer vacation, including basics of Sanskrit. The accommodation and food are arranged by the temple authorities.
