KANIPAKAM
Kanipakam is 12 kms from chittoor and 75 kms from
Tirupathi. The famous temple of Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka of Kanipakaam is
situated on chittoor - Aragonda Road. Kanipakam is closer to Karnataka and
Tamilnadu borders.
The word ‘Kani’ means
wet land and ‘Parakam’ means ‘flow of water into the wet land’.
HISTORY OF THE PLACE:
Once upon a time there lived three farmers with physical
deformities. They were dumb, deaf and blind by birth. They owned a piece of
land. In olden days water was drawn from the well by way of Piccota system. As
one of them used to irrigate the field through the channels, the other two used
to ply on the piccota. On one such operation they found that the water in the
well got dried up and they could no longer continue their job. One of them got
into the well and started digging it up. He was taken aback to see the iron
implement hitting a stone like formation. Later, he was shocked to see blood
oozing out from it. Within a few seconds the entire water in the well turned
blood red in colour. Thus, startled by this divine experience all the three
became normal getting rid of their deformities. As soon as the villagers came
to know about this miracle, they thronged to the well and tried to deepen the
well further. But their attempt proved futile because the ‘Swayambhu’ idol (the
self manifested) of Lord Vinayaka emerged from the swirling waters. After this
miracle, coconuts were offered and the theertham from the coconuts covered the
entire area. This led to the modification in the usage of the word
‘Kaniparakam’ and was later pronounced as ‘Kanipakam’. Even today the idol is
in the original well and the springs of the well are perennial and eternal.
During the rainy season, the holy water from the well overflows even today.
Another striking and strange feature of the idol is that it is still growing in
size! At present we can see the knees and the abdomen of the idol. An ardent
devotee had offered a ‘Kavacham’ (armour) to the lord fifty years ago, but
today it is out of size and doesn’t fit the idol. The holy water from the well
is offered to the devotees as Tirtham (Holy water).
LEGEND ASSOCIATED TO
THE TEMPLE:
Long ago there lived two brothers Sankha and Likhita. They
were on a pilgrimage to Kanipakam. As the journey was tiring, the younger
brother Likhita felt hungry. Disregarding the advice of the elder brother he
plucked a mango from the mango grove. Sankha felt bad and reported this to the
ruler of that area and pleaded for punishment for the sin committed during the
piligrimage. Thus Likhita was punished severely being deprived of both arms.
Later they took bath in the river near Kanipakam temple. Lo behold! The chopped
arms were restored to Likhita as soon as he had a dip in the sacred waters of
the river. These incidents lead the ruler to rename the river as Bahuda (bahu
means human arm). Thus the river beside Kanipakam temple is now known as Bahuda
River.
Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka as up-holder of ‘Truth’
The swayambhu idol of Kanipakam is the up-holder of truth.
Day to day disputes between people are resolved by taking a special oath
(Pramanam). The people involved in the disputes i.e., both the parties take a
holy dip in the temple tank (Pushkarini) and swear before the lord. It is taken
as gospel truth. There are instances when the person who committed the sin
voluntarily agrees as soon as he had the dip and much before entering the
temple itself. It seems the lord dawns invisibly on the sinner and makes him
repent & feel guilty for his sinful deeds. Thus the glory of Sri Varasiddhi
Vinayaka spread far and wide and the honourable courts upheld the ‘Special
Oath’ in their judicial pronouncements.
The villagers of Kanipakam believe that the disputes are
settled without the interference of the court, police and middlemen. It is all due
to the purification of the hearts of the rivals under his divine spell. The
guilty accept their guilt and pray to HIM for his forgiveness. Devotees who
wish to give up bad habits like smoking, drinking, etc take bath in the
pushkarini and take are oath in the temple at Kanipakam by contributing Rs.
516/-. The time of the seva is between 5 pm to 5.15 pm everyday which is called
Pramanam.
IMPORTANCE OF LORD
VINAYAKA:
First letter of all the mantras is ‘Om’. Om symbolizes
‘Ganapathi’ the God of the Ganas, who fought against the demons and the rakshas
(the evil doers). When the yagnas could not be continued and Rishis were not
let to live in peace and to continue to perform the rituals they approached
Lord Siva. Lord Siva was pleased with the penance of the Rishis and assured
them that they would be relieved of their suffering. That was the advent of
Lord Vinayaka as the lord of the Ganas assuming the position of Ganadhipathi.
Lord Vinayaka is also called Parvathi Thanaya, Ganesha, Lambodara, Gajanana,
etc., related to his birth. There are various versions in the Puranas like
Padma Purana, Linga Purana, and Siva Purana about his divine birth and
existence who is worshipped by Gods too, to overcome obstacles before their
start anything. Even Pooja to other Gods and Goddesses begins with invocation
to Lord Ganesha. Lord Vishnu proclaimed that worship revolved to any God is
futile, if it is not invoked by the blessings of Lord Vinayaka.
The self manifested idol of Kanipakam (Swayambhu)
The idols are of three types. In some holy places the
presiding deities are not man made. They are self manifested. In some places
Gods themselves install the idols of other deities. There are some holy places
where idols are installed by humans and worshipped. Kanipakam Varasiddhi Vinayaka
is a self manifested one.
Soulful prayers of ardent devotees are well received and
performing Abhishekam to the self - manifested idol fulfils are wishes. People
affected by chronic diseases and Grahapeedas (planetary disorders) offer
special sevas to the Swayambhu Vigraha and are sure to get relieved from the
problems by His Grace.
How to Reach:
Kanipakam is well connected by road from Tirupathi, Tiruthani, Kuppam, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ananthapur, Cuddapah, Vellore and other places. There are regular bus services operated by the APSRTC. The nearest Railway Station is Chittoor and the next is Tirupathi
Kanipakam is well connected by road from Tirupathi, Tiruthani, Kuppam, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ananthapur, Cuddapah, Vellore and other places. There are regular bus services operated by the APSRTC. The nearest Railway Station is Chittoor and the next is Tirupathi