Ananthamangalam

The highway connecting Myladuthurai and Nagapattinam runs via Tharangambadi and Thirukkadaiyur in the Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. Ananthamangalam is located about a kilometer from the highway connecting Tharangambadi and Thirukkadaiyur.

Tharangambadi [known then as Tranquebar] was a famous harbour along the eastern coast used by the Portuguese. Thirukkadaiyur houses the famous temple of Abirami [Ambal in a child form]. to uphold an unintended statement made by her ardent devotee Sri Abirami Battar, Abirami threw her earring to make it look like a moon in the sky. Sri Battar had told the then king of that place that the moon would appear in the sky, though it was a new moon [Amavasya] day.

Thri Nethra Anjaneya Swami of Ananthamangalam

Ananthamangalam is known as the Anjaneya Swami who is seen having three eyes and ten arms holding different armaments. Located in a pleasant-looking environment adjacent to Sri Rajagopala Perumal Temple and was built during the Vijayanagara kings' period. Anjaneya Swami with chathurbuja [four arms] holding shanku, chakra, navaneetha, and pasham is seen in the main temple. The temple and Swami are facing north, and Sri Rajagopala Perumal temple is east-facing. The tank in front of the temple is known as Haunmar thirtham and is believed to cure many of the illnesses. The idol of "Thri Nethra Dasa Bhuja Sri Veera Anjaneya" [Veera Anjaneya with three eyes and ten hands] is about four and a half feet tall and made of panchaloha [alloy made of five basic metals]. This deity is taken out in a procession known as 'uthsava moorthi' is so pleasing, spreading 'Aanandha' to the devotee. No devotee would ever want to take his eyes off of the deity. The Veera Anjaneya is south-facing in the Sri Rajagopala Swamy temple.

Anecdote of The special roopa

The story behind this special roopa of Anjaneya goes like this:

After killing Ravana, Sri Rama, and Seetha start their journey back to Ayodhya for the Pattabhisheka when the sage Narada discreetly informs Sri Rama of some impending danger for him from two of the rakshasas belonging to the Lanka dynasty. While all the rakshasas of Lanka were killed in the war, two of them, Raktha Bindu and Raktha Rakkadhan, had survived the war and wanted to avenge the killings of their people by destroying Sri Rama and his army. To achieve this, these two had undertaken severe penance by placing themselves at the bottom of the ocean. Sage Narada tells Rama that if they complete the penance, they will get powers to destroy the world, and therefore they will fight them before leaving for Ayodhya. Even as Rama was inclined to undertake this task, he remembered that his brother Bharatha would be waiting for his return to Ayodhya. If Rama's return to Ayodhya is delayed, Bharatha is likely to give up his life by entering the fire he has set for this purpose. Anjaneya offers to fight the two demons, understanding the difficult situation Sri Rama is put to, to which Sri Rama agrees. All the Devas who were concerned because of the penance undertaken by the demons were pleased with this development and blessed Anjaneya for his victory over the two demons.

Thri Nethra Dasa Bhuja Anjaneya

Rama gives his peerless bow [Kothandam] with arrows and a weapon called Navaneetha to Sri Anjaneya to fight the two demons. Vishnu helps by giving the conch [Shanka], Chakra [Sudarshana], and also a weapon called Maththaksham. Brahma gives him a powerful Ankusha. Siva gives his third eye and his Trishul to Anjaneya. Parvathi Devi gives him her whip [Pasham]. Laksmi gives Padmam, and Garudan his wings to Anjaneya. Thus Sri Anjaneya, armed with all these weapons, acquires the form of "Thri Nethra Dasa Bhuja Sri Veera Anjaneya" [Veera Anjaneya with three eyes and ten hands]. This form of Anjaneya is what is depicted by the deity presiding at the Ananthamangalam. He carries in his five right hands the Sudarshana, Trishulam, Ankusham, Arrows, and Maththaksham. His five left hands carry Shanka, Padmam, Pasham, Kothandam, and Navaneetham. The third eye decorates his forehead. He carries a quiver full of arrows on his back.

Aanandhamangalam | Ananthamangalam

Because of the blessings he got from the foremost of the gods, he was able to imbibe their capabilities as well and was able to defeat the two demons with ease by acquiring his famous vishwaroopa [colossal] form. The size of the form was such that normal eyes would not be in a position to fully visualise the entire form. Anjaneya decides to be with His Lord Rama [full of Aanandha] at Mangalam after accomplishing the task of killing the two demons. Sri Rama here resides as the chief deity at Mangalam in the name of Rajagopalan. This village was originally named Aanandhamangalam, but later came to be known as Ananthamangalam. Thus the Anjaneya deity of this place has a special significance for all the devotees.

A visit and prayers at Tirupathi will bring about a change in the circumstances in which a devotee is placed in his personal life. Visits and prayers at Ananthamangalam bring about cheer and happiness to the devotees.

---

SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE

---

Ed [13.01.2002]
update [Dec 2024]

KINDLY RECORD YOUR VIEWS