Visakhapatnam :

The Karya Siddhi Vinayaka temple at Chodavaram is considered one of the two self-originating Vinayaka temples in AP, the second one being the Kanipakam temple in Chittoor district.

According to archaeological experts, both the temples were constructed roughly during the same time by the Chalukya Cholas (roughly 1200 AD).

The original Vinayaka temple and idol were discovered over 200 years ago at the spot where the present temple was built. According to the village elders, much effort was then put into shifting the idol to a nearby sivalayam. However, they were unable to do so as, according to a well-known local story that has gained mythical proportions, the snout of the Vinayaka was so long that they could not unearth it.

M Jagannadham, a local history buff, native and old timer, said, “The remains of the old temple were unearthed in 1850. However, the idol continued to remain sunk as it could not be propped up. Even today the Mula Virat, Lord Ganesh’s idol, cannot be completely seen. Only the upper portion of the torso can be properly seen and the rest lies buried.”

According to heritage conservationist Rani Sarma, not much may ever be known about the origins of the temple as the new temple built on the old premises has been repaired and reconstructed beyond recognition in the last 200 years. “One cannot go against the beliefs of the people for the Vinayaka here is said to be the Karya Siddhi Vinayaka, one who helps us achieve what we set out to do. It is people who wanted the temple to be built and rebuilt in the name of development and betterment,” she said.

Pointing out that the temple was built during the Chalukya-Chola period she said: “The Eastern Chalukya-Chola period saw a resurgence of Shaivism in the region and hence the large number of Shiva temples.”

Regarding the Swayambhu (self-originating) legend — a term generally used to describe ancient shrines that have been discovered by accident — a senior employee of the state archaeology department said, “How does one explain the remains of a temple unearthed from the ground? Though the general perception is that the shrine came out on its own, not much should be read into it from the archaeological or scientific point of view. It has more to do with the faith of the people.”

“The pity is that there is little or no scope for archaeological studies to be conducted as the temple has been rebuilt many times over the last 200 years. But the fact that the idol is located close to the old fort premises goes to prove that the temple may originally date back at least a 1,000 years,” he added.

The temple priest, Kodamanchili Ganesh, said, “We have been the priests for several generations now. It is true that the temple, which dates back to several hundred years, has been built and rebuilt over the years.” While pointing out that many people did come to research the origins of the temple, he said that keeping in view the fact that it was a live and vibrant place of worship, not much digging and excavation work could be done.

According to Jagannadham, Chodavaram came into existence as an agraharam (a Brahmin hamlet) following a grant by Chalukya Cholas to members of the Brahmin community. “It then developed into a centre of Vedic learning and Shaivite worship and went on to draw the attention of members of the trading class, who also contributed immensely to its growth, making it a major trading centre. A garrison was later built by the Chalukya Cholas to protect their trading interests,” he explained.

The legend: Legend has it that the snout of the Vinayaka is so long that the locals were unable to unearth it. The idol continues to remain sunk even today with only the upper portion of the torso visible to devotees and the rest remaining buried

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Venkatesh Bayya, TNN / July 04th, 2015