There are many shrines for Lord Ganesh in India, but one in Andhra Pradesh has a special legend. This legend attracts many pilgrims to Chittoor.
The name ‘Kanipakam’ comes from two Tamil words. ‘Kani’ means a piece of land and a quarter. ‘Pakam’ means the flow of water into the earth. The legend says the idol of Lord Ganesh appeared from the ground. This made the temple’s well overflow with water, which then irrigated a large area.
Kanipakam Story
Three disabled brothers, one mute, one deaf, and one blind, were farming a small piece of land. One day, while drawing water from a well, they found it dry. One brother decided to dig the well. He hit a rock, and to their surprise, blood flowed from it, turning the water red. Miraculously, the brothers were cured of their disabilities.
News of this miracle spread. People from nearby villages started digging the well. They found the head of a Ganesh idol but couldn’t find the whole idol. They believed it was a ‘Swayambhu’ idol, which appeared on its own.
A temple was built around this Swayambhu Ganesh idol. Its exact age is unknown, but it might be over 1000 years old. Today, the well around the idol still flows with water, even in the rainy season. This water is considered sacred and is given to devotees as ‘Pavithra Theertham’.
The Growing Idol of Lord Ganesh
The idol of Lord Ganesh, called Swayambhu Sri Varasiddi Vinayaka Swamy, is believed to keep growing. Locals say that when it was first found, only the head was visible. The head has a wound from an iron tool used during the digging. Now, devotees can also see the abdomen. A silver armor given to the idol in 1947 no longer fits, showing the idol has grown.
Sathya Pramanala Nilayam
The Swayambhu Sri Varasiddi Vinayaka Swamy Temple in Kanipakam is also known as the ‘Sathya Pramanala Nilayam’, or the abode of truth. People come here to take an oath before the deity to prove their honesty.
If someone is accused of something, they can take an oath before Lord Vinayaka. This involves taking a holy dip in the temple pond and making a declaration. It is believed that a guilty person will avoid this oath, fearing divine punishment within 40 days.
This practice has been followed for centuries. Even during British rule, people trusted the oaths taken at Kanipakam. Today, some important cases are still resolved through these oaths.