The Anjaneya, the dispeller of Sri Rama's grief
Anjaneya, the height of humility, celibacy, magnanimity, presence of mind, valour, and courage, visits
Lanka in search of Mata Shree Seetha as an emissary of Sri Rama. He carries back the message from Sri
Seetha as well as the Chudamani given by her to Sri Rama. In Lanka, Anjaneya submits himself to the
Brahmastra cast by Ravana's son Indirjeet. Without knowing that Sri Anjaneya was under the spell of
Brahmastra, The demons, assisting Indirjeet, started binding Anjaneya with chains and ropes. As a
consequence, the effects of Brahmastra was nullified. Thereafter Anjaneya was taken to Ravana's court,
where Ravana ordered that the great monkey be burnt by its tail, and subsequently, Sri Anjaneya got
out of Lanka after burning a part of the city. The swayambu Anjaneya Swami—the presiding deity of
Bangalore's "Karanji Anjaneya temple"—depicts the 'swaroopa' of Anjaneya, who is returning to meet Sri
Rama after locating Mata Sri Seetha in Lanka.
Bangalooru and it's South boundry Karenji
The Bangalore subsequently was under the rule of Vijayanagar kings. Kempegowda-I (1513-1569), the predatory to the Vijayanagar rulers, was ruling Yelahanka. He was a great builder of tanks and temples and a good town planner, he had planned the modern Bangalore and built it. The southern boundary of Bangalore he chose had a huge lake amidst the rocks. This area is known as Karenji. In Kannada "kare" means lake and "enji" means remains. Then the lake was in existence from where the present-day National College is located to just beyond Bull Temple. Therefore the entire area gets the name Karenji.
Kempegowda and Karenji
During his exploration of the area for the town he was planning to build, Kempegowda-I came across the hillock housing the swayambu Anjaneya Swami in the Karenji area. Kempegowda had arranged for the performance of the Pranaprathista of the deity and built the Gharbhagraham for the Anjaneya Swami. He made arrangements for the performance of the daily pujas in the temple. It is believed that Janamejayan, the grandson of Abimanyu, had done penance at the hillock in which Anjaneyaswamy's idol is located.
Karenji becoming Basavanagudi
There is another temple built by Kempegowda-I dedicated to the Rishaba - the carrier of Lord Siva. This is known as Nandi temple -in English it is Bull temple and in Kannada, it is Basavana Gudi. The locality draws its name Basavanagudi from this temple. While this temple is most popular among the tourists who are visiting Bangalore, the Karanji Anjaneya Swami temple which is just a few hundred meters away has maintained its exclusivity and one gets peace of mind on visiting this temple. The reverberations of the mantras, recited by the 96-year-old priest Sri Lakshmi Narayanachar are splendid to hear.
During his exploration the area for the town he was planning to build [Bengaluru], Kempegowda-I came across the hillock housing the swayambu Anjaneya Swami in the Karenji area.
The lakshanas of Anjaneya moorthi
A gigantic twenty-two feet mono stone sculpture depicting the deity is a feast for the eyes. Anjaneya
is north-facing as he is returning from Lanka. One could see the Mata Sri's Chudamani held with all
piousness in both palms by Anjaneya. Fury with which he had fought Indirjeet, his assistants, and the
other demons of Lanka can be imagined while keenly observing the deity, what with the 'kora-pal'
(protruding teeth - the teeth that of a lion) showing and also in the properly tied up tuft having got
loose. The 'Kaupina vasthram' (loincloth) is held by the 'oddiyanam' and a dagger dangling from his
hip also are seen. One could see the broken chains in the arms alongside the bangles known as
'Kangana', as also broken chains with bells around in the anklets alongside the 'thandai'. These
broken chains represent the remains of the bonds with which the assistants of Indirjeet tied Sri
Anjaneya. With a glowing eye, Sri Anjaneya blesses one and all of those who visit him.
The'kataksha'of Anjaneya Swami
The 'kataksha' of Swami in this 'kshetra' is so good and benign that while with the look from one eye Sri Anjaneya is ensuring that the Chudamani given by Mata Shree and held in his hand is safe he does not fail to bless the devotees with his kataksha from the other eye.
Sri Ram Mandir built by Marathas
On receiving divine directions, Sri Muthnjirao Scindia - the Maratha chieftain - built a Rama temple facing Sri Anjaneya.'s locale. The Ram Mandir is built in accordance with the agama vidhis and Sri Rama is seen with his consort Mata Sri Seetha, His anuja Lakshmana. There is a small opening in the northern wall of Anjaneya temple through which Sri Anjaneya is ever seeing His Lord.
**We acknowledge the courtesy extended by Shri r.krishanan of Birmingham for the photo of the Lord Anjaneya embossed in the dwaja sthamba of Karanji temple.
Location of the temple: "Karanji Anjaneya Swami Temple, Basavangudi"
Experience
Next time when you visit Bangalore, bring home the blessings of Karenji Sri Anjaneya Swami.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
[ed. 22.10.2001]
update [Dec 2024]