Gangapur Dattatreya Temple

Introduction to Gangapur Dattatreya Temple

Gangapur Dattatreya Temple is one of the holiest places in India. It is 23 km from Ganagapur Road railway station and is situated in Gangapur, Maharashtra. The presiding deity here is Dattatreya, considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The Temple is built on a hillock; the speciality of the prime idol of this Temple is that it comprises three heads of the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

The place was also called Dhanpur in the olden days and is now the most visited place in Maharashtra for Lord Dattatreya devotees.

In the Southern hall, a raised platform is considered the holiest. There is a small room which is divided into two. There is a small opening with a silver framework on the wall. This allows the devotees to have a glance at the image. The Padukas here is the most significant, worshipped by the devotees. The place has pious vibes the presence of the Lord can be felt here.

Legend of Gangapur Dattatreya Temple

The legend says that once there was a sage named Atri. He used to perform strict penance at this place; he became so immersed in his penance that flames started forming from his jatas or hair locks. Then Lord Shiva and Vishnu appeared before him and asked him about his desire.

There are many more legends related to this place. People have seen results from visiting the Lord here as they got rid of their physical and mental ailments. Even people have returned to life from their fatal conditions after visiting this place.

Shri Guru Charitra has also mentioned that the Lord will always be at Ganagapura. It mentions that in the morning, the Lord will have a bath at the intersection of the Amarja and Bhima rivers. In the afternoon, he will go through the village for food and accept offerings made in the Temple.

Once Gods decided to test Atri and his wife Anasuya as both practised Dharma. God wanted to know if there were any loopholes they could find in their practice.

One morning when the sage went to take a bath, the Gods appeared as Brahmins at their door.

They asked Ansuya for some food, but they put one condition. They told Ansuya to accept food only if she put her clothes off. The lady was startled; however, she wanted to honour the wish of her guests. Ansuya used her moral strength and prepared all sorts of food. However, with her power, she turned the Gods into babies, then took them in her arms and fed them like her babies.

This way, Anasuya took her clothes off and provided her guests with food. This showed the Gods her presence of mind and her duty toward Dharma. Atri, meanwhile, returned to his home and saw the babies; he identified the real nature of the babies, that they were Gods. Atri took the babies to raise them, and later the babies emerged into one, but with three heads that were the heads of the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh.

Architecture of Gangapur Dattatreya Temple

Gangapur Dattatreya is an ancient Temple and boasts unique architecture. The building design is influenced by the Dravida architecture of the 7th century. The Temple is built with stones. Colourful idols are placed on the top of the Dattatreya Temple. The pyramid structure on the top with the idols portrays ancient stories. The pyramid-shaped top of the Temple is called Shikhara. Like other temples, the Temple has Mandapa, Gopuram, Jagati and Antarala.

Festivals in Gangapur Dattatreya Temple

Many festivals are celebrated in this Temple. Guru Purnima is the famous festival of this Temple. It is also called the Vysya Purnima. It is celebrated on the full moon Day of Ashad month. Devotees worship their Guru and Guru Parambara on this day. The Datta Paduka Puja ritual takes place during the Guru Purnima festival. Free Annadhanam is offered during this festival. Naraka Chaturdasi is also celebrated in this Temple. It is a jubilant festival celebrated on the day of Deepavali. Datta Jayanti is an auspicious festival celebrated in this Temple. The festival starts with a cradle ceremony. Niruguna Paduka Puja is performed on Datta Jayanthi. Chariot festival, also called the Rathothsavam, is celebrated on the final day of Datta Jayanthi puja.

Benefits of worshipping in Gangapur Dattatreya Temple

Lord Dattatreya is highly powerful and embodies three God forms, namely Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. People worship Dattatreya to gain success, prosperity, knowledge and wealth. It is believed that worshipping in this Temple can keep the life of the devotees happy.