Sri Anjaneya temple of Poovanur
Poovanur is a beautiful village on the bank of the Pamini River and is located 8 km from Mannargudi and 3 km from Needamangalam on the Mannargudi-Kumbakonam route. Sri Bagavannama Bodhendrar, who propagated the importance of Sri Ramanama, built a unique temple for Sri Anjaneya in this place.
Jagadguru Bodhendra Swamigal
He was born to Sri Kesava Pandurangan and Suguna of Mandala Mishra Agraharam in Kanchipuram. He was born to this couple after prayers to the almighty and with the blessings of the then Acharya of Sri Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Sri H H Vishwadikendhra Saraswathi. The boy was named Purushothaman, and after the performance of upananyanam, he was left in the mutt for study of the Veda. He had completed his studies at the age of around eighteen and was awaiting the upadesa of Bhramavidhya from Sri Acharya himself. Sri Acharya was on yatra at Kasipuri then. Purushothaman desired to meet Acharya at Kasipuri for this and proceeded from Kanchipuram accompanied by his friend and fellow student Gyanashakaran. It was a long journey to Kasipuri those days. Friends agreed on a decision: if something happens to either of them, the other should perform the death ceremony and then give up life in the Ganges. Halfway down, unfortunately, Gyanashakaran died, and Purushothaman performed the last rites for him and proceeded further.
After reaching Kasipuri and meeting his Acharya, Purushothaman narrated the events and sought permission to give up his life. God had willed otherwise. Sri Acharya advised him that entering the ‘sanyasa ashram’ was like having a new birth; he could take sanyasa, which would suffice the promise made to his friend, and at the same time he could serve mankind by living as a sanyasi. Thus Purushothaman was initiated into the sanyasa asharam and given the name ‘Bodhendrar.’
Bagavannama Sri Bodhendra Swamigal
Sri Bodhendrar became head of Sri Kanchi Sri Kamakoti Mutt, subsequent to his Acharya, H.H. Sri Sri Vishwadikendhra Saraswathi. Sri Bodhendrar had a firm belief that chanting Sri Rama’s name itself could give salvation [moksha]; therefore he propagated the glory of reciting the Nama sangeerthanam. He handed over the affairs of the mutt to his successor, H. H. Sri Adyathma Prakasar, and fully devoted himself to the propagation of Nama sangeerthanam. Since some Acharyas had headed this mutt with the same name, Sri Bodhendrar came to be known as “Bagavannama Bodhendrar.” He attained mukthi in the year 1692 [Projothpathi, Patrapatha masa, Poornamasa] at the place called Govindapuram near Thiruvidaimaruthur and Kumbakonam of Thanjavur District. Even today one can hear the Rama Nama in His Adhishtanam at Govindapuram on silent nights.
Poovanur
Poovanur is located 8 km from Mannargudi and 3 km from Needamangalam on the Mannargudi-Kumbakonam route. The place was once a garden [van] of ‘punnai’ flowers, hence came to be known as ‘Punnai Poo Vana Oor’ [புன்னை+பூ+வன+ஊர்]. In the course of time, as Poovanur [பூவனூர்]. The village is located on the banks of the Pamini River, which branches off from Vennaru, also known as Venni, which in turn is a tributary of the Kaveri River.
Siva Temple of Poovanur
"Poovanur puguvaar vinai pogumae," sang Saint Appar in the Thevaram ("Enter Poovanur for warding off past karma"), glorifying this place and Shiva. Thirugnanasambhandar also sang glorifying the Lord Shiva of this kshetram. The presiding deity is Lord Pushpavananathar, also known as Sri Chaturanga Vallabhanathar. Goddess Parvati, in the dual form of Sri Karpagavalli and Sri Rajarajeswari, has two sannidhis, which is a unique feature here. The sannidhi for Sri Chamundeswari is near the flag mast, close to the entrance of the temple. This kshetram is well known for curing all illnesses due to venomous or poisonous bites of insects.
As per the divine direction of Sri Rama, Sri Bodhendra Swamigal along with his disciples visited Poovanur. Sri Swamigal located the senkulam and saw that on the west of the tank the ant hill being guarded by Sri Jatamuniswarar.
