SRI PRATAPAH VEERA HANUMAR TEMPLE, MOOLAI ANJANEYAR KOIL, THANJAVUR, TAMIL NADU...
gk kaushik
Thanjavur: **
Thanjavur, rightly acclaimed as the Granary of the South India, lies in
the deltaic region of the famous river Cauvery and is a cultural treasure
house of Tamil Nadu. This was the Royal city of the Cholas, Khiliji, the
Sultan of Delhi, Nayaks and the Marattas. The notable feature is that in
spite of several alien invasions, onslaughts and internal conflicts, the
ancient culture and civilisation have not suffered much devastation. During
the reign of Cholas, Thanjavur flourished humming with trade and cultural
activities.
Why name the city as Thanjavur?
It is interesting to note that the place had been named as Thanjavur by
Shri Neelamega Perumal as a grant of a last wish of His devotee turned demon
due to a curse. Tanjan got boons from Lord Siva and became arrogant and
started devastating the neighborhood. It is said that Sri Anaandavalli Thayar
(Lakshmi) and Sri Neelamega Perumal (Vishnu) killed the demon Tanjan, as
wished by Lord Siva (Lord Tanjapuriswarar). As requested by the demon this
place had been named after him as Thanjavur.
Marathas’ of Thanjavur and Lord Anjaneya:
While Nayaks the rulers of Thanjavur were loyal to Vijayanagar kingdom,
Nayaks of Madurai (Alagiri) wanted to capture the power of Thanjavur. At that
time General Venkaji alias Ekoji (1676-1683), the half brother of Sivaji the
Great defeated Alagiri and thus established the Marathas rule in Thanjavur
1676.
It is known that the followers of Vijanagar Empire were devotees of Lord
Anjaneya because of the influence of Saint
Vyasaraja. The followers of Sivaji the Great were equally devoted to Lord
Anjaneya because of the influence of Saint Samarth Ramadas. During these two
dynasties many temples for Lord Anjaneya and Lord Rama were built in and
around Thanjavur. *** (Bunk Nayak Anjaneya
temple, Jaya Veera Anjaneya of punnayanallur,
Bawa Swami Agraharam Thiruviyaru and also Puddu
Agraharam)
Sri Pratapah Simhan and Sri Tulaja II
Thanjavur was under the rule of Maratha king Sri Pratapah Simha during
the period 1739-1763, subsequently by his son Sri Tulaja II. The Maratas were
facing trouble from the Nawabs of Arcot during this period. The capital town
of Thajavur was expanding and Pratapah Simha had then taken up development of
the town in a systematic way. During his regime he had built temples and
chatrams (wayside rest houses). Sri Sethu Bhawa Swami was his guru. Sri Sethu
Bhawa Swami was living in Thiruviyar a small village near Thanjavur just near
iyarappan temple ( see "Bawa Swami Agraharam
Thiruviyaru Anjaneya temple" also). During their rule the father and son
had patronized many religious activities and cultural activities in and
around Thanjavur, which transeeded the boundaries of religion itself.
Patronising construction of minars for Nagoor dargah by Sri Vera Prataph
Simha and the patronization of Melattur Bhagavathamela troupe by Tulaja II
during 1787-88 are worth mentioning.
Temple
for Lord Anjaneya
Under the noble guidance of his Guru Sri Sethu Bhawa Swami, Sri Pratapah
Simha had built a temple exclusively for Lord Anjaneya in Thanjavur. Normally
temple for Lord Anjaneya will be small in size and built-up area. There will
be no exclusive Rajagopuram or dwaja sthambam, but this temple is an
exception. This temple has a three tier rajagopuram and a dwaja
sthambam. It has a eighteen pillered alankara mandapam. This is
the second largest ancient temple built exclusively for the Lord with
rajagopuram and dwaja sthambam, I had come across and the other
being the temple in Iyenkulam near Kanchipuram.
**** The Lord of this temple built by Sri Veera Pratapah Simha is known by
the ‘Sri Pratapah Veera Hanumar’. But this temple is known as 'Moolai
Anjaneya' temple, moolai in Tamil means corner.
Uniqueness of the Sri Pratapah Veera Hanumar Temple
This temple had been planned and built in the North-West corner of then
Thanjavur. The North-West corner is also known as ‘Vayu mulai’ in
accordance to Vasthu Sastra, and since Lord Anjaneya is son of Vayu
(hence Vayusutha:) this corner acquires special significance for the
Lord Anjaneya. For this reason the temple came to be known as moolai
Anajaneyar koil.
