SRI RAMA DASA ANJANEYA SWAMI TEMPLE, DHARMAPURI, TAMIL NADU...
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Sri Adinarayana Rao of Kambainallur the Anjaneya Baktha
Sri Adinarayana Rao of Kambainallur,near Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu was
then working in a responsible post under Sir Thomas Monroe, the then
Collector of Madras. Sri Rao was an ardent devotee of Sri Anjaneya Swami. He
had made it a practice to have daily darshan of Sri Anjaneya at the temple in
his native place Kambainallur. As a routine-after finishing his daily puja,
and after having darshan of Sri Anjaneya - he used to feed all the near and
dear at his home and then only he will take his food. Even in the event of
his going out of his native place on official tour, the feeding used to be
conducted without fail. (This practice established by Sri Adinarayana Rao was
continued for three generations by his family.)
Establishment of Anjaneya Temple at Dharmapuri
While on tour at Dharmapuri, Sri Adinarayana Rao as usual wanted to pray
at an Anjaneya Temple and have the darshan of his Lord. But he could not find
any temple of Anjaneya at Dharmapuri. The day went without food for him. He
soon established a temple for Sri Anjaneya Swami at Dharmapuri and arranged
for the daily pujas to be performed by the pundits from his native place,
Kambainallur. This was around three hundred years ago.
Lost Glory reestablished
In time to come the temple lost its glory, for reasons best known to Sri
Anjaneya Swami. The daily pujas, however, continued and was never interrupted
during the intervening period. The devotees were interested in bringing back
the glory of the temple and were trying to raise funds. The pujas were being
performed by one Sri Krishnamoorthi Rao alias Krishnamacharya - a local
school teacher. He got a divine direction to recite and sing Sri
Purandaradasar's Krithis in the temple. This task was taken up by one Sri
Sethumadhava Rao and under his leadership the daily bhajans were undertaken
in the premises of the temple. It is believed that Sri Anjaneya Swami himself
had participated in the bhajans by dancing to the rhythms of the bhajans/songs.
During one such bhajan program one of the devotees expressed an opinion that
to please Sri Anjaneya Swami and to bring back the glory to the murti of the
temple, they should perform anointment (Abhishekam) of the Anjaneya murti
with honey.
Miracle that brought glory and Kumhabhishekam
The proposal was agreed upon and the very next day the vouched ceremony
of abhishekam with honey was performed. On that very night one Dr. G.Jagadish
Kamath, who had no prior knowledge of the existence of this temple, got a
divine direction to undertake the renovation of the temple by giving full
details thereof to him. He went in search of the temple and finally located
this temple which matched with all the details he had seen in his dream. With
the funds provided by Dr.G.J.Kamath the renovation of the temple was
commenced and now the first phase of the renovation is over. The
Kumbhabhishekam was performed by Sri Sri H.H.Vigyanathirtha swamigal of Sri
Padaragar mutt on 14th May 1993. The second phase of the renovation is in
progress and efforts are on for raising funds for the same.
The Temple and Sri Dasa Anjaneya idol
This temple "Sri Dasa Anjaneya Temple" is located in Sri Hariharanatha
Swami temple street, and is about one and half kilo meters from the main
Dharmapuri bus stand. One can have the dharshan of Sri Anjaneya from the main
entrance itself. The ‘moolavar’ is about one and half feet in height. "Sri
Dasa Anjaneya" as the name suggests is seen with His hands folded standing
east facing. His lankoolam (tail) is raised on his back. Just behind the
moolavar one could see on the platform of about three feet height, Sri Rama
in the sitting posture and Sri mata Sita Devi is seen sitting on the right
thigh of Sri Rama. H.H. Sri Sri Swamigal of Mulbagal Mutt had performed the
installation ceremony (prathista) of Sri Rama vigraha on 16.05.1992.
Sri Anantha Padmanabanabha Swami Saligramam
Saligramam is a rare fossil stone, found normally in Nepal and it is
supposed to represent Hari in the Pujas. The religious experts can virtually
read the saligramam and identify that particular saligramam with a particular
form of Vishnu. Here in this temple the saligramam is identified with Sri
Anantha Padmanabanabha Swami and it is placed on the head of Sri Dasa
Anjaneya.
Honey Abhishekam and Hari Vayu Sthuthi
The Abhishekam with honey is performed to the Saligramam and Sri Anjaneya
every Saturday, Sunday, Poornamavasya, Amavasya and also on other designated
occasions except on Ekadesi day. When Abhishekam with honey to Sri Dasa
Anjaneya Swami is being performed there will be recitation of 'Hari Vayu
Sthuthi'. The 'Hari Vayu Sthuthi' is a rare composition by Sri Tiruvikrama
Pandithachar - a direct disciple of Sri Madhvacharyaa - consisting of forty
one verses.
for further details please contact:
Sri K.SRINIVASAN.
Sree Seetha Rama Dasa Anjaneya Swami temple
106, Hariharanatha Swami Koil Street,
Dharmapuri – 636 702
It is said that the devotees offering Thenabhishekam (Abhishekam with honey) to Bhagawan Anjaneya Swami of this kshethra get their wishes fulfilled, as He is Bhakthavatsalan.
[ed. 22.10.01]