Sri Anjaneya temples in Hyderabad
Sri Dhyana Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Karmanghat, Saroornagar, Hyderabad, Telangana
Hanuman temple of Sri Sitarambagh temple, Malle Pally, Nampally, near Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad
Anantagiri Kala Hanuman Temple, Rambagh Colony, Attapur, Hyderabad, Telangana
Sri Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple, Ghasmandi Road, Secunderabad
Sri Mukhyaprana, SRS Math, Shalibanda, Hyderabad, Telangana
Dasa Hanuman Temple, Hari Bowli, Hydrabad
Immigrants to Hyderabad
War was the norm of those days when rulers' armies were moving from one place to another. Thus people from various regions of India left their homes to follow the fortunes of warring armies or as a part of the group. Hyderabad was one such place that had seen war and observed some migrants from other parts of India. Thus the area inhabited by the group of people settles in a location the location itself came to be known by their work or the language they spoke etc. Marathas, Rajasthanis to name a few, and Tamils migrated along with the development of Railways here.
Secondly for a long Hyderabad had been a trading center and attracted many traders. Many people connected with trading from all over India used to come here. Few of them got settled in Hyderabad. Some of them from Marwar of Rajasthan were invited and patronized by the Nizam of Hyderabad those days. Some of the elite from them were entrusted with the finance handling of the Nizam’s administration. With more developmental activity here, more people of all trades and skills from other parts of India started settling down here. The railway is one of the developmental activities that took place around one hundred fifty years ago.
Many of the settlers from Rajasthan were followers of Ramsheh, Vishnoi, and Ramanandi or Ramvat Sect, for whom Sri Vishnu is the main Deity. Many of Marathas were followers of Samarth, again for whom Sri Rama is the main Deity.
Tukaram Gate
Tukaram Gate is the name of a location situated near Secunderabad Railway Station. The Secunderabad station came into existence in 1870. Over the years many railway lines were laid for connecting to other parts of the Nizam state. There is a line that goes from Secunderabad to Manmad via Malkajigiri. Another track goes from Secunderabad to Warrangal via Moula Ali. These two lines branch off near Tukaram Gate. Many Railway establishments and loco shed railway quarters are situated near Tukaram Gate. Since two lines were branching off and many railway establishments were there, the railway crossing at this juncture was hectic. But it is unknown how this railway gate became known as “Tukaram Gate”. According to old timers of Malkajigiri, there is a possibility that somebody by that name handled this particular railway gate for a long time, thus acquainted as “Tukaram Gate”.
Hillock near the present Railway stadium
The area around the present Secunderabad railway station is rock bedded where many huge boulders were found. The area was inhabited for a long even before the railway station came up at that place. Many people had settled in those places well before railways came. Most of them are people who migrated from other parts of India. We had seen about one such group who had founded the temple for Sri Hanuman near Railway station. For more details on this, please read “Sri Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple, Ghasmandi Road, Secunderabad” on our site.
A group of Brahmins from Maharashtra with the surname Joshi were part of the settlers who were living near this area. One of them had been a priest in a temple at Lallaguda. He used to go to the temple from his house by walking through a shortcut route. On the way, there were rock boulders, one of the boulders was huge and more or less like a hillock. This was gaining the attention of this priest, and one fine day he ventured to climb the hillock.
Deity Sri Hanuman
Once he reached the top he found a Peepal tree or sacred fig, branches of which were spread so much to give shadow to the rock nearby. The Peepal tree is a species of fig native to the Indian subcontinent, south-west China and Indochina only. This tree is known by other names also, bodhi tree, and ashwattha tree, and in Tamil, it is known as the Arasa Maram.
In Bharat, sadhus [ascetics] meditate beneath sacred peepal trees to liberate themselves from the cycle of rebirth. It is said that Lord Brahma resides in the root, Lord Vishnu in the trunk and Lord Siva in the crown of this tree and hence called “virksha raja” meaning ‘king of trees. In Tamil, it is known as ‘Arasa Maram’, meaning ‘king of trees’.
With the breeze blowing, the place under the peepal tree at the hillock top was found to be a pleasant place for offering prayers to the God the priest Joshi felt. When he went through the place he was astonished to discover an embossed figure of Lord Hanuman in the rock, under the shade given by the peepal tree.
