BASARA - GNANA SARASWATI AALAYAM 

As this sacred shrine is situated on the border of Maharasra, the number of Maharastrian devotees is exceedingly large and the frequency of their visits too is equally greater. In fact they treat the MOTHER as their daughter wedded to an Andhra. So she is the daughter-in-law of Andhras only according to locals Transcending such distinctions, she blesses the adorers, if genuine prayers are offered.

According to Sthalapurana, Vyasa chose this sublime quiet place for his abode after the Kurushetra war and settled down with his disciples along with sage Suka. His presence lent special spiritual grandeur to this place and it passed for a centre of learning. During his stay, he used to' bring three fistful of sand from Godavari sand bed after bath and deposit it in three heaps which became by his tapas sakti Timurthinis - Sarada, Lakshmi and Gowri.

Three is a cave near the main shrine called Naraharamalya, where these three goddesses are worshiped. Another object that lures the attention of the visitors is a granite pillar that emits saptaswaras, when struck with a stone. Yet, one more it possesses is, a tree called Oudambra at whose base are placed the sacred sandals of Dattatreya which blesses Santanaprapti with a mere touching by the barren woman.

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