Ganagapur, a small town situated on the banks of the confluence of River Amarja and River Bheema, is famous for the sacred shrine of Dattatreya. After spending 12 years in Wadi, Narasimha Saraswati lived at Ganagapur for the next 23 years and later went to Sri Sailam. Variously referred to as Gandharvarayapura, Ganagabhavan, Gangapur, etc., this entire kshetra comprises of several temples and sacred thirthas scattered all over. These are called Shatkula, Narasimha, Bhagirathi, Papa Vinashini, Koti, Rudra Pada, Chakra and Manmatha.

The padukas of Narasimha Saraswati are in the main shrine here. Visitors are not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum, but they can have the darshan of the padukas through a niche-like opening in a wall. These padukas are said to be Nirguna Padukas, while those at Wadi are called Manohar Padukas. No abhisheka is performed to these padukas. Only sandal paste is applied to them. It is obligatory on the visitors to take food only once a day and that too, as madhukari from the Brahmin residents in the place.

In a small niche on the western side is enshrined the idol of Ganapathi, known as Vighnahara Chintamani, said to have been installed by Sri Narasimha Saraswathi. On the southern side are the idols of Hanuman, Ganesha and other Hindu deities.

The daily worship and other rituals at the Dattatreya shrine in Ganagapur are quite elaborate and are conducted in the Maharashtrian style.

Datta Jayanthi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of margashira when thousands of devotees assemble at Ganagapur from all over the country. A very large fair is also held on that occasion.

Dattatreya is considered to be the incarnation of the all-powerful trinity of Hindu mythology - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. According to local tradition, the great sage Atri and his wife Anasuya practiced the principles of dharma so strictly that they became formidable rivals of Gods. With a view to proclaim the greatness of this sage couple, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, disguised as Brahmin guests, came to sage Atri's ashrama and set a moral problem to Anasuya to test her strength.

With her will power, Anasuya turned the Gods into small babies. Sage Atri, on his return to the ashrama, recognised the real nature of the babies and took mercy upon them. The three babies amalgamated themselves into one, in the name of Dattatreya,  the incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara together. The chief characteristics of this incarnation were mercy with the specific purpose of the revival of sat dharma or true knowledge.

A new philosophical system on the concept of Datta, as the great preacher of dharma, began to spread in the religious traditions of society from the 9th to 13th centuries.

Sri Guru Charitha, the most authoritative exposition of Dutta cult, indicated that Dattatreya appeared in four places as Sripada, Sri Vallabha and Sri Narasimha Saraswati to preach and propagate the sat dharma. The places are Ganagapur, Mahur, Narasoba wadi and Audubbara, a small village.

Travel Tips

Ganagapur is only 38 km from Gulbarga, which is the nearest railhead on the main line to Mumbai. Regular buses and tourist vans operate from Gulbarga, Pune, Sholapur and many other places.

A number of dharmashalas have been constructed here for the stay of pilgrims and visitors. Chidananda Dharmashala provides comfortable accommodation for overnight stay.