There is complete Rasi Mandalalm [the twelve houses of the various
Grahas as generally represented in a birth chart] is depicted nicely on
the inside of the roof and it is believed that the wishes of the devotees
will be fulfilled if they stand on the floor corresponding to their Rasi
while praying to Sri Anjaneya Murthy.
There is depiction of Rahu graham trying to catch the Surya
(Sun) and Chandra (Moon) grahas on the inside of the roof of
the mandapam, reminding you of the valor of the Lord Anjaneya during
his early age.
In the pillar just nearby there is depiction of two Nagams (snakes)
worshiping the Lord Siva.
There are two sculptures in the Northern wall of the sanctorum depicting Lord
Anjaneya in Yoga posture sitting on the top of the mountain. There are
animals and trees shown in the mountain. Yoga Anjaneya is seen with four
arms, while top hands are seen holding sangu and chkram (couch
and disk) while the other two are seen blessing with ‘abhaya and varadha
mudras’. While one depicts the Lord being worshiped by Veera Pratabah
Simha and in the other it is his son Tulaja II. These Yoga Anjaneyas are seen
facing north, hence it is said that praying Him will give Siddhi.
Historial facts
When Hindu temples were hunted for the treasure by the non believers,
Utsava Murthi Vigrahas of many important temples were hidden by the
devotees from the prying eyes of the enemies. Daily poojas were
performed to Utsava Murthis while on transit from one place to
another. Those days after the fall of mighty Vijayanagar there were few Hindu
Rajyas in South. Thanjavur under the Marathas were one among them. Many of
the Utsava Murthis of the main temples took refuge in Udiyar Pallayam Siva
temple and Perumal temple. When Kanchipuram was also attacked and hunted for
Gold and other treasure of temple began, the Utsava Vigraha of Sri Kamashi
known as Bangaru Kamashi was also moved from Kanchipuram for Udiyar
Pallayam. Udiyar Pallayam was then under the rule of Thanjavur Maharaja Sri
Pratapah Simha. Sri Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Petam had also moved from turbulent
Kanchipuram to Udiyar Pallayam. The Thanjavur Maharaja Sri Pratapah Simha
requested the then Acharya of Sri Sri Kanchi Mutt to move the mutt to
Thanjavur. But the then Acharya of the mutt Sri Sri Chanderendra Saraswati
Swamigal IV accepted the request and moved the headquarters of the Mutt to
Kumbakonam to be in the banks of river Kaveri. The Utsava Murthi of Sri
Kanchi Sri Kamashi known as Sri Bangaru Kamashi was decided to be moved to
Thanjavur. It is said that when Bangaru Kamashi arrived at Thanjavur she was
received by the Royal family and was accommodated in the Pratapah Veera
Hanumar temple. Presently Sri Bangaru Kamashi (immortalised in Syama Sastri's
songs) has her own temple built by Tulaja II in the West Street very near to
this temple. Even today before the beginning of the annual festival in Sri
Bangaru Kamashi temple, handful of sand is taken from Pratapah Veera Hanumar
temple.
It is said that Saint Sri Sethu Bhawa Swami had established the temple
poojas to be performed in accordance to the Madhwa tradition, and the
neem tree as sthala virsham. But presently the poojas are being
performed as per vaikanasa agama vidi.
Sri Pratapah Veera Hanumar
Sri Pratapah Veera Hanumar (Lord Anjaneya) is in arthshila form is
facing east and Lord Anjaneya is facing north. He is seen blessing devotees
with his right hand which is in ‘Abya mudra’. The upward looking
golden eyes are blessing the devotees with lot of self confidence in their
endeavor, which brings all prosperity in life.
Next time when you are around Thanjavur make it a point to visit this beautiful temple and bring back the blessing of the Lord (of) Veera Pratapah.
** for more details on Thanjavur, palace, forts etc., please turn to page on
“Bunk Nayak Anjaneya temple” in our site.
*** read also Bunk Nayak Anjaneya temple, Jaya Veera Anjaneya of
punnayanallur, Bawa Swami Agraharam Thiruviyaru and also Puddu Agraharam
**** read details about the Iyenkulam temple in our site.
[ed. Feb. 2006]