SRI NETTIKANTI ANJANEYA TEMPLE, KASAPURAM, ANDHRA PRADESH...
gk kaushik
Kasapuram
The village Kasapuram of Anantapur District is located very near to the
Guntakal town in Andhra Pradesh. It is 11 kms. from Guntakal Railway junction
and about 9 kms. from the main Bus stop. Lots of buses, autos and taxis are
available to go the Kasapuram from Guntakal.
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha
Sri Vyasa Tirtha, follower of Sri Madwa's Dwaytha School of philosophy,
became the head of the Sri Purvadi mutt in the year 1476. Under the direction
of Sri Sripadaraja Tirtha, the Saluva king Narasimha honored Shri Vyasa
Tirtha and made him Rajaguru. Thereafter, he came to be known as Sri
Vyasaraja Tirtha.
He went to Tirupathi in 1486, after being requested by the king Sri Saluva
Narasimha to become the custodian of the Temple. He had performed puja to
Lord Venkateshwara for about twelve years. When there was a change of guard
in the Vijanagara Samrajya. Sri Vyasa Thirtha continued to be the Rajaguru.
Sri Krishnadevaraya ascended the throne in 1509. He worshipped Sri Vyasaraja
Tirtha as his Guru.
Sri Krishnadevaraya came under the Kuhu Yoga, a combination of planets
as per the astrology, which can kill the king. The Rajaguru took over the
reign of the Vijayanagara. On a particular day, a serpent entered the court.
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha threw his saffron upper garment on it and the serpent
got burnt to ashes. Thus was saved the life of the King Krishnadevaraya. Sri
Vyasa Thirtha returned the kingdom back to Sri Krishnadevraja.
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha is an ardent devotee of Lord Anjaneya. During his time
as Rajaguru he has installed 732 Anjaneya vigrahas all over the kingdom
starting with the yantrodharaka hanuman at Chakrathirtha near Hampi.
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha and Kasapuram
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha during his period as Rajaguru was traveling
frequently between Hampi and Tirupathi. Guntakal falls in this route and Sri
Vyasaraja Tirtha during one of his travelogue was staying at Shilpagiri, also
known as Chippagiri. This place is about twenty kilometers from Kasapuram.
While camping at this place for a night's halt, Lord Anjaneya appeared in his
dream and directed him to identify the place for consecration and proceed
with the installation of Lords' vigraha.
Nettikanti, Sri Anajneya and Kasapuram
Next
morning, Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha started on the mission to find the place
indicated by the Lord Anjaneya. After traveling a good distance across the
jungle, he came across a heap of sand and Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha stopped there.
He planted there a small neem stick that he had brought with him. To the
astonishment of all, the dry neem stick started shooting and sprouting with
new leaves. Thus did he identify the place where the Lord wanted him to
consecrate the idol of Lord Anjaneya. Since the neem sprouted that place in
the jungle got the name Nettikallu. The Lord Anjaneya consecrated by
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha came to be known by the name Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya.
This kshetra Nettikallu is near Kasapuram Village. With the course of
time Kasapuram village enveloped the place Nettikanti and presently Sri
Nettikanti Anjaneya Swami Temple is said to be situated in Kasapuram.
The temple
This temple is facing south and has a 60 feet height Raja Gopuram.
All the three kalasas of the Raja Gopuram are covered with gold
plate. It is proposed to construct gopurams in the remaining three
sides also. Presently the West Side gopuram had been completed. The
main entrance 'dwaram' made of a wooden door is covered with silver
plates etched with design. The vemana above the Lord's Gharbhagraha
is proposed to be covered with gold.
On the West-North corner there is a holy tank known as KONERU with steps on
the all the four sides leading into the water. It is believed that taking
bath in this holy water cures many illnesses and purifies one's thought. Like
it is in Tirupathi, here too arrangement had been made to pump this holy
water for bath and the sanitation of the tank is maintained well.
Nettikanti Sri Anajneya of Kasapuram
Nettikanti Sri Anjaneya Swami in artha shela form is seen south facing,
as if walking towards east. Through His "pinkalaksham", the gold hued
eye, he gives us a soothing message "while I am here to protect you, why
worry?" It is a pleasant kataksha of the Lord Nettikanti Sri Anjaneya, which
assures us all prosperity and successes in our life.
Rituals
Everyday in the early morning before arunothyam at 4.30 the
abishakam for the Lord is performed. After that the alankara of
the Lord is completed, the darshan can be had by the devotees from 6
in the morning to 12 noon and then again from 3.30 in the evening to 8.00 in
the night. But on Saturdays, the temple is open from 4.30 in the morning to 9
in the night. Devotees perform mainly akupuja (garlanding the Lord with betel
leaves), Astotra archana (chanting of one hundred eight names of the
Lord), Vedamala (offering garland of veda, made using black
gram paste). The temple authorities provide all this for a nominal fee.
The temple authorities can arrange Golden kavacha or Silver kavacha
alankara of the Lord for a nominal amount.
Festivals
Every year, "ugati", the Telugu New Year day, which falls in the
Chithra month of the lunar calendar is celebrated here with much
gaiety. During this time devotees make "Pongal" (kitchidi) as
offerings to the Lord. On the next day the Lord's car festival is performed.
During that month of Rama Navami, Sita Rama Kalyanam is celebrated on
a large scale. During Vaishaka month Hanumath Jayanthi is celebrated.
During Palkuna month, on full moon day maha abishakam is
performed.
Amenities
A beautiful guesthouse, Kesari Sadan having thirty rooms with all modern
facilities is under construction. There are accommodations at present ranging
from Rs.4 to Rs.400 per day. Everyday arrangement for free anna-dhanam
(free food) for about a hundred devotees exists. On Saturdays, around four
hundred devotees are fed free. A small emergency dispensary with a doctor is
available.
Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya Swami of this kshetra who had made the dry neem spurt with new life awaits, to bless us all with all prosperity and successes in our life and bring a good new meaning to life.
[ed. march 2004]