Anegudde Vinayaka Temple, Kumbhashi: A Ganpati Mukti Sthala

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Shree Anegudde Vinayaka Temple, Kumbhashi

Udupi district, Karnataka

Quick Answer
Anegudde Vinayaka Temple stands on a small hill at Kumbhashi in Udupi district, Karnataka. Local tradition connects it to a story of the Pandava Bhima receiving a weapon from Lord Ganesha.
At a Glance
DeitySiddhi Vinayaka (Ganesha), standing four-armed idol with silver armour
LocationUdupi district, Karnataka
Built / OriginAncient origin linked to Mahabharata-era tradition; temple structure developed over centuries
TimingsSevas and darshan generally run from about 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.
Entry FeeFree entry.
VIP / Special DarshanNo online booking or separate VIP darshan facility is documented; darshan follows the regular queue, along with the popular Tulabharam ritual weighing.
Nearest AirportMangalore International Airport, about 40 to 90 kilometres away depending on the route taken.
Nearest Railway StationKundapura railway station, about 8 to 12 kilometres away.

About This Temple

Anegudde means elephant hillock in Kannada. The temple is one of the seven Mukti Sthala, or places of liberation, honoured in the coastal Karnataka region known as Parashurama Kshetra.

History and Puranic Background

According to local temple tradition, recorded in the devotional pilgrimage work Tirtha Prabandha composed by the Madhwa saint Vadiraja Tirtha, this region once suffered a severe drought. Sage Agastya arrived to perform a yagna to please the rain gods, but a demon named Kumbhasura repeatedly disturbed the sacred ritual.

[Image needed: Devotees performing Tulabharam ritual]
Suggested alt text: "Shree Anegudde Vinayaka Temple, Kumbhashi Devotees performing Tulabharam ritual"

The sages sought help, and it is said that Lord Ganesha blessed Bhima, one of the five Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata, with a sword to defeat Kumbhasura. Bhima succeeded in ending the demon's disturbance, and the yagna was completed. The place came to be called Kumbhashi in memory of this event, and the hill on which Ganesha's blessing was received became known as Anegudde.

This region of coastal Karnataka is described in wider Puranic and pilgrimage literature, including sections of the Skanda Purana's Sahyadri Khanda, as Parashurama Kshetra, land said to have been reclaimed from the sea through the penance of Sage Parashurama. Anegudde is honoured as one of the seven Mukti Sthala within this sacred coastal belt.

It is worth noting that the Tirtha Prabandha is a respected devotional pilgrimage work by a recognised Madhwa saint, not one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, so the Kumbhasura episode is presented here as local temple tradition carried forward through that text and generations of devotees.

Sacred Sloka

एकदन्तं महाकायं लम्बोदरं गजाननम् । विघ्ननाशकरं देवं हेरम्बं प्रणमाम्यहम् ॥

Ekadantam Mahakayam Lambodaram Gajananam, Vighnanasakaram Devam Herambam Pranamamyaham.

Meaning: I bow to the One-Tusked, mighty-bodied, large-bellied, elephant-faced God Heramba, the remover of obstacles.

Source: A traditional dhyana (meditation) verse used for Ganesha's various forms described across the Puranas, including the Mudgala Purana, which lists eight incarnations of Ganesha and several distinct iconographic forms.

Why Devotees Visit

Tulabharam, where a devotee is weighed against items like coconut, jaggery or rice offered to the deity, is a well known ritual practice at this temple.

How to Reach

By Air: Mangalore International Airport, about 40 to 90 kilometres away depending on the route taken.

By Train: Kundapura railway station, about 8 to 12 kilometres away.

By Road: On National Highway 66 (formerly NH-17), with direct buses from Udupi, Mangalore and Kundapura.

Pooja and Rituals

  • Daily sevas from morning to evening
  • Tulabharam, the ritual of weighing a devotee against coconut, jaggery or rice offered to the deity
  • Special worship on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday, considered auspicious days here
  • Annual Rathotsava (chariot festival) held in the first week of December

VIP Darshan

No online booking or VIP darshan lane is documented for Anegudde; devotees join the regular queue, which also handles the popular Tulabharam weighing ritual.

Travel Tips

  • Located about 9 kilometres from Kundapura town on National Highway 66.
  • The temple is a short climb up the hillock, elderly visitors can take it slowly with breaks.
  • Combine with Udupi Krishna temple and Kollur Mookambika temple for a coastal Karnataka pilgrimage circuit.

Live Darshan

There is currently no official 24x7 live darshan video stream available for Shree Anegudde Vinayaka Temple. In the meantime, here is a darshan video of the temple:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Anegudde Vinayaka temple timings?

Sevas and darshan generally run from about 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.

How do I reach Anegudde temple from Mangalore?

Mangalore International Airport is about 40 to 90 kilometres away depending on the route, and the temple is also reachable by bus along NH 66.

What is Tulabharam at Anegudde temple?

It is a ritual where a devotee is weighed on a scale against items such as coconut, jaggery, sugar or rice, which are then offered to the deity.

Why is Anegudde called a Mukti Sthala?

It is honoured as one of seven Mukti Sthala, or places of liberation, within the coastal Karnataka region known in tradition as Parashurama Kshetra.

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