GURU DATTATREYA OF GANAGAPUR

THE TEMPLE COMPLEX

The present temple stands on the original site of the asram of Nrisimha Saraswati and faces the west. The Mahadwara built in the Maharastra model is surmounted by a Nagarkhana. Crossing it, we enter the spacious mandapa adorned with pillared aisles with wall curtains serving as rooms. To the south lies the garbhagriha - a small room divided into two by a separating wall. The outer part has two doors, and upto this alone the visitors are admitted. There is a silver plated opening in this wall. In the inner most one there is installed the image of Dattatreya and below it lies the Nirguna padukas - a pair of sandals - the holiest of holies to be seen through a silver framed small opening in the wall. It is the symbol of the eternal presence of Dattatreya, in his form as Nrisimha Saraswati. In this garbhagriha there is another image of Shri Vigneshwar Chintamani in the niche on western wall, supposed to have been installed by the Guru when he settled down here. No visitor is allowed to enter the garbhagriha.

A new temple with better attraction is built and it encampass the old one. Around the shrine, there are some images and sacred objects held dear to the Guru. Among them the Aswartha tree comes first and it has an exciting background. The belief current here says that there dwelt a brahmarakshasi in it once due to a curse, and people were terribly afraid of going near it. When the guru came he was acquainted with it. Out of his infinite compassion, he liberated it and made the spot holy.There are two images of Hanuman and Naganath on the platform and another set of images on the northern side. As it is dedicated to gurus, it has neither mini-shrines nor niches anywhere.

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