Twin Ganesha Temple, Barsur – Legends

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.