Shree Ganesha Temple, Idagunji, Karnataka

Shree Ganesha Temple also known as Mhatobar Shree Vinayaka Devaru is located on the West Coast of India in the Idagunji town in Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka state, India. It is around 210 km from Panjim, Goa, 500 km from Bangalore and 175 km from Mangalore.

Idagunji where the temple is located is small village on the west coast of India close to the Sharvathi River which joins the Arabian Sea. It is about 14 km from Honnavar and 7 km from a road which branches from the National Highway 17, towards the west coast.

Honnavara, the capital of the taluka in which Idagunji lies, is also the nearest railway station.

Idagunji Devasthana is an ancient temple with a history of more than 1500 years. The story of the temple is as follows.

At the end of 'Dwapara Yuga' great saints were praying to the Sutha-Pouranika at Badarikashrama. Shri Krishna had implied to eliminate the on coming doshas of 'Kaliyuga'. The divine saint, Valakhilya initiated narrating the significance of Kunjavana.

Valakhilya along with other immortal saints was performing penitential activities in a forest. They started experiencing diverse hindrance in penitentiary activities. The holy saint was agitated by these obstacles. He seeked solace and worshipped Lord Krishna. Narada the noble saint approached Valakhilya. Narada received cordial and satiate wel-come with due rituals. Valakhilya explained his difficult situation to the divine saint and requested him to suggest pragmatic solutions to deal with the obstacles on his way. Narada advised him to worship God Vigneshwara (the remover of obstacles) before starting the penance again.

Valakhilya requested Narada to show him an appropriate place to worship the deity. Narada along with Valakhilya and other saints wandered westward in search of a suitable place. They came across the Sharavati river which gracefully caressed and consolidated with the ocean.

Narada chalked out an exact place located a few miles away to the left of Sharavati. The place was named as Kunjaranya. This would be a deserving place for their penitential activities. To add up to the significance of the place, Narada explained that in the past from time to time the Holy Trinity, Hari, Har and Brahma have come to this place to conduct their penance to stop the destruction of the "Asuras" (the demons). They also created lakes termed as "Chakratirtha" and "Brahmatirtha" which is truly a spiritual inspiration.

After sketching out this to all the saints, Narada with the help of the saints fabricated another lake named "Devatirtha". He then offered to bring Ganapathi (Vinayaka) along with other Gods including the Holy Trinity.

Narada approached Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara to attend the "Puja" at Kunjaranya offered by the saints. He also took the liberty of requesting Parvathi to send her son, Ganapathi to the saints for the removal of obstacles.


Narada's charisma led all the Heavenly Gods along with Lord Ganapathi to attend the "Puja" with eminence and granduer. The temple dedicated especially for this purpose was decked with attractive decor and the enormous glittering diamonds and stones.

Ganapathi received the rites, rituals and ceremonious formalities on the second day of Poorvathretha Yuga Nrapavara Chanda Shakabda 813 Vibhava Samwathsara which was decided as Uttarayana Shishiraruthu Maghamasa Shukla Dwitheeya Budhavara Punarwasu Nakshatra (Uttarashadha Nakshatra Visvamuhoortha the most auspicious time by Brahma.

The great saints and Heavenly beings chanted the hymns in praise of Lord Ganapathi. Ganapathi, magnificently attired, was holding “Modhaka” and “Padma” in his hands.

Immensely pleased by the devotion rendered on him by the saints, Ganapathi expressed his desire to grant the wishes of his devotees. The other Gods were cherished and treated equivalently. They also blessed their worshippers. The other Gods appealed to go to their original places. Ganapathi emphasized his decision to stay and gratify the desires of his devotees. He also implied the Gods to leave behind a part of their omniscient power in the various lakes encompassed there. (Temple Story Source- Temple Website)

Panchakhadya is prepared for Lord Ganesha. It is the special prasad of this temple

The central icon of the Idagunji Temple dates to 4-5th century. The idol of Ganesha in dvibhuja style, similar to that of the Gokarna Ganesha temple, nearby Idagunji. 

He has two arms and is standing on a stone slab. His right hand holds a lotus bud, and he holds a modak sweet in other hand. 

He wears a garland across the chest in the style of ayagnopavita (sacred thread). 

Ganesha is adorned with a necklace of small bells. A rat, the vahana or vehicle of Ganesha, always depicted alongside Ganesha, is not depicted.

The best puja offering that a devotee offers to Ganesha is garike grass(doorve)

Temple Office-

Shri Vinayaka Devaru, Idagunji
Melina Idagunji, Honnavara (North Kanara) - 581423
Karnataka, India
Temple Office - (08387) 247227
E-mail- info@idagunji.org

Website- http://www.idagunji.org

Me at the Temple

LET SHREE GANESHA SHOWER HIS BLESSINGS ON ONE AND ALL.