Spirituality

The Ghosts of Ganagapur Temple, Karnataka

Do you believe in spirits, ghosts, or exorcism? The word exorcism is derived from the Greek word exousia, meaning an oath. Exorcism means invoking the higher powers to compel the spirit that has been haunting an individual. This casting of evil spirits is carried out in several places across India.

Most of us simply dismiss the mere existence of ghosts, demons, and demonic possessions. Located in the Kalburgi district of Karnataka, Ganagapur temple gives you tangible proof of the presence of spirits, demons, dark magic, and its effect on mortal beings. Today, in the blog series of mysterious temples in India, we will visit Lord Dattatreya temple of Ganagapur, which is considered one of the most potent places on earth to get rid of evil spirits.  

Born in the fourteenth century, Narsimha Saraswati was a great sage and a Guru belonging to Dattatreya Sampradaya (tradition). As per the ancient spiritual book of Guru Charitra, he was known as the second incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. Born in Maharashtra, after becoming a Sanyasi, he travelled all over India, finally settling in Ganagapur for 20 years.

But what makes this temple unique from every other temple in India. The answer lies in the Madhyanha Arti (noontime prayer). Every day, Arti is conducted in the main temple, which starts just before noon, when the Sun comes exactly above the sanctum sanctorum tower. The temple is surrounded by the shade and jungle-gym-like structures we see on the children’s playgrounds. As soon as the Arti begins, people affected by the evil possessions, negativities, and ghosts create havoc around the temple premises.

Possessed people climb on those bars, screaming and cursing Lord Dattatreya, saying they won’t leave the host alone. May it be the middle-aged women, teenagers, or elderly men, these possessed individuals lose the sense of time, location, and who they are. They start cursing their family members, Gods, and even their parents in an unspeakable language.

It is believed that Lord Dattatreya forces those evil spirits to leave an individual’s body, and these negative and dark powers resist the Lord’s back. But as the sound of the Madhyanha Arti reaches the sky, these possessed people (or the evil within them) start screaming from their lungs. As the drum beats of Arti peak, these poor people laugh, cry, jump, run, dance, and roll on their heads across the premises, and it’s a gruesome sight, not meant for the faint-hearted.

Without the slightest regard for their clothes, hair, appearance, or status, they become out of control as Lord Dattatreya extracts those negativities. As Arti stops, these people fall down to the ground, dropping like dead bodies. For a few minutes, they stay there, lying on the ground, panting and huffing. After that, everything becomes normal. Exhausted, possessed get up, tidy up, and approach the temple’s deity, thanking Him for expelling the ghost, demon, dark powers of the negative energies haunting them.         

The sacred pilgrimage of Ganagapur

Lord Dattatreya is the incarnation of the Holy Trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. Sanctified Ganagapur is located where two rivers, Amarja and Bhima, meet each other. You will find two ancient temples in this town. The first one is Sangam Teerth, where the rivers meet. The second one is Nirguna Matha, three kilometres away from the Sangam. Apart from these two temples, several other sites in the nearby vicinity have powerful spiritual vibrations. A particular tradition of Darshana is taken here by the devotees. Let’s walk with them.

Bhima-Amarja Sangam

 Once, Lord Indra, the King of heavens, was carrying a pot filled with immortality elixir. While carrying, one drop fell on earth, and later on, that became the river Amarja. As per Guru Charitra, the sacred book of Dattatreya tradition, there are eight great places. This confluence is considered one of them.

At first, the devotee must take a dip in the holy Sangam (river confluence) to cleanse himself physically and mentally. This dip in the sacred waters makes him more receptive to the positive vibrations from the place.

Sacred Audumbar

 Fig or Audumbar tree has immense importance in the Dattatreya sect. There is a giant Audumbar tree right on the bank of the Sangam, where great sage Narsimha Saraswati meditated for years. Devotees believe that it is the same tree, which has come out from the Samudra Manthan, or churning of the celestial sea. After bathing in the rivers, devotees bow in front of the tree, where a great sage meditated and gained self-knowledge, leading to salvation.

Bhasma Hill

 Bhasma means ashes. May it be the followers of Shiva, Kaali, or Dattatreya, Bhasma plays an essential role in the rituals of all these sects. Lord Parshuram, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, has performed a Yagya and penance in this exact location. Yagya created a giant mound of ashes here, later known as Bhasma hill.

Vibhuti, Bhasma, or pure ash, has great importance in spirituality. It represents the detachment from the materialistic things to connect with the divine. Devotees believe that applying ash from this place protects them from evil energies and enhances receptivity for the higher positive energies from the universe. So, after taking a bath and praying in front of the fig tree, the devotee comes to the ash hill and applies Bhasma over his head. Many carry a small can to carry those holy ashes to their homes and use them regularly.   

Nirguna Padukas

 Nirguna means formless, and Paduka means Sandals. Footwears belonging to the sage Shree Narsimha Saraswati are kept in the Nirguna Matha, the primary temple in Ganagapur. After visiting the Vibhuti hill, the devotee surrendered himself in front of the Paduka of Shree Narsimha Saraswati. After doing the Abhisheka (bathing the deity and a few other spiritual rituals), devotees sit under a shade surrounding the temple, reading a few pages from the Gurucharitra (holy book of nine verses, based on the life of Lord Dattatreya and his avatars). If they have a specific Sankalpa in mind, devotees sit there for three to seven days, reading the Gurucharitra.  

Why should you visit Ganagapur?

-Being a potent spiritual place, visiting Ganagapur gives you immense spiritual joy, with materialistic blessings from Lord Dattatreya. 

 -There are numerous accounts of devotees who have come here, stayed reading Gurucharitra, and have been cured of their mental or physical illnesses. 

 -Many with mental illness are brought here, and after a couple of days in the temple, they are cured by the grace of Lord Dattatreya. 

 – Devotees who read chapter eight from Gurucharitra are known to be blessed with bright and wise children. People who have problems regarding a job get marvellous results when they come here, bathe in the holy rivers, and read chapter fourteenth of Gurucharitra. 

 Devotees suffering from financial loss are often seen reading the eighteenth chapter for their economic well-being.

 -If someone is considered possessed or under the spell of an evil eye, they are sent here to read chapters twenty and twenty-one for protection against the negative powers. Reading a holy book of Gurucharitra, sitting near the Nirgun Paduka, they experience strengthening their subtle body. 

 -Nirgun Padukas are considered a medium for devotees to dialogue with the Divine Lord Dattatreya. People visiting the temple feel that these Nirgun Padukas exude healing energy. 

 -Even if the devotees are not suffering from a particular problem, they feel that sitting on the temple floor, reading the Gurucharitra, and joining the Puja ceremony makes them calm, humble, positive, and energised.

Early texts in Tantra mention people being possessed by the Yoginis, Goddesses, and evil powers. Yantra, Mantra, and Divine centres on earth have protected the devotees against the dark forces. Ganagapur is one such powerful spiritual place known to expel negativities and empower the devotees with positive forces. So, next time you are visiting Karnataka, do not forget to visit this powerful place blessed by Lord Dattatreya himself.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the magical Dattatreya temple of Ganagapur. Please subscribe to our mailing list to stay connected and receive information about spirituality. In case of any queries, please write to us at info@chamundaswamiji.com. You can check out our YouTube channel Chamunda Swamiji where you can learn Tantra, Mantra, Yantra, and Meditation from His Holiness Shri Chamunda Swamiji.