Ganagapura

Ganagapura
ಗಾಣಗಾಪುರ
श्री क्षेत्र गाणगापुर
Village
Ganagapur
Nickname(s): Deval Ganagapuram
Ganagapura

Location in Karnataka, India

Coordinates: 17°10′54″N 76°32′03″E / 17.1817700°N 76.534286°ECoordinates: 17°10′54″N 76°32′03″E / 17.1817700°N 76.534286°E
Country  India
State Karnataka
District Gulbarga
Government
  Body Town Panchayat
Population
  Total 7,000
Demonym Ganagapurnivaru
Language
  Official Kannada
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 585212
Telephone code 08470
Vehicle registration KA32
Nearest city Afzalpura, Gulbarga
Lok Sabha constituency Gulbarga
Vidhan Sabha constituency Afzalpura
Civic agency Town Panchayat
Narasimha Saraswati

Ganagapura (sometimes called Deval Ganagapur) is a Village in Karnataka, India.[1][2] It is located in the Afzalpur taluk of Kalaburagi district in Karnataka.

The village is noted for its temple to Lord Dattatreya, who is said to have attained realization on the confluence (Sangama) of the banks of the rivers Bhima-Amarja.[3][4]

Demographics

In India's 2001 census, Ganagapura had a population of 6491, with 3250 males and 3241 females.[1]

Religious significance

Ganagapura is a kshetra (place of pilgrimage) associated with Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swami, the second incarnation of Dattatreya. According to the book Shri GuruCharitra, he promised that he would abide forever at Ganagapura. In the morning, he would bathe at the confluence of the Bhima and Amarja rivers. At midday, he would go through the village asking for bhiksha (alms of food), and accept pooja offerings in the form of Nirguna Paduka at the temple. Devotees believe that by bathing at the confluence, by begging (Maadhukari) from at least five houses in Ganagapura, and by offering Paduka Pooja at the temple, they can experience the living presence (darśana) of Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swami, and be freed from sins and granted wishes.

Places of interest

Significant places include Nirgun Math, Kalleshewar. The Nirguna Math is adorned with the Nirguna Padukas. Sangam Kshetra – meeting point of Bhima and Amarja rivers, Audumbar Tree, Ash Hill etc.

Lord Dattatreya’s incarnations

Sripaad Shree Vallabh was born in a Brahmin family in a village named Pithapuram (East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, India) and disappeared in Kurvapur.

Narasimha Saraswati (1378−1458) is the Purna avatar of Dattatreya. (As per the Shreepad Shreevallabha Charitra he is second avatar of Dattatreya). He was born in Karanjapur which is modern Lad-Karanja or Karanja in Maharashtra Vidharbha region. He was initially named Narahari or Shaligramadeva. His father's name was Madhav and mother's name was Amba-Bhavani. His surname was Kale. He was born in a Deshastha Brahmin family, Shulka-Yajurvedi Brahman Kanva Shaka, at Karanja.

Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot is an avatar of Dattatreya. His origins are obscure , yet a tale confirms him as Nrusimha Bhan, from Kardalivan near Srisailam. He attained samadhi in April–May of the year 1878.[5]

Transportation

Ganagapur is well connected by road and rail. There are many state-run buses from Gulbarga to Ganagapur. The town is on the railway route.[6] Travellers need to get down at the Ganagapur Road railway station, which is on Gulbarga-Mumbai route. From there to Ganagapur is 22 kilometres (14 mi) by bus or auto-rickshaw. The nearest airport is at Hyderabad located 245 kilometres from Ganagapur.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Village code= 278500 "Census of India : Villages with population 5000 & above". Retrieved 2008-12-18. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  2. "Yahoomaps India :". Retrieved 2008-12-18. D.Ghangapur, Gulbarga, Karnataka
  3. Vasundhara Bire, Avdhoot Aadkar (March 2015). "भीमा-अमरजा संगमातीरी गुरूदत्त गाणगापुरी" [Bhima-Amarja Sangamatiri Gurudatt Ganagapuri]. Akkalkot Swamidarshan (in Marathi) (Solapur: Satish Kulkarni and Swamikrupa Printing press).
  4. Om Sadguru Pratisthan (February 1984). ઓમ સદગુરુ પ્રતિષ્ઠાન નિત્ય ઉપાસના [Om Sadguru Pratishthan Nitya Upaasana] (in Gujarati). Borivali, Mumbai: Pallavi Prakashan.
  5. Swami Samarth
  6. Railway to Ganagapura