Tiruvallur
Tiruvallur (Tamil: திருவள்ளூர்) had given its name to the district and is the Headquarters of the Tiruvallur District. It is a temple town and Sri Veera Raghavar Temple is most famous and is one of the 108 Divya kshetras. Built on the banks of river Coovam and is about 40 Km from Chennai city which has a long history of rulers starting from Pallavas. The towns and villages around this place were the scene of Carnatic wars.
The name Tiruvallur
Lord Vishnu had come in the guise of an old man and had asked for food and shelter from the Sage Salihotra. The Lord had asked the sage "Evvul? [எவ்வுள்?]" (where to stay), the Sage had replied pointing to his hut as "Ivvul" (inside the hut). Hence the name is called "ThiruEvvul". The word "Tiruvallur" is supposedly derived from the Tamil sentence "tiru evvull?" திரு எவ்வுள் meaning, "Tiru" - god (a common prefix in South India for temple towns), "evvull" - where do I sleep. So, Tiruvallur means, a place/town where, the God, Veera Raghavar asked a saint for a place to sleep for a night.
History
Present Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, and Kancheepuram were then known as
Thondaimandalam. The Sambuvarayar dynasty ruled the area earlier with Padavedu as
their capital before these areas came under the Vijayanagar kingdom. Both these
dynasties believed that Sri Anjaneya /Sri Hanuman was the protector of their
kingdom. They had the practice of building temples for Hanuman on the border of each
village or town they developed. The temple architecture of these areas vouches for
the influence of the Vijayanagar style. The influence of Sri Hanuman in Padavedu,
Vellore vouches for the Sambuvaraya's belief in the Lord as their protector.
Sri Hanuman temples near Tiruvallur
Tiruvallur was a part of the Thodaimandalam and has two famous Hanuman temples nearby. The temple for Anjaneya [Hanuman] in the village Kakkalur just three km from this place is famous since the Hanuman of this temple was installed by Sri Vyasaraja and has a huge following among the traditional Hanuman devotees. The other temple for Hanuman established by the disciple of Sri Mandramurthi, Sri Venkatesa Battachar is about three km from this place on the other direction. The huge forty feet Sri Panchamukha Hanuman is a delight to see.
The Lord of this kshetra Kakkalur - Sree Veera Aajaneyar had been installed by Sri Vyasaraja. The region had been under the influence of Vijayanagara Samrajya for quite some time. Sri Vyasaraja who had been on pilgrimage in this region had installed Sri Anjaneya.
Kakkalur
This small village “Kakkalur” is located just three km from Tiruvallur. An easy way to reach this village is to take a local train from Chennai Central and get down at station Putlur, one station before Tiruvallur Station. It takes around one hour to reach this place. There is a small board announcing “Alight here for Kakkalur Veera Anjaneya Swami Temple”. Take the road running perpendicular to the station. There are auto rickshaws to take you to Sri Anjaneya Temple.
Sri Anjaneya Swami Temple
Sri Anjaneya Swami Temple is very simple. The devotees can have the darshan
of the Lord from the main road itself. The temple consists of Garbagraham and
a big mandapam in front of it. There is a small kitchen on the side of the
temple. The present temple structure had been built in the recent past. Sri
Raghavendra Mutt, Perambur, Chennai with the help of a local Madwa family had
taken the initiative to rebuild the temple. Sri Raghava Acharya of Kakkalur had
taken all the possible help from the locals and had improved upon the temple and
maintained it.
On the one side of the Anjaneya temple is a small Pillyar [Sri Ganesha] temple. Therefore a devotee who is visiting this temple can have a darshan of the ‘Adi’ [beginning – Sri Ganesha] and ‘Andha’ [end Anjaneya]. There is a peepal tree on which a neem tree had entwined, standing between these two sannadhis. Devotees believe that by standing between these entwined trees and the entrance of the temple and offering prayers to Lord Hanuman their wishes will be met at the earliest.
Guru Sri Vyasaraja and Sri Veera Anjaneya of Kakkalur
Sri Vyasaraja installed the Lord of this kshetra Kakkalur, Sree Veera Aajaneyar. The region had been under the influence of Vijayanagara Samrajya for quite some time. Sri Vyasaraja, who had been on pilgrimage in this region, installed Sri Anjaneya. Pujya Sri Raghavendra guru had also visited this place and worshipped this Veera Anjaneya.
Sri Veera Anjaneya Swami
The Lord of this kshetra Sri Veera Anjaneya Swami stands tall and majestic. Tall about nine to ten feet in height. The majestic murti gives the impression that we need not worry when He is there. Sri Hanuman is standing with His right hand in ‘Abaya mudra’ and on the left hand, He is holding the Sowgandhika flower. In both hands, He is wearing ‘kankanam’. The long tail of Sri Anjaneya is seen raised above His head. The Lord’s tuft is seen neatly tied. The Lord is wearing three sets of ornaments on His neck. His lotus feet are seen ever ready and eager to come for the help of His devotee. Above all the glowing eyes of the Lord give the devotees all the compassion they seek and comforts they require.
Temple maintenance
The poojas are conducted as per the prescribed norms of Madwa tradition. The temple had been neatly maintained by the local Madwas from the meager collection they get from the devotees. They also perform poojas in the Ganesh mandir nearby.
Location of the temple: "Sri Veera Anjaneya Swami Temple, Kakkalur, TN"
Experience
Visit this pleasant place Kakallur and have the darshan of the majestic Lord and be refreshed. He is sure to make the devotee pious, bestows compassion, and gives what is sought.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [September 2011]
Updates: [Jan 2025]