SRI VEERA ANJANEYA SWAMI TEMPLE, CHENGALPUT, TAMIL NADU...
gk kaushik
Chengalput Perumal Kovil
When you are inside the beautiful temple for Sri Kothanda Ramaswami
temple in the serene atmosphere surrounded by green looking mountains on the
backdrop, you will feel you are not in a town by name Chengalput but in
heaven. Though the temple is named Sri Kothanda Ramaswami temple, the main
deity of Sri Ramaswami appears as described in the sloka "vaithehi sahitham...",
sitting on a raised platform in the veerasana posture and his right hand
showing the gyana mudhra with his consort Sri Vaithehi on his along side.
While his anuja Sri Lashmana is standing by his side, the other anujas
Bharata and Shatrugna are sitting in front along with Sri Prapanjana Sutha
alias Sri Anjaneya with anjali hasta. The serene atmosphere in which Sri Rama
is giving the gyanopadesa to Sri Anjaneya is a feast to the eyes, and one
would be mesmerised by the sheer grace of the Lord. The 'uthsava moorthi' is
however Kothanda Raman.
Sri Varadharaja Swami sannathi
On to the left side of Sri Ramaswami sannathi is the sannathi of Sri
Varadharaja Swami, who is the original presiding deity of this temple. Sri
Varadharaja Swami here is facing south, and holding the sudharshan chakra in
prayoga posture in his right hand. There is a separate thaayar sannathi for
Sri Perundevi. The 'uthsava moorthi' of Sri Varadharaja Swami is present with
Mata Sri Sri Devi and Sri Booma Devi . This temple was build around 1041 A.D.
and popularly known as Perumal koil.
Sri Thima Raja Jamindar shifted the temple in 1768
There was a temple for Lord Sri Pattabiramar in the fort area of
Chengalput then. When there was invasion of the Hindu temples by others, Sri
Thima Raja Jamindar - the local chieftain - had shifted the Lord Sri
Pattabiramar temple to the complex of Sri Varadharaja Swami temple in the
year 1768. The Jamindar was the father of Sri Chengalvarayan - after whom the
place has acquired the name Chengalput. One of the ornaments that adorn the
Lord was gifted in 1887, on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebration
rule of HM Queen Victoria.
Sri Anjaneya Swami Sannathi
There is a separate sannathi for Veera Anjaneya in the north -west corner
of the complex, the corner ruled by Vayu as per Vaastu shastra . The Lord
Anjaneya Swami is in a unique posture here. Anjaneya is seen here with one
hand giving abaya and the other hand resting on his hip holding a large
lotus. His tail is raised and a small bell is tied to the end of the tail.
Like Rudhra who held the "Kalan" tide to the ground as Kala samhara murthi in
Thirukataiyur, here Anjaneya is seen holding Sri Sani Bhagawan to the ground.
Legend : Sri Sani Bhagawan and Sri Anjaneya
The story behind this special
roopa of Anjaneya goes like this.
When Anjaneya was standing on the top of mountain Mahendra ready to leap to
Lanka, Sani Bhagawan the son of Lord Surya came to Anjaneya and told that his
seven and half years of tenure with him is to start. Anjaneya told him that
since he is going to Lanka on Sri Rama's (who is also a surya vensi) mission,
as son of Surya he should spare him for the time and on return he himself
will come to Sani Bhagawan. The proposal was agreed upon and Sani Bhagawan
was waiting for Anjaneya on the mountain Mahendra.
But in the zeal to assist Sri Rama in accomplishing the task of bringing back
Sri Sita, Anjaneya had forgotten the words of promise given to Sani Bhagawan.
Anjaneya Swami was assisting building of the bridge to Lanka, by carrying
lots of stones on his head to put across the ocean. Sani Bhagawan came to the
site and reminded him of the words and asked him as to which part of
Anjaneya's body he should occupy. Again Anjaneya pleaded with him to spare
him for the time. But Sani Bhagawan as duty bound told him that there could
be no relaxation to the duty this time. Anjaneya thought for a while and
suggested to Sani Bhagawan that while performing his duty he could also
assist Rama by doing some labour, just like a small squirrel which was also
doing its mite. Sani Bhagawan asked Anjaneya as to how he could assist Rama,.
to which Anjaneya said "carry some stones on your head and sit on my head".
With the promise to assist Rama while performing his duty, Sani agreed to
this. He carried some stones and occupied Anjaneya's head. Now he was caught
between the stone in the head of Anjaneya and the Stone on his own head.
Sri Anjaneya pinning Sri Sani Bhagawan
Anjaneya sang in praise of Lord Rama and was dancing while he was
carrying on with his mission. Every time he was jumping, the stones were also
jumping and Sani was getting crushed in between. Sani Bhagawan was not able
to bear the torment meted by these jumping stones. He requested Anjaneya that
he may be relived of this task and that he would prefer to stick around the
feet of Anjaneya instead of his head. Anjaneya was busy carrying stones for
the Sethu Bandhan and did not pay any heed to the request of Sani Bhagawan.
On hearing the noise created by Sani Bhagawan, Lord Rama intervened and told
Anjaneya to have a considerate view. Anjaneya then released Sani Bhagawan
from his head but had pinned Sani Bhagawan to ground before he could cling to
his feet.
Once again Sani Bhagawan requested Anjaneya and Rama to release him with
these words :
yo vakthirama the nama maruthe: abiva swayam
kshanam thathra ne thishteyam sathyam prethi srunoomethe |
"O Rama, I will not hold (even see) those who spells your name or Maruthi's
name even for a kshanam (micro - second)", with these words Sani Bhagawan
goes to his abode.
The Veera Anjaneya moorti of this temple depicts this part of history in the
life of Anjaneya.
There is no doubt in the minds of Anjaneya Bhakthas that the Lord is the saviour. Praying to him one could live totally rid of all sankatas for he is a Sankata mokshana prabhu.
[ed. 13.12.01]