VEERA ANJANEYA SWAMI TEMPLE, MYLAPORE, CHENNAI
gk kaushik
Mylapore of Chennai pattanam
ThePeople who had visited Madras City, which is presently known, as Chennai
must have seen the grand and magnificent Kapaliswarar temple at Mylapore. The
imposing Raja Gopuram will remain in our memory. When inside this temple we
are far away from the maddening crowd and the hassle of the city. Sri
Thirugyana Sampanthar is one of the great saints who had song in praise of
Lord Shiva. Sri Thirugyana Sampanthar had song in praise of Lord Kapaliswarar,
therefore it is believed that the temple had been in existence for a long
time.
"Thiru Kural" written by Saint
poet Sri Thiruvalluvar was also born in Mylapore. There is a temple for the
saint in the place where he was born in Mylapore. This part of the city is
one of the oldest places. While Thiruvetriuoor is said to be the northern
boundary of the Chennai pattanam, southern boundary was Thiruvanmiuoor. The
center of the pattanam (a sea shore town) was Mylapore and Thiruvallikeeni (Triplicane).
Thanneer thurai Anjaneya Swami
Temple
Near to the Thiruvalluvar temple there is a famous Anjaneya Swami temple.
Bhagawan Anjaneya swamy temple near Sanskrit college at Mylapore, Chennai is
one of the oldest Anjaneya temples of Chennai. This temple is popularly known
as "thanneer thurai Anjaneyar koil" in forties and fifties, since this temple
is situated near "thanneer thurai" vegetable market. In those days there were
very few temples exclusively for Anjaneyar in the whole of Chennai. Presently
this temple is known as Luz Anjaneyar since Mylapore itself has three
Anjaneyar temples.
 Unique
in many ways
The Bhagawan Anjaneya Swamy of this temple is unique in many ways. Many
scholars like Brahma Shri Anantharama Deekshithar, Shri Kripanantha Wariyar
had given discourses on Ramayana at the Sanskrit College nearby this temple.
Bhagawan Anjaneya Swami who is present wherever Ramanama is spelled, had
heard the Ramayana from the temple itself. This Anjaneya Swami had seen more
Ramabhakthas emerging after these discourses.
The Sanskrit College was the
venue for many vedic activities, scholasticdiscussions on Hindu Dharma and
discourses on Puranas and Ithihasas.
Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Jagath
Guru Shri Paramacharya was camping in theSanskrit College for Chatur Masya
and performing the Chandra Mouliseeswara puja. Many days after the evening
puja Shri Paramacharya had enlightened the devotees with the spiritual
teachings. Many clarifications about Dharma had been offered to the
devotees in these teachings. Many unclear concepts that people had about
Hindu Dharma -for a common man these concepts were bordering on
mystery – were clarified by his teachings. The Bhagawan Anjaneya Swami of
this temple has been a witness to all these functions and activities at the
Sanskrit College.
Sri Rajaji's Ramayana (retold)
Sri Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor General of India,
popularly known as Rajaji had retold The Ramayana in Tamil under the title "Chakravarthi
Thirumagan" (meaning Great Son of Emperor). Before publishing this as a
serial in the Tamil weekly "Kalki", Sri Rajaji had placed the manuscript in
this temple seeking the blessings of Sri Anjaneya.
The Shilpa of Swami
The shrine of Bhagawan Anjaneya Swamy in "ardha shilapa" form is west
facing and he is seen as if walking towards South. On his ears he wears
Kundalam, and his eyes are having bright hue. His right hand is in "Abaya
mudra", His left hand is resting in the hip and holding the "gatha".
On his arms he wears armlets known as keuryaha and on his wrists are
solid bangles known as kankana. His lotus feet is adorned by an anklet
known as thandai. His lankolam (tail) is raised above the head
and is pointing towards South. The Bhagawan is seen resting on a lotus
pedestal as in the case of Shri Lakshmi, and Shri Saraswati.
In Bhagawan Anjaneya sannidhi one
could see utsavamoorthi of Anjaneya Swami and also a panchloka
Venugopala Swamy. On to the right of Bhagawan Anjaneya Sannidhi is the
Perumal Kothanda Rama Sannidhi constructed during 1954, housing Sri Rama
along with His consort Devishri Sita, His anuja Lakshmana.
Legend
It is said that the trading community of Mysore known as "Shettys" left their
home town around 300 years ago due to torture met out by Yousuf Khan. They
had come down to Chennai and settled down in Mylapore where potters' were
having their kiln and the area was known as Kayapettai or Kosapettai. They
had established the "Hanumantharaya" shilapam which they had brought
with them from Mysore here in Koyapettai.
In the course of time, this
trading community had merged with the trading community of Tamil Nadu and had
acquired the identity as "Chettiars".
The temple was small and one
could have dharshan of Bhagwan Anjaneya Swami from the main road itself. In
the recent past Rajagopuram had been built and the temple had been enlarged
with the active participation of devotees and management. It is said that on
January first of every year the offer of Vada Malai to Bhagawan is likely to
cross five hundred in number.
It is believed that by offering
Vada Malai to Bhagawan Anjaneya Swami of this kshethra the wishes of
the devotees are fulfilled as He is vanchithaya pradhanan.
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