Twin Ganesha Temple, Barsur –
Legends
While Mahabali was performing
Ashvamedha Vedic sacrifices to celebrate his victories and giving away gifts to
everyone, Vamana approached him and asked for three steps of land. Mahabali
granted him the gift. Vamana then metamorphosed into Vishnu's giant Trivikrama
form, taking all of heaven in one step and earth in second. Mahabali realized
that the Vamana was none other than Vishnu and offered his own head for the
third step. He entered Pathala with the touch of Vishnu.
After this incident, Bali's son
Banasur had established a new capital called Banasura in Dandakaranya
Vananchal. His influence was so strong and fierce that all the kings and
even some of the devas shuddered in front of him. Banasura used to worship a Rasalingam given
to him by Vishwakarma, on instruction from Vishnu.
An ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, he used his thousand arms to play the Mridanga when
Shiva was performing the Tandava dance.
Lord Shiva gave Banasura a boon
and the latter requested Lord Shiva to be his protector: therefore, Banasura
became invincible. As time passed, he became even more cruel and arrogant. He
locked up his daughter, Ushas, in a fortress called Agnigarh because
many young suitors had come to him asking for her hand. One day, Usha saw a
young man in her dream and fell in love with him. Chitraleka was a friend of Usha and
daughter of Kumbhanda,
Minister of Banasura.
Chitralekha was a talented
artist who helped Ushas to identify the young man seen in her dream by
sketching various portraits. She had dreamt of Aniruddha,
the grandson of Krishna. Chitralekha, through supernatural
powers, abducted Aniruddha from the palace of Krishna and brought him to
Ushas., which led to a fight between Krishna and Banasura. Lord Shiva came to
rescue his devotee, but after Krishna pleaded his cause Lord Shiva allowed him
to continue. Thereafter, Krishna started severing the arms of Banasura and cut
off all of them except for two.
Lord Shiva requested Krishna to
spare his devotee's life. Banasura too apologized to Krishna and he was
forgiven. Aniruddha was then married to Ushas. The decline of Barsur started
from this day itself, but there was never a drought in Barsur due to Shiva Kripa. It
is said that Usha, daughter of Banasur and Chitralekha, daughter of his Minister
Kubhand, were intimate friends. Both of them were devotees of Lord Ganesha and
requested Banasur to construct temple for Ganesha. King Banasur built this twin
Ganesha Temple as per their wish. The city Barsur was named after king
Banasura, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.
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