Enshrined in several sacred scriptures, eulogised by Vedavyasa; embodied in the archives; endowed by renowned princes; embellished by illustrious sculptors and emancipating millions of devout religionists, this sacrosanct Yatrasthala has formed, as it were, the pendant of the necklace adorning the Goddess of temples that Karnataka is.

THE HALAHALAM EPISODE
The modern Najangud, famous as Galapuri in legends has a glorious past and begins with the churning of Ksheerasagara - the milky ocean for getting nectar that could free devas from danavas, subjecting them to unending hardships and humiliating experiences. With the hearty cooperation of Lord Mahavishnu both the parties put through the plan, and as it went on, there came out from the milky ocean Lakshmi, Uchchaisrava, Iravatha Kamadhenu, Kalpavriksha etc. One after other. And then emerged halahala -the dreadful poison. Dread at its sudden appearance and its devastating effects, all tried to take to heels. After all, life present is sweeter than the life sweetest that may likely come upon later. How would they escape? Where would they take shelter? Finding the total destruction ready to embrace both the races and engulf the world, Lord Maheswar, the Omni- benevolent, unmindful of its implacable effect, volunteered to swallow it. So I collected it into the cup of his hands and drank. Then Mother Parvathi out of compassion for the worlds within her Lord’s stomach and for the safety of his person held his throat tight with her hands. The poison then stopped going further down, but stagnated in the throat, for the Lord instantly brought his lips close for not letting it out back again, lest the conflagration resulting from it would leave the worlds in heaps of ashes. As the poison settled down in his throat, he was called Srikantha -one with poison in the throat, and another name for Nilakantha since h throat turned blue due to the presence of poison. This Lord Maheshwar averted the calamity and bore the torturous effects of poison settled down in the throat. Indeed, his compassion for humans and passion for Jagatkalyana are proverbial and inimitable. This happened here and hence the land turned sacred an sacrosanct. It was called Galapuri or Garalapuri suggesting its origin.

MOTHER LAKSHMI'S EPISODE
Another monumental Sivaleela was enacted here later Lakshmi that surfaced during the churning of ksheerasagar desired passionately to be united in wedlock with Srimannarayana as she was swept off by the super-abundant strength of carrying the Mandarparavatha on his back to make the churning practicable. When expressed her desire, her father Samduraraja advised her to go to Galapuri and do penance duly propitiating! Lord Maheswar, for that Bhaktavashankar is easily accessible and liberally grant boons, if pleased with sincerity. Her deep penance pleased him, who descending asked to spell out her intention. Listening to her fond desire, he mediated and solemnised their wedding here with such pomp and splendour at the sight of which they themselves were dumb -founded, since it was the first time that their full swarupa came to light. During that auspicious moment, Lord Maheswar said that this place having been sanctified by wedding of Mahalakshmi and Mahavishnu and consummated at his intervention would fulfil the desires of worshippers, if they offer puja and vrata with due devotion and pure dedication. Thus this land became doubly holy by these two episodes. Yet there is another that deserves mention amongst the countless of such occurrences that made the Galapuri a unique holy kshetra.

THE DEMON KESI EPISODE
As planned Lord Mahavishnu assuming the most seductive form of Mohini embellished with ravishing exterior and bewitching gestures took the amrita bhanda for distribution among the surasuras. Craftily singling out the devas, she apportioned that divyamrit to gods alone, while the danavas were satisfied with drinking in with their eyes her asadrisalavanya exuding from every pore of her captivating body. While this artful and useful occupation was going on undetected, a lust and lusty demon by name Kesi lured by her dazzle managed to mingle into the row of suras and stretched his hand for amrit. Mohini gave him poison on detection of his deceit. And 10! instead of resulting in his instant death, he grew stronger and powerful, since that poison came from the hand of Mahavishnu. Kesi who grew up into the mightiest danava due to drinking of poison received from the hand of Mahavishnu established his kingdom here and started meeting out a series of unending and unendurable tortures to the sages and harmless people living then there. The harmless hermits, his principal target experienced narakayatna day and night, for that remorseless Kesi besides swallowing the havis -the yagnaphala went on releasing his abnoxious astras to burning of the hermitages, abducting the munipatnis, taunting the tapasvis and de secreting the agnihotra and such other demonic acts for his sadistic pleasure. The afflicted reaching the feet of the Creator sought his intervention for immediate stopping of such acts by killing Kesi. Pleading his inability to the petitioners he took them to Lord Mahavishnu, who listening patiently said that Lord Maheswar alone could accomplish that act. And he followed them along with Brahma. Moved by the pathetic appeals he advised them to start yagna at the sangam of Kapila and Koundini rivers to attract Kesi there, when he would appear on the scene to destroy him. Satisfied with the assurance and the prospect of peaceful life, they began the yagna with an paraphernalia due.

The egoist Kesi with all his like minds and hordes descended with infinite joy to destroy and delight at the destruction of the yaga. Then appeared there Lord Siva and assumed his rudrarupa a mere sight would kin the lily-livered. Kesi though not a match to him in prowess put up a tough fight, but was caught by his hair and was hurled into the yagnakunda. Wailing piteously he went up in flames. Strangely enough, the poison that. came out of his burning body began affecting the people who let out cries of agony, Lord Maheswar swallowed it and relieved them from the torturous effects, although he reeled for a while due to its dreadful effects, His compassion thus knows no limits, nor his selflessness ever forgot its duty of rescuing the suffering victims at the right moment As these acts happened here, the sanctity of Galapuri or Nanjangud mounted higher from age to age without a break or lapse. And it went by the name of Bhukailas, and known as such in an the lokas.

PARASURAMA EPISODE
The kshetra goes by and other name of Parasuram kshetra It has an odd background too. Parasurama the sixth incarnation of Lord Sri mannarayana is a man of strange opposites and wild extremes, either in his attitude towards his family members or others. At the bidding of his father he severed with his potent parasu the head of Renukadevi, his own mother without remorse but when asked to express his desire for boons, he opted for the life of his mother. It was granted and the mother was rejunevated but the sin of killing mother could never be expiated until and unless he undergoes due prayaschitta. He was advised penance and bhupradakshana. Going round and round, he came to Garalapura and attracted by the sublimity of the thick wood, he decided to begin his tapas here. Before that he started clearing the thick wood to making his seat. Unfortunately Lord Mahavishnu who was doing penance then received the blow of his parasu. Blood flowed down. Seeing it, Parasuram was paralysed and grieved. Then said Mahavishnu to him to bring mritrika -soil from the spot where Kesi was killed and that would stop bleeding. And also help to reliving him from the sin of matricide. He fetched it in a flash, and when applied, the flow was stopped anon. He too felt the weight of matricide removed there. Thus a pinch of soil of this punyadham is capable of removing sins and relieving one from the distress of ailments. As Parasuram lived and was relieved here, this kshetra was called Parasuram kshetra too. Legends embody this in detail to attracting people for expiation of sins and alleviation of pain as well.