JAYA VEERA ANJANEYA SWAMI, THANJAVUR, TAMIL NADU...
gk kaushik
Thanjavur
The name Thanjavur will bring forth in our thoughts the gigantic Shri
Brahadeeswara temple or Big temple as it is popularly known. It was built by
the Chola dynasty King Shri Rajaraja Cholan. People who are familiar with
Thanjavur will also remember the renowned temple of Shri Mariamman of
Punnaiyanallur, which is situated six kilometers east of Thanjavur. People
who follow Shri Vaishnava cult will remember the Shri Thivia Desam Shri
Maamani koil where Shri Neelameka Perumal is the presiding deity and in whose
praise Shri Thirumangai Azhvar had sung beautiful paasuras.
Marathas contribution to Thanjavur
But it is unfortunate that people are unaware about another beautiful and
ancient temple built during the reign of Maratha King Maharaja Shri Pradaap
Singh (1739-63). Shri Kodhanda Rama Swami Temple in Punnaiyanallur is hardly
two minutes walk away from Shri Marriamman Temple and had been bestowed the
benevolence (Abimanam in Tamil) of Shri Maamani Temple.
According to the Vaishnava cult the temples where the Azhvars have sung in
praise of the main deity is known as Divya Desam. There is a practice to
award the benevolence of the Divya Desam to the nearby Vaishnava Temple by
way of the utsava murthy of Divya Desam being presented during the
Mahakumbahbhisekam of the latter temple. This Kodhanda Rama Swami temple is
one such beneficiary of the Divya Desam Shri Maamani temple of Shri Neelameka
Perumal.
Salagrama Ramar
The main deities of this temple Shri Kodhanda Ramar, Sita, Lakshmana and
Anjaneya Swami are made of Salagramam - a rare fossil stone, found normally
in Nepal. The main deities are carved excellently in accordance with the
Shilpa Sastras. Probably this is a rare temple where the main deities are
carved in the Salagrama stone.
If one feels that the main deities are beautiful, he has only wait to see the
utsava murthis whose beauty is par-excellence. Shri Kodhanda Ramar, Janaki,
Lakshmana are the three utsava murthis. The shilpa of Shri Rama is as per the
vivid description given by Shri Anjaneya Swami in the Sundra kandam of
Valmiki Ramayanam.
Shri Jaya Veera Anjaneya Swami
This temple is visited by many for worshiping the Shri Jaya Veera
Anjaneya Swami. Apart from the Salagrama shilpa of Shri Anjaneya Swami in the
main Gharbhagraha, this temple has excellently carved Anjaneya Swami
shilpa
in a separate Alankara Mantapa. He is known as Shri Jayaveera Anjaneya. His
lankoolam (tail) is raised above the head as symbol of courage and His right
hand raised giving the blessings to one and all who visit Him and in the left
hand He holds a lotus flower - the symbol of victory [jaya]. Shri Anjaneya
Swami meets Mata Shri Sita in Lanka tells her about Shri Ramachandra murthi
and thus enables Sita to forget her sorrows. He returns to Shri Rama to
narrate the presence of Mata Sita Devi in Lanka. Here, Lord Shri Anjaneya
Swami is seen as a 'Jaya Veera' having victoriously accomplished the
Shri Rama-kaingkarya.
Rasi Mandalalm
The specialty of this temple - which cannot be seen in any other temple
- is that the 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 housing the idol of Sri Anjaneya and corresponding exactly
to these houses there is another chart down below on the floor with twelve
houses in different color slabs with the colors relating to the respective
Rasis depicted on the roof . It is believed that the wishes of the devotees
will be fulfilled if they stand on the color slab relating to their Rasi
while praying to Sri Anjaneya Murthy.
The Jaya Veera Anjaneya here will bless one and all who come to Him with
devotion and bestow on them the victory in their mission which abides the
Dharma.
For further details of this ancient temple you may kindly contact :
Shri C.Ventakesa Bhattar,
Sri Kodhanda Rama Swami Temple
Punnaiyanallur
Mariamman Kovil (P.O)
THANJAVUR - 613501
Let us visit this great ancient temple in Punnaiyanallur and seek His blessing, which Lord Shri Jayaveera Anjaneya is waiting to bestow on us. Let Anjaneya bless all.