Gnana Saraswati Temple - Basara

Historical Perspective

The son of Ikshwaka King, Danda had molested the daughter of his own mentor, Sukracharya. Then Sukracharya had cursed his kingdom to be destroyed and showered granules of earth all over. The entire kingdom was buried deep under the heap and a thick forest grew over it. Thus this forest came to be called as Dandakaranya.

Indra, Surya, Vinayaka, Lord shri Maha Vishnu and Lord Shiva and a host of others are known to have performed penance in Dandakaranya. Kumaraswamy too, undertook penace - in a cave; the mountain later came to be known as Kumara Chalam.

Veda Vyasa has edited the ‘Vedas’ and authored the ‘Upanishadas’, so that the common man can understand the Vedas. He had also written 18 great puranas besides the most outstanding epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana. All these great works form fulcrum to make people virtuous.

Vyasa had constantly felt that he needed to do many more things. Haunted by this discontent, he had undertaken Pilgrimage. While headed towards north India, he passed through Dandakaranya. On the banks of Godavari, he found Kumara Hill, which was conducive for his penance as the place was replete with flora of great excellence. And also the presence of Sharada - the Goddess of education as per Hindu mythology, was felt all over. Hence, he performed penance for her. The mother blesses him and instructed him to pour sand at three places to facilitate her to descent as Lakshmi, Saraswati and Mahankali – the trio of Hindu goddesses.

Each day he used to pour sand at three places while chanting manthras. Lakshmi, Saraswati and Mahankali idols were found at three places. The presiding deity is Saraswati.

Over a period of time, three temples were erected at this location.

These temples were plundered between the 11th and 18th centuries by invaders. This region was under the rule of Ahmed Shahi, Imud Shahi, Kutub Shahi and Bahir Shahi, of the Delhi Sultanate dynasty. The invaders attacked the temple of Gnana Saraswati and destroyed the idol of goddess Maha Lakshmi, among several other temples. Makkaji Patel, a Veerashaiva, with the help of the local youth, fought with them, who turned away.

Subsequently, Makkaji Patel had invited Sri Vidyaranya Bharati Swamy, the Peethadhipati of Sringeri to re-consecrate the temple to sanctify it.

A new statue of Sri MahaLakshmi was brought from Jaipur and was installed on the left side of Sri Gnana Saraswati.