Kasapuram
The village Kasapuram of Anantapur District is located very near to the Guntakal town in Andhra Pradesh. It is 11 km from Guntakal Railway junction and about 9 km from the main Bus stop. Lots of buses, autos and taxis are available to go the Kasapuram from Guntakal.
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha
Sri Vyasa Tirtha, a follower of Sri Madwa's Dwaytha School of philosophy, became the head of the Sri Purvadi mutt in the year 1476. Under the direction of Sri Sripadaraja Tirtha, the Saluva king Narasimha honored Shri Vyasa Tirtha and made him Rajaguru. Thereafter, he came to be known as Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha.
He went to Tirupathi in 1486, after being requested by king Sri Saluva Narasimha to become the custodian of the Temple. He had performed puja to Lord Venkateshwara for about twelve years. When there was a change of guard in the Vijayanagara Samrajya. Sri Vyasa Thirtha continued to be the Rajaguru. Sri Krishnadevaraya ascended the throne in 1509. He worshipped Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha as his Guru.
Sri Krishnadevaraya came under the Kuhu Yoga, a combination of planets as per the astrology, which can kill the king. The Rajaguru took over the reign of the Vijayanagara. On a particular day, a serpent entered the court. Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha threw his saffron upper garment on it and the serpent got burnt to ashes. Thus was saved the life of King Krishnadevaraya. Sri Vyasa Thirtha returned the kingdom to Sri Krishnadevraja.
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha is an ardent devotee of Lord Anjaneya. During his time as Rajaguru, he installed 732 Anjaneya vigrahas all over the kingdom starting with the yantrodharaka hanuman at Chakrathirtha near Hampi.
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha and Kasapuram
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha during his period as Rajaguru was traveling frequently between Hampi and Tirupathi. Guntakal falls in this route and Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha during one of his travelogue was staying at Shilpagiri, also known as Chippagiri. This place is about twenty kilometers from Kasapuram. While camping at this place for a night's halt, Lord Anjaneya appeared in his dream and directed him to identify the place for consecration and proceed with the installation of Lord’s vigraha.
Nettikanti, Sri Anajneya and Kasapuram
The next morning, Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha started on the mission to find the place indicated by the Lord Anjaneya. After traveling a good distance across the jungle, he came across a heap of sand and Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha stopped there. He planted there a small neem stick that he had brought with him. To the astonishment of all, the dry neem stick started shooting and sprouting with new leaves. Thus he identified the place where the Lord wanted him to consecrate the idol of Lord Anjaneya. Since the neem sprouted that place in the jungle got the name Nettikallu. The Lord Anjaneya consecrated by Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha came to be known by the name Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya. This kshetra Nettikallu is near Kasapuram Village. With time Kasapuram village enveloped the place Nettikanti and presently Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya Swami Temple is said to be situated in Kasapuram.
The temple
This temple is facing south and has a 60 feet height Raja Gopuram. All three kalasas of the Raja Gopuram are covered with gold plates. It is proposed to construct gopurams on the remaining three sides also. Presently the West Side gopuram has been completed. The main entrance 'dwaram' made of a wooden door is covered with silver plates etched with design. The vimana above the Lord's Gharbhagraha is proposed to be covered with gold.
Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha planted there a small neem stick that he had brought with him. To the astonishment of all, the dry neem stick started shooting and sprouting with new leaves. Thus he identified the place where the Lord wanted him to consecrate the idol of Lord Anjaneya.
On the North-West corner, there is a holy tank known as KONERU with steps on the all four sides leading into the water. It is believed that taking a bath in this holy water cures many illnesses and purifies one's thoughts. Like it is in Tirupathi, here too arrangements had been made to pump this holy water for baths and the sanitation of the tank is maintained well.
Nettikanti Sri Anajneya of Kasapuram
Nettikanti Sri Anjaneya Swami in ardha shila form is seen south facing as if walking towards east. Through His "pinkalaksham", the gold-hued eye, he gives us a soothing message "While I am here to protect you, why worry?" It is a pleasant kataksha of the Lord Nettikanti Sri Anjaneya, which assures us all prosperity and success in our life.
Rituals
Every day in the early morning before arunothyam at 4:30, the abhishekam for the Lord is performed, and then after the alankara of the Lord is completed. Devotees can have darshan of the Lord from 6 in the morning to noon and then again from 3:30 in the evening to 8:00 at night. But on Saturdays, the temple is open from 4.30 in the morning to 9 in the night. Devotees perform mainly akupuja (garlanding the Lord with betel leaves), Astotra archana (chanting of one hundred eight names of the Lord), Vedamala (offering garland of veda, made using black gram paste). The temple authorities provide all this for a nominal fee.
The temple authorities can arrange Golden kavacha or Silver kavacha alankara of the Lord for a nominal amount.
Festivals
Every year, "ugati", the Telugu New Year day, which falls in the Chithra month of the lunar calendar is celebrated here with much gaiety. During this time devotees make "Pongal" (kitchidi) as offerings to the Lord. On the next day, the Lord's Car festival is performed.
During that month of Rama Navami, Sita Rama Kalyanam is celebrated on a large scale. During Vaishaka month Hanumath Jayanthi is celebrated. During Palkuna month, on full moon day maha abishakam is performed.
Amenities
A beautiful guesthouse, Kesari Sadan having thirty rooms with all modern facilities is under construction. There are accommodations at present ranging from Rs.4 to Rs.400 per day. Everyday arrangement for free anna-dhanam (free food) for about a hundred devotees exists. On Saturdays, around four hundred devotees are fed free. A small emergency dispensary with a doctor is available.
Location of the temple: "Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya Temple, Kasapuram, A.P."
Experience
Sri Nettikanti Anjaneya Swami of this kshetra who had made the dry neem spurt with new life awaits, to bless us all with all prosperity and successes in our life and bring a good new meaning to life.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [March 2004]
Updates: [Jan 2025]