Change of routine for the priest
Lallaguda priest Joshi after seeing the idol of Sri Hanuman in the rock decided to offer his prayers to Him. He made it his daily routine to climb the hillock and offer prayer to the Lord Hanuman before proceeding to Lallaguda temple. With time, people came to know about the existence of the deity Sri Hanuman at the hillock top. Slowly the number of devotees increased. They used to offer their prayer firstly to the peepal tree and then proceed to offer their prayers to Lord Hanuman.
Joshi reached the top he found a Peepal tree or sacred fig, branches of which were spread so much to give shadow to the rock nearby. When he went through the place he was astonished to discover an embossed figure of Lord Hanuman in the rock, under the shade given by the peepal tree. Devotees, today offer their prayer firstly to the peepal tree and then proceed to offer their prayers to Lord Hanuman.
Development as temple
Joshi family continued to be the priests of the Deity Lord Hanuman. As the time rolled by there were a lot of developmental activities around the place. The main cause could be attributed to the coming up of Secunderabad station and railway colony etc., within the vicinity of this hillock. From the beginning of the twentieth century, the place became vibrant with festivals and celebrations. Mainly the devotees were railway employees from nearby and they took a lot of interest in improving the amenities at the temple. It is also said that the pooja of the deity was then done by people from Marwar and followers of the Ramanandi sect. By the end of the twentieth century, the temple had improved so much that it attracted the attention of the endowments department and the department had taken over the administration of the temple. Presently the temple is under the endowment department of the Telangana Government.
Present temple
The sight of the temple at the top of the hillock is marvelous from the road. The hillock and temple are south-facing. One has to climb steps to land on a square plain where one could see the dwajasthamba [flag post] and a huge statue of Sri Hanuman about twenty feet in height, holding a gada [mace] in the left hand ‘abhaya mudra’ in the right hand. This cement and mortar idol is so majestic from the distance itself. Back of this is the entrance to the main temple. The arched entrance has stucco figures of Sri Rama, Sri Sita, Sri Lakshmana, and Sri Hanuman in the arch. A small pinnacle over that arch is also seen. Climb the leading steps and come across a long plain where the above-mentioned peepal tree is seen. There are a few naga pradishtas underneath the tree. Just behind the tree is the main temple, climb a few steps.
A pillared stone roofed hall with Garbhagraham in the middle welcomes the devotee. Devotees can have a darshan of the Lord Hanuman from this point. The stunning sight of the mammoth deity is sure to get embossed in the devotee’s mind.
On the left, the sannidhi for Sri Ganesha is seen facing west. Behind this sannidhi, sannidhi for Sri Rama and Sri Sita facing south present. As the devotees make circumambulation they will see the back side of the huge rock on which Lord Sri Hanuman is seen in the Garbhagraham [this portion of the rock had been kept fenced with mesh], and then comes navagrahas. The Garbhagraham has a cupola vimanam which could be seen from the outside.
Sri Hanuman
Moortham of the Lord embossed on the rock face is about six feet high and seems to have not been sculpted. The deity arch [prabhai] has dasavatharam embossed. The processional deity is also seen in the Garbhagraham. The processional deity is seen in a standing position with “Anjanali hasta”.
Lord is seen walking westwards with His left foot forward and the right foot is raised from the ground, ready to take the next step. He is wearing a hollow anklet known as 'tandai'and a chain anklet known as 'nupur' on both His feet. An ornament is seen just below His left knee. He is wearing a dhoti in loincloth style. He is holding the stem of the sowganthika flower in His left hand, which is resting on His left thigh. The flower is seen just above His left shoulder. His right hand is stretched a little away from His body and is holding something with the fist closed. In His broad chest yagyopavit, a mala, and an ornament close to His neck are seen. His tail is raised and ends behind the head. He is wearing a headgear made of cloth. His eyebrows are long, his eyes bright and large. Since the Lord is facing sidewise only the right eye is visible. The long mustache on the fluffy cheek is beautiful to look at. The kundal worn by the Lord in the ear is seen touching His shoulder.
Location of the temple: "Pahadi Hanuman Temple, Tukaram Gate, Secunderabad"
Experience
Have a darshan of the Lord of this kshetra, the first sight itself will surely mesmerize you. The devotee is sure to feel that his righteous desire has already been fulfilled by the Lord.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [January 2025]