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Mahur in central India is a very well known centre of this cult, but on this side of the Godavari it is Ganagapur that enjoys pre-eminence, Audumbar and Narasoba Wedi are the secondary sthans. Here pilgrims and those who seek particular favours from the deity flock by their hundreds. It is commonly believed that Dattatreya in his incarnation as Shri Nrisimha Sarasvati has endowed all the three places with his eternal presence. Out of these places Ganagapur variously referred to as Gandharvapur Ganaga- bhavan etc. being the favourite one of the Guru is dealt with in detail below.
Ganagapur lies outside the political boundaries of the present state of Maharashtra, but in the cultural traditions, especially in relation to the Datta sampradaya, of this land, that place plays an important role. Fifty miles to the south east of Sholapur on the main line of theBombay Madras route of the Central Railways is the station Ganagapur.The Ganagapur kshetra is some fourteen miles to the south of this station. Regular buses run to the kshetra and back. The state buses are so timed as to suit passengers arriving and going back by the important trains on the route. Some important places like Gulburga are directly linked with Ganagapur by bus service. When the bus service was not available, the distance between the station and the town had to be travelled either on foot or by bullock carts. Some pious devotees of Dattatreya had maintained in those days resthouses and annachhatras at intervals along the road. Now they are no longer necessary and seem to have fallen in disuse.
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