Shalibanda of Hyderabad

Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana is known for Charminar. There is a place near Charminar called Shalibanda and the actual name is Sha Ali Banda. If you turn to wiki for information on this locality it would have been given as a place where communal harmony is missing. Nothing more than that would have been given. But this place has its own history. It had been a place where many nobles of the time and trusted advisors of the Nawab, belonging to the Sanatana dharma had lived.

Over the years, many temples were built by various people with the concurrence of the rulers of that time. There is a long history about the Musi River which is running along the city. Even now many temples are identified along the river which is nearly four hundred years or even older.

The deodis were the palatial homes of the noble families that lived in Hyderabad and served the Nizam. There were large Hindu Deodis that were built in the locality of Shah Ali Banda. The huge compounded area of deodis also had its own temples. Other than nobles there were common people who were Hindus in the area covered as “Shalibanda”. The temples were built and maintained by these people in this area, especially the area named “Lal Darwaja”.

Lal Darwaja

The City of Hyderabad was surrounded by wall those days. The wall used to enclose the area of the present Old City of Hyderabad. The wall was around ten kilo meters long made of large granite blocks which were abundantly available around the city. The wall was approximately 18 feet in height and 8 feet in width at various parts. The city thus protected by this huge wall had thirteen gateways through which entry and exit to and from the city were allowed.

One such gateway was Lal darwaja [Gateway made of red stones]. Although the gateway is no more physically present, the area then covered by this gateway is still known by the name Lal Darwaja area. Today Lal Darwaja is connected with a celebration known as “Bonams”. This celebration is connected as thanks giving events for the presiding deity of Simhavahini Mahankali temple. This celebration was started nearly hundred twenty years back on the model of Bonams with its practice for the last four hundred years in Golconda. The sixth Nizam Mir Mahbub Ali Khan donated land for the temple in Lal Darwaja during 1905. Nizam’s Prime Minister Maharaja Kishen Pershad initiated Bonalu at Lal Darwaja Mahankali temple. It is to be noted that this temple is named after Akkanna and Madanna, who was actively involved in the construction of the temple at Golconda fort.

Sri Mukhyapraana Temple

Like Simhavahini Mahankali temple there are many temples in the Lal Darwaza area. Many of them are very ancient and three hundred four hundred years old. One such temple is a temple for Sri Mukhyapraana.

Devotees who follow the preaching of Madhvacharya and practicing Dvaita philosophy were living in this area, and their place of dwelling was known as Agrahaaram. As was their practice they had established a temple for Mukhyapraana for their worship in this Agrahaaram. It is not known exactly when the temple was built but said to be at least two hundred and fifty years old or more.

The temple over period of time had become the nerve center for their religious activities. Many heads of different Madhva mutts had visited this temple. Today this temple at Lal Darwaza is more popularly known as Sri Ragavendra Swamy temple.

Temple complex

The Sri Mukhyapraana temple is in the center of the then Madhva Agrahaaram. On a raised platform there is a fourteen pillared mandapam which is east facing, on which the Garbhagraham is present on the western side. This provides more area in front of the Garbhagraham and concourse of two feet path around of circumambulation. There is Dwaja Stambha opposite to the Garbhagraham before the raised platform. There is open space of ten feet around the platform and the covered corridor [hallway] running round the temple. With the trees all around keeps the prangan very cool. The temple prangan is comparatively big and the quite, thereby providing a pleasant atmosphere for meditation.

Sri Ragavendra Swamy Temple

In the garbhagraha of this temple around two hundred years back, mritika Brindhavana of Sri Sri Raghavendra Teertharu was established by the side of Sri Mukhyapraana devaru. About seventy years back mritika Brindavana of Sri Sri Satyajnana Teertharu the 37th pontiff of Uttaradi Math [served the pontificate till 1942] was consecrated by Sri Sri Satya Pramoda Teertha. In Jan 2020 the Garbhagraha was renovated by laying of granite flooring. At that time Sri Rama parivar deities were also consecrated by Sri Sri Satyatma Theertha in this temple.

While all the above holy deities can be seen in the Grabhagraha, the complex also has a mritika Brindavana of Sri Vidyapati Theertha is the 25th saint of Kaniyoor mutt. Besides, there is a sannidhi for Sri Prasanna Hanuman in the northern outer corridor of temple.

Sri Mukhyapraana

The moortham of Sri Anjaneya is nearly four feet in height. Lord is seen in standing position as dasa Anjaneya with folded hands in Anjali mudra. Both His lotus feet are adorned with nupuram. His tail is seen near His left feet. Lord is seen wearing kaupeenam. His hands are bejeweled with kankananam in wrist and keyuram in upper arm. Across His broad chest yagnopaveetham is seen. A small crown is seen over the head. Lord is wearing kundalam and karna puspam in the ears. Lord’s bright eyes look directly the devotees and through His katasham bestow endless blessings.

Experience

Enter this kshetra where peace and calm welcomes you, pray to kshetra Lord and carry blessings in abundance along with that of saints.

Ed: April 2023