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,
scholastic discussions 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 keuura 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.