Sri Datta Kshetra Hampiholi is in Ramdurga Taluk, Belgaum District, Karnataka.
Over 200 years ago, Sri Ramanand Maharaj and his son, Sri Sadanand Maharaj (also known as Sri Shivappayya Inamdar), who attained Samadhi at Babanagar in Bijapur District, played a key role in the history of this temple.
Sri Jayappa Desai of Shirasangi, a devoted follower of Sri Ramanand Maharaj and Sri Sadanand Maharaj, was gifted the village of Hampiholi (the term “gift” refers to INAM) by them.
Sri Sadanand Maharaj, in turn, gave the village of Hampiholi (also an “INAM”) to his brother, Sri Nagappayya, and later took penance and Samadhi at Babanagar.
Sri Kumashi Narasimha Guruji, a Shri Devi Aradhak, followed the tradition of ‘Sri Devi Gondhal’ and was the family guru of the Inamdar family. The descendants of Sri Nagappayya and Sri Visappayya Inamdar, including us, are from this lineage. Nagappayya, brother of Shivappayya, did not have children, so after his passing, Visappayya, the second son of Shivappayya, moved to Hampiholi to manage the property. The Hampiholi Inamdars are descendants of Visappayya (and thus Shivappayya).
Around 150 years ago, the Diwanji of Nargund, suffering from a strange disease, was performing seva at Sri Kshetra Ganagapura. One night, he dreamt that Sri Paramapoojya Narasimha Saraswati (the second avatar of Lord Dattatreya) instructed him to visit Hampiholi and find his ‘Padukas’ (holy sandals) in the bamboo grove on the fields of the Inamdar family, near the Malaprabha River. Similarly, Sri Narasappayya Inamdar had the same dream. They both found the ‘Padukas’ in the fields, and after performing the prasthisthapana (installation), the Diwanji’s disease was cured. From that time, Hampiholi became known as Sri Datta Kshetra.
Later, Sri Vasudevanand Nashikar Maharaj, a disciple of Sri Tembe Maharaj, came to Hampiholi and started the tradition of ‘Sri Datta Pooja and Bhajana’. Since then, under his guidance, the Pooja and Bhajana Saptaha has been held annually, beginning on the 5th day of Chaitra (Panchami) and continuing until the 12th day (Dwadashi). In 1955, Sri Dattappayya Inamdar conducted the Ati Rudra Yaga.
During the 124th-year celebrations of the Saptaha (April-May 2025), the Sri Pavamana Homa, Sri Maharudrabhisheka, Sri Rama Taraka Homa, and Sri Datta Yaaga were performed.
In 1979, Sri Kanchi Paramacharya, Sri Chandrashekhar Swamiji, visited the Datta Kshetra and performed anusthana (spiritual practices). In 2001, as part of the 100th-year celebrations, the Ati Rudra Yaga was performed again, and this tradition continues.
Under the guidance of Sri Datta Avadhoot Maharaj from the Sri Brahma Chaitanya Ashram in Hebballi, development works at the temple are progressing rapidly. Sri Datta Avadhoot Maharaj is also a descendant of the Inamdar family.
Every year, many devotees visit the temple to attend the Saptaha and seek the blessings of Lord Datta.
