Ganadhal

The legend of this temple dates back to Ramayana. According to it, when Ravana lost all his sons & commanders, he summoned his step-brother Ahiravan/Mahiravana, who was an adept in Maya (illusion). Hearing this, Vibheeshana (Ravana's righteous brother, who sided with Rama), warned Rama & the other Vanaras. As per Rama's instruction, Hanuman built a fortress from his tail, where Rama, Lakshmana & the Vanaras were protected. The discus Sudarshana stood at the top of the fortress.

Mahiravana, who got to know this, assumed the form of Vibheeshana & approached Hanuman at night, saying that he had got a few magical threads, which could protect Rama from demons. The unsuspecting Hanuman let him in. He rendered Rama & Lakshmana unconscious, turned them into dolls & escaped to Manivarthanapura, his capital city in Patala. When Hanuman saw the real Vibheeshana outside, he doubted him. But, he soon realised the truth & went in, only to find all the Vanaras unconscious & Rama-Lakshmana missing. Hanuman repented & decided to himself bring back them. Vibheeshana informed him that there were 2 gateways to Mahiravana's palace; one was in Ravana's palace, the other was through a cave in present-day Ganadhal. Hanuman went through the cave & soon reached Manivarthanapura. He saw that a dark lady with blood-red eyes stopped him. Hanuman informed her about his mission of saving Rama. She said "I am Yerukalamma, the guardian of this city. No one can enter here without my permission. But Mahiravana is doomed. His death is approaching him." & let him in.

As Hanuman entered, he encountered a Vanara, who fought with him. When Hanuman defeated him, a damsel named Deerghadehi came & said "Oh lord, spare him. He is your own son. While you were building a bridge to Lanka, I drank your sweat drops, & he was born. Please bless him. I have named him Mastyavallabha" Hanuman blessed him & proceeding further, was surprised to see another damsel crying & calling Rama's name. He silently approached her & learnt that she was Chandrasena, who had wished to marry Vishnu, but was abducted by Mahiravana. Hanuman also learnt that Mahiravana's soul was not in his body, & was somewhere hidden. He asked her to pretend as if she loved Mahiravana & learn from him about his soul. Hanuman also met Rama-Lakshmana, who were imprisoned in the temple of Yerukalamma. He bowed to them & said that he would soon free them & take them back. Then, he caused havoc in Manivarthanapura by killing demons. Mahiravana, who tried to kill him, was rendered unconscious.

Later, when he approached Chandrasena, she pretended to love him, & asked him to marry her as soon as possible. She said "What will happen if you suddenly die?". Mahiravana said "Don't worry. My soul is in the form of 5 bees, that wander outside the earth. Their humming is fatal, & they live under a rock near the entrance to my city. Only if they are killed together, I can die." After he left, Chandrasena reported everything to Hanuman, who thanked her & approached the place where the bees lived.

He thought "If I had 5 faces, I could have swallowed all 5 bees at a time. Oh Sri Rama, help me" & he started praying. Instantly, a new strength enveloped him, & he assumed the form of having 5 face (one his own, the others Varaha, Garuda, Narasimha & Hayagriva) & swallowed all 5 bees at once. At the same time, Mahiravana, who was preparing to sacrifice Rama-Lakshmana, fell down & died. Rama, who was set free, blessed Chandrasena & returned to the Vanara camp, along with Hanuman & Lakshmana

Thousands of years later, in the 16th century, Sri Raghavendra had a vision of Panchamukhi Hanuman, Lakshmi Venkatesha & Kurma. Later, a person named Bheemayya built the temple. Now, his 4 children, headed by Shamachar, have become the chief priest of the temple

As of 2001 India census, Ganadhal had a population of 4,266 with 2,149 males and 2,117 females and 758 Households.[2]

• Naradagadde
• Bichali
• Mantralayam
• Raichur

• http://Raichur.nic.in/