KERE ANJANEYA TEMPLE, SRINGERI, KARNATAKA...
gk kaushik
Sringeri
Located amidst the Western Ghats, the Maland region in Karnataka is famed
for its natural beauty that comprises of thick forests, mountains and rivers.
Sringiri, which is situated here in the foot of Sahyadris is regarded as a
holy place by the Hindus at it is the site of the mutt established by
Adi Sankaracharya.
Sringeri is situated on the left bank of the holy river Tunga. The water of
this river is sweet and pure and nice. Sringeri is a short form of
Rishyasinga giri, the hill named after the Sage Rishyasringa noted son
of Sage Vibhandaka.
Sage Rishyasringa
Sage Vibhandaka was on a ceaseless meditation, Devas got worried
on the thejas he was acquiring. To disturb the tapas Devas had
sent the Celestial beauty Urvasi to Sage Vibhandaka. Urvasi
could stop the flow of mediation of the sage using her charm and in the
process a son was born to them. The child was uncommon to have horn of the
deer in the forehead and hence known as Rishyasringa. Having accomplished the
task entrusted to her Urvasi left for Celestial. Sage Vibhandaka's
experience with his sister-in-law and Urvasi had convinced his that
women are not trust worthy. He thought that the easiest way to keep his son
innocent of the worldly ways was to keep him in forest isolation.
Rishyasringa matured into manhood in isolation and had never set eyes on any
women.
The neighboring kingdom ruled by Romapada was undergoing severe famine. To
rid of the scorching famine the king was advised by his ministers that the
kingdom would be blessed with rains if sage Rishyasringa, sets his holy feet
in his kingdom. With a prolonged persuasion sage Vibhandaka, agreed to send
his son to the Romapada kingdom. On stepping in of Sage Rishyasringa into the
kingdom there were rains. The people were happy and Romadada as a gesture of
gratitude willingly gave his daughter, Santa, in marriage to the peerless
saint.
Rishyasringa remained as honored guest in the kingdom of Ramapada, it was
then he was requested to officiate in the Putrakaseshti yagnya by
Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya. With the sages participation in the yagnya,
Dasaratha was blessed with four sons eldest being Sri Rama. After some time
the sage felt that he should go back to his holy nativity and get on with his
penance.
When the sage Rishyasringa left his mortal coil, he entered the Linga he was
worshipping as a symbol of formless Absolute. Linga can be seen even now in
the temple at Kigga, a village about 10 Km from Sringeri. This Linga is seen
with a horn on its head, is indicative of the truth that Rishyasringa had
merged with the Absolute. This is the legend of the great sage who gave his
name to this great place.
Divine
Sringeri
Divinity of the place has been reconfirmed by Adi Sankararacharya, Sri
Bhagavatpada. He chooses to establish one of his peetas here because
of the divinity he had seen in this holy place. Sri Bhagavatpada was
reestablishing the dharma and was propagating Advaita doctrine,
in the course he had entered on a debate with Sri Mandana Mishra disciple of
Sri Kumarila Bhatta at Mahishmatipura.
Mandana Mishra was supposed to be reincarnation of Brahma and his wife Ubhaya
Bharati, reincarnation of Saraswati Devi. They were ideal couple, each of
them comparable to other in all branches of learning. Ubhaya Bharati had
agreed to the judge for the debate, as they both sought her help expressing
confidence in her impartiality. After eight days of debate with Sri
Bhagavatpada, Mandana Mishra was convinced with the superiority of the
Advaita doctrine. He then accepted Sri Bhagavatpada as his Guru. Mandana
Mishra gave all his earthly belongings to the needy at the last Vedic ritual
which he performed before he took sanyasa at the hands of Sri Jagadguru
Shankara Bhagavatpada, with sanyashrama name of Sri Sureshwaracharya.
On her husbands observing the sanyasa, Ubhaya Bharati left the vision
of her moral and took her celestial form of Saraswati Devi and said that she
would follow them but stipulated that at the spot where Sri Bhagavatpada
looked back, she would take her abode.
Sri Bhagavatpada and Sringeri
Sri Bhagavatpada took Sri Sureshwaracharya on his march from place to
place to propagate the doctrine of Advaita. All the three reached
Sringeri on an exceptionally hot noon. As they proceeded to the river Tunga
for their ablutions, they saw a frog struggling in the blazing sun suffering
from birth pangs to deliver its offspring. A cobra, the natural enemy of the
frog, raised its hood to provide the frog with shelter and protection from
the ravages of the tropical sun.
Sri Bhagavatpada was greatly moved by the sight. He saw that place is divine,
the natural enemies like frog and cobra, tiger and cow lived in mutual amity
and peace. Sri Bhagavatpada just turned round when, as she had already
stipulated, Ubhaya Bharati, decided to stay for good at Sringeri on the banks
of the sacred Tunga.
Temple of Sri Sharada at Sringeri
Sri Bhagavatpada installed Bharati, known also as Sarada, on the banks of
Tunga. He had also established a mutt to pursue propagation of Advaita
with Sri Sureshwaracharya as the head of the mutt.
Today Sringeri attracts millions of piligrims, seeking the blessings Goddess
Sharada, and the divinity of Supreme Knowledge, consecrated by Sri
Bhagavatpada- Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya Himself. Jagadguru Adi
Shankaracharya, consecrated four deities in the four corners for the Sringeri.
These Shrines, namely "Kalabhairava", "Vana Durga", "Kalikamba",
"Kere Anjaneya" respectively are worshipped with great reverence. The
deities of these temples have protected Sringeri from various invasions, as
clearly seen in the historical records.
Kere Sri Anjaneya
The only Anjaneya Swami consecrated by Sri Bhagavatpada - Jagadguru Sri Adi
Ahankaracharya
is housed in the temple in west corner of Sringeri. Sri Anjaneya swami of
this kshetra is known as Kere Sri Anjaneya. Today if you go to
Sringeri, the new bus stand had been constructed over the place where once a
lake was there. In Kannada language 'kere' means lake. Since
originally Sri Anjaneya Swami was consecrated on the banks of the lake He is
known as Kere Sri Anjaneya.
Temple of Sri Kere Sri Anjaneya
A temple was constructed for Sri Kere Sri Anjaneya Swami
consecrated by Sri Bhagavatpada on the banks of the lake. The temple is
located just opposite to the Sringeri new bus stand. The temple is small,
beautiful and well maintained. One has to claim twenty seven steps to have
darshan of the Lord. Many of the devotees to Sringeri town first visit
this temple of Sri Anjaneya, who is one of the guardians of this great divine
town.
Kere Sri Anjaneya
Sri Anjaneya of this kshetra is facing south and seen as walking
towards east. Lord is holding a lotus flower in His left hand and with raised
right hand gives blessings to all the devotees. His tail is raised above Him
and there is a small bell on the end of the tail. He is wearing nupuram
in His leg and keyuram in the hand. His glowing eyes showers glorious
and gracious blessings to the bakthas mesmerising them.
Worship at Kere Sri Anjaneya
The poojas for the Lord are in Vaidika mode by way of uttering Vedic
mantras. Deepotsavam is conducted on a Saturday in the month of
Kartika Krishnapaksha on a grand scale annually. The temple is open
between 09 to 12 in the morning and 6 to 7 in the evening.
A visit to this divine kshetra Sringeri and worship of Kere Anjaneya consecrated by Sri Bhavatpada will make your rest of life happy, peaceful and pleasant.
[ed. January 2008]