Sri Jatamuniswarar and ant hill
In this flower bed kshetra known as Poovanur, there is a huge tank known as ‘senkulam’ that is full of red lotus flowers. Just west of this tank, there was a huge anthill; nearer to this, Sri Jatamuniswarar, along with his disciples, was present. Since Sri Jatamuniswarar is vague, His presence can only be felt near the anthill. It was not then known that He was guarding the Shaligram vigrahas [idols] of Sri Kothanda Ramar, Sri Sita Devi, Sri Lakshmanar, and Sri Anjaneyar kept below the ant hill.
Jagadguru Bodhendra Swamigal at Parampur
Jagadguru Bodhendra Swamigal, peetathipati of Sri Kanchi Sri Kamakoti peetam, was then camping at Parampur near Poovanur. Sri Bodhendra Swamigal is known for his Sri Ramanama Sidhantham. He had a divine direction from Sri Rama stating that He had been waiting for His visit for long and asked the Sri Bodhendra Swamigal to build a temple for Him and had indicated His whereabouts.
Sri Acharya visits Poovanur
As per the divine direction of Sri Rama, Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, along with his disciples, visited Poovanur. Sri Swamigal located the senkulam and saw that on the west of the tank was the anthill being guarded by Sri Jatamuniswarar. Sri Swamigal saw this but could not locate the exact place of Sri Rama; he returned to his camp at Parampur. On the same night, Sri Jatamuniswarar came in the dream of Sri Swamigal and informed him that he was guarding the Vigrahas of his Lord, and they were just below the anthill, and he asked Sri Bodhendra Swamigal to bring them out and install them in the temple as per the wishes of Sri Rama.
Jatamuniswarar stated that Sri Rama is his guru; therefore, wherever Sri Rama is installed, he should also be installed nearby. He should be offered the pooja only after the main pooja to his guru, Sri Rama.
Temple for Sri Kothanda Ramar
Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, the next day, again visited Poovanur as per the divine direction. From below the anthill on the banks of the Senkulam tank, the shaligram vigrahas of Sri Kothanda Ramar, Sri Sita Devi, Sri Lakshmanar, and Sri Anjaneyar were excavated. Idols of Sri Kothanda Ramar, Sri Sita Devi, and Sri Lakshmanar were installed facing south in the planned proper temple in the nearby place and near the tank. Sri Jatamuniswarar was also installed in the same complex. Since he is vague, there is no idol for him, and his presence can be felt in the vicinity of the temple complex.
Temple for Sri Anjaneya
A shaligram vigraha of Sri Anjaneya was installed by Sri Bodhendra Swamigal on the banks of the Senkulam tank, from where Sri Rama and parivara vigrahas were excavated, and a temple was built for shaligram Sri Anjaneya.
Sri Anjaneya
The lord of this kshetra is seen standing in a unique posture. Both his legs are at ease with his left leg slightly bent forward. In His lotus feet, the Lord is wearing 'thandai' [hallow anklet] and 'nupur' [decorative chain]. The folded hands of the Lord are seen near the chest. Shaligram Anjaneya's beauty cannot be described in words. One must visit the temple to know and feel the presence of the Lord.
Uniqueness of this temple
The temple is unique in many ways. Firstly, it is built in the same spot where Sri Anjaneya was with Sri Rama for many years penancing before exposing Himself to the world. Secondly, this temple for the greatest Sri Rama devotee was built by Bagavannama Bodhendrar, a great devotee of Sri Rama. Thirdly, the vigraha of Sri Anjaneya is made of shaligrama—a rare fossil stone. Fourthly, the temple is on the bank of a vast tank with red lotus flowers. Fifthly, this exclusive ancient temple is for the Rama baktha Sri Anjaneya.
Location of the temple: "Sri Anjaneya temple, Poovanur,Needamangalam Taluk,TN"
Experience
Visit this temple and sit on a meditation in the evening time. The lotus feet of the Lord will come into focus without you asking for it. Feel the Rama bakthi in you is enhanced and return as determined person to pursue only the Dharmic ways in your life.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [March 2013]
Revised [April2019, Jan 2025]