| Temples & Legends Of
Maharastra |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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GANAGAPUR -DATTATREYA |
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| The shrine at
Ganagapur has not yet assumed the form of a temple, though it is on its way to do so.
Originally it was a math or ashram of Shri Nrisimha Sarasvati. It is an old block of
buildings. The main gate faces towards the west. This gate is surmounted by a nagarkhana
of the Maratha model. On getting entrance one comes into a spacious mandap. This must have
been once an open court yard after the fashion of medieval mansions, but is now completely
roofed over. Around this courtyard are pillared aisles now turned into rooms by putting up
wall curtains. On a raised platform on the southern side of the mandap is the holy of
holies, It is a very small room divided into two by a wall. The outer part has two doors
and the visitor is admitted there. In the inner portion are the image of Dattatreya and
the ‘nirguna padukas’-a pair of sandals. A very small opening in the wall gives
the pilgrim a glimpse of the image. This opening is framed in a silver-plate framework.
Some feet away is a door in the dividing curtain. The door has also a plated frame donated
by a devotee. In front of this, inside the sanctuary are the padukas. It is these padukas
that are the object of worship at this place. It is a symbol of the constant and eternal
presence of Dattatreya in his form as Nrisimha Sarasvati at this kshetra. Facing the
padukas in a small niche in the western wall is a small Ganesh image known as Shri
Vigbnahar Chintamani. This image is said to have been estabished by the Guru when he came
to stay in this math. Nobody is allowed to enter the garbhagriha that contains the padukas
and the image. |
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