Dakshina Pathapalayam
The Hanuman temple in Dakshina Pathapalayam is a popular destination for us to visit during holidays. Dakshina Pathapalayam is more popularly known as D.P.Pallayam. For the last fifteen years i.e., from my college days, I have been visiting the temple. It takes approximately one hour to reach D. P. Pallayam from Vellore via Paradarami. One can reach Paradarami by bus from Vellore. Further, one may choose to hire an auto or share-auto or local bus to reach D.P. Pallayam Hanuman temple. The temple is open throughout the entire day.
Route to Dakshina Pathapalayam
The drive from Vellore to this temple via State Highway is a pleasant experience. One can see mango grooves, poultry farms, hillocks, and small mountains all through the way on both sides of the road, making pleasant scenery. Especially if travelling just after monsoon then the journey will be most enjoyable. Since the road is laid through the hillocks, it will be a bumpy but enjoyable ride. Although the DP Pallayam is in Tamilnadu, your mobile will welcome you to Andhra Pradesh. The border is so near that many times towers located in the Chittoor district of Andhra, nearby will locate your mobile.
Around fifteen years back when I visited this place Sri Hanuman moorti which was carved on a rock that was open to the sky. The poojari used to reside in a nearby shed and comes to the temple when he sees a devotee. Today with the efforts of local villagers and contributions from devotees, a beautiful temple building has been constructed.
Temple then
D.P.Pallyam is even now surrounded by hillocks and rocks. Around fifteen years back when I visited this place Sri Hanuman moorti which was carved on a rock that was open to the sky. The poojari used to reside in a nearby shed and comes to the temple when he sees a devotee. Today with the efforts of local villagers and contributions from devotees, a beautiful temple building has been constructed. On all Purnima days, devotees will visit the temple in large numbers and offer prayers throughout the day. The annual function of the temple is celebrated in the Purnima of Karthik month of the Indian calendar. Earlier it used to be devotees from nearby villages only, but slowly Sri Hanuman attracted devotees from far and near. Today devotees from Vellore, Chitoor, and Gudiyattam are thronging the temple. Today devotees come in groups and make giri pradhakshanam of the hillock in which Sri Hanuman temple is present.
Temple Today
One will be welcomed by the great arch in the main road indicating the road leading to the temple. From the distance itself, one can see the great Rajagopuram of the temple. The temple is east-facing. Once you enter the temple, you witness a huge bountifully made stone lamp pillar. Sri Anjaneya Swamy is carved in the base of this lamp pillar. Subsequently, you witness an excellently carved camel, the vahana of Sri Anjaneya, placed on a raised platform just in front of the lamp pillar facing the Garbhagraham. The vahana is carved so well that despite being in a sitting posture, the camel looks as if it is ready to move. There is a huge mandapam, which has a beautiful arch on the top decorated with Sri Rama Parivar and Sri Panchamukha Hanuman and veera Hanuman on either side. The Garbhagraham is on the west side of the mandapam. One can do the ‘pradakshanam’ of the Garbagraham on the concourse. On the southwest corner, there is a sannidhi for Vallampuri Vinayakar, and in the northwest corner, there is a sannidhi for Sri Rama Parivar.
Sri Veera Vijaya Abhaya Anjaneya Swamy
Lord Sri Anjaneya Swamy of this kshetra has been carved on the big rock boulder of a hillock itself, in the form of an ‘ardha shila’. Lord is seen walking northward with His left lotus foot adoring nupur and thandai in the front. His right lotus foot is seen slightly raised from the ground. His left-hand adorning bracelet is seen resting on the left hip and in His hand, He is holding the stem of the sowgandika flower. The flower is seen above His left shoulder. He is wearing ornaments which adorn His bosom. With His raised other hand He showers blessings on His devotees. The tail of the Lord rises above His head with a curved end. Lord is wearing ear studs and His kesam is neatly tied. His eyes are glowing and emitting karuna on the devotee. With such bright glowing eyes, the Lord of the kshetra is bestowing blessings to His devotees.
Location of the temple:
Experience
Have darshan of the Lord Sri Anjaneya Swamy of this kshetra who dispels the fear abhaya], bestows courage [veera], and blesses victory [Vijaya].
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [July 2017]
Updates: [Jan 2025]