Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple Chittoor - An Ancient Hindu Temple of Lord Ganesha.

 

Vinayaka Temple or Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple of Lord Ganesha. It is located at Kanipakam in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Vinayaka is the presiding deity of the temple. As per legend, it is believed that the deity is Svayambhu(Self-manifested). The deity is seen in the well, full of water always. The temple 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. The temple is about 11 km from Chittoor and 68 km from Tirupati. The Kanipakam Vinayaka temple celebrates two major festivals Brahmotsavam and Deepotsava every year. Devotees from all around the world come to Chittor to attend the festival as it is one of the most pious festivals of the Hindu religion.

 

 

According to legend, there were three brothers who 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 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 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. Even today, the idol resides in the well, and its water branches are perineal and eternal. During the monsoon season, the well overflows and the water is provided to the devotees as Tirtham, holy water. The temple is under the control of Endowments department of Andhra Pradesh which appointed a trust board of 15 members to administer the temple.

 

 

Annual brahmotsavams celebrated for 21 days starting from Vinayaka chavithi day every year. The processional deity of Vinayaka taken in different vahanams on these days amidst large number of pilgrims across the country. During the evenings, devotees take the ‘Utsava Moorthi’ into the town in different kinds of colorful Vaahanas (vehicles) on all days – Hamsa Vaahana (Swan), Mayura Vaahana (Peacock), Mooshika Vaahana (Mouse), Shesha Vaahana (Snake), Vrishabha Vaahana (Bull), Gaja Vaahana (Elephant), Pushpa Pallakki (Flowered palanquin), Vimanotsava (Airplane), to name a few. Deepotsava is the celebration involving the floating of lamps in the Kalyani. It is another important festivity and the temple looks magnificent amidst hundreds of floating lamps, under the starry sky. All the three temples, including Kanipakam Vinayagar Temple, are visited during this time of the year.

 

 

The significance of Kanipakam Temple is that Lord Ganesh is ‘Varasiddhi Vinayaka‘ here because he fulfills the ardent wishes of his devotees when they offer prayers with devotion and sincerity. There are a lot of sevas that a devotee can participate in at the magnificent Kanipakam temple. The first seva of the day is Suprahatham Binduteerthaahishekham which happen at 4:00 AM - 5:00 AM. It awakes the god and is the first darshan of the Lord. Then is the Paalabhishekam where devotees offer the Lord milk. This seva happens throughout the day, with each session being 30 minutes long. It starts at 7:30 AM and ends at 6:15 PM.

 

 

The Temple Management runs 6 guest rooms and Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams Trust runs the operations of 14 rooms for devotees. Another accommodation complex with 100 rooms is under construction. Besides the Temple accommodation, several private hotels and lodges also provide good quality accommodation to the devotees, in Chittoor city. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) runs daily buses between Bangalore and Chittoor to reach the temple. Train facilities are available from Katpadi or Tirupati. We can get down at Tirupati or katpadi and we can reach by bus, taxi or car to kanipakam. The nearby airports are Bangalore, Chennai, and Tirupati from there you can reach by taxi to kanipakam.