SRI ANJANEYA SWAMI, HANUMARAMBALAM, PAYYANUR, KERALA...
gk kaushik
Shree Raghavapuram, Payyanur
Shree Raghavapuram is situated in the valley of Cheruthazham village near
Payyanur town, opposite to the hills 'Ezhimala'. Though the place had
been named as Shree Raghavapuram, it is popularly known as 'Hanumarambalm'.
There is a small beautiful Shree Rama temple here which is one of the most
ancient and famous Vaishnava temples of northern Kerala.
Hanumarambalam
It is a popular belief that this temple got its name Hanumarambalam, in
order to express the love Shree Ramachandra's and Shree Sita Devi's towards
Shree Hanuman and also to denote the divine love of Shree Hanuman had for
Shree Ramachandra and Shree Sita. It is also said that the pooja performed
for Shree Hanuman shall be considered as the pooja performed for Shree
Ramachandra Himself. Therefore it is relevant that the poojas performed to
Shree Hanuman is pleasing to Shree Ramachandra Swami also.
The Temple
The original temple is believed to have been built by Mooshaka dynasty
centuries ago and later Shri Udaya Varma Kolathiri during his rule had
renovated the temple in the 8th Century. He had brought 237 scholarly Brahmin
families from Gokarna kshethra present Tulu speaking area under Karnataka.
These scholars were settled in five villages including Cheruthazham, Kunnaru,
Arathilpuracheeri, Kullapuram etc. The village Cheruthazham includes places
namely Sri Raghavapuram, Sri Krishnapuram, Udayapuram.
Legend
Then the main temple where idol of Shree Ramachandra was originally
installed was east facing. As per the ancient annotation the original idol of
Shree Ramachandra was depicting the mood of the Lord as was during the battle
(Rama-Ravana yudha). It was felt during that time, that population residing
on the Eastern side of the temple were experiencing lot of hardship.
On conducting 'prashnam' it was decided to open a doorway for the temple on
the western side facing 'Ezhimala', and to shut the doorway facing eastern
side and also to reinstall (punarpadishta) Shree Ramachandra with Shree Sita
Devi along with Shree Lakshma. Accordingly the eastern doorway is even now
closed, and Shree Ramachandra along with His concert was installed.
In the 'prashnam', it was seen that the 'Devasannithyam' (the presense of the
Deva) of the temple dates back to the 'threthayugam'. It is believed that
during the Rama-Ravana yudham at Lanka, when Shree Hanuman carried the 'Aushdha
Shailam' (Mountain with Mridhasanjeevani) to Lanka for giving life to
Lakshmana, a piece of the mountain broke and fell down from His hands at this
place (where the temple is located) and thus the 'Ezhimala' was formed. From
that time itself the presence or the Chaitanya of Shree Hanuman and Shree
Ramaswami was felt and experienced here.
The temple is the abode of Shree Ramachandra with Shree Sita Devi ('parivarasametham').
People from very remote places also come over to this temple to seek the
blessings of the Lord Hanuman. In one sense the very existence of this temple
became possible only due to Shree Anjaneya Swami since the protection of this
temple also is vested in the hands of the Lord Shree Hanuman.
The temple is the abode of Shree Ramachandra with Shree Sita Devi. With Shree
Ramachandra and Shree Sita Devi as the main deity of the temple, the devoted
brother Lakshmana is also seen. Normally Shree Lakshman is not seen in same
pedestal with his Lord Rama, but the uniqueness of this temple is that all
these three are on the same pedestal
Shree Hanuman's temple
Shree Hanuman's temple is located inside the 'Naalambalam' at the 'Vaayu
mula' (Northwest corner) of the main 'Shree Koil' of the temple. There is a
unique feature of this temple is the presence of a 'Shree Koil' for Lord
Shiva just outside the Nalambalam. Lord is facing the west, and 'Shanta Shiva
Prathshta' is the importance of the idol. On to the western side of the Lord
Siva temple there is a 'Shree Koil' for Shree Durga Devi. Earlier there was
no idol for Shree Durga (Bhimba pratishta) and there was only 'Peedha
pradishta' for Her.
Festivals and Traditions
Every year in the month of Makaram (21st to 25th) of Indian solar
calendar temple Mahotsavam is celebrated. The festival is well attended by
the devotees and is famous in the north Karala. During the festival the idols
(uthsavamoorthi) of Shree Parameshwara, Shree Ramachandra, Sree Hanuman,
Shree Durga are carried on the heads of 'Brahmana shreshtas' at a time and
the special dance is performed. This deva vigraha dance known, as 'Thidambu
Nrithyam' is not common to any other temple.
The offering of "Avil" (rice flake) to Lord Anjaneya Swami is famous in this
temple. The offering is normally done only in the evening between four and 'sayaraksha'.
It is said that Lord Hanuman who is always meditating upon Shri Ramachandra
Swami will be giving audience during this time without any hindrance to His
meditation upon His Lord.
The greatest 'Shree Ramabaktha', Lord Anjaneya is meditating upon His Lord Shree Rama all the time. His Lord had devoted the name of His temple itself in the name of His Baktha, as 'Hanumarambalam'. Great are Shree Rama and His Baktha both waiting for their devotees in this kshethra, to bestow on them their love and show the path of love.
[ed.08.02.02]