Arani
The historically famous town Arani (Tamil: ஆரணி which is written as Arnee, Arani, or Arni) is on the banks of Kamandala Naaga river, in the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu. The town is around 38 kilometers from Vellore and 60 kilometers from Tiruvannamalai.
The city is well connected through various well-formed roads, the state highways SH-4 (Arcot - Arni - Gingee - Villupuram Road), and SH-132 (Kannamangalam - Arni Road) are the major roads connecting Arani. The silk textiles that are produced in this town are well known and famous as ‘Arani Silk’.
Why the place is called Arani
There are three variations given for the town being called Arani. Aar means Athi [fig] tree in Tamil. Since there were many such trees in the area this place got the name Arani. Secondly, it got its name from the Sanskrit word Aranyam [means forest]. [Interestingly the nearby place Arcot also derived the name from [Aar] Athi tree and kadu [forest]]. Thirdly since the river Kamandala Naaga River [river is Aru [ஆறு] in Tamil] flows through the place, it was called ARaNi [ஆறு + அணி] in due course it became AraNi [ஆரணி]. The river Kamandala originates from Javathu Hills and the Naaga River originates from Amarthi Hills near Kannamangalam both these rivers amalgamate in Samburayarnallur near Arani and flow through Arani.
Arni Jagir
The Arni Jagir dates back to 1640 when its founder Vedaji Bhaskar Pant was granted
the Arni Jagir from the great Maratha leader Shahjee (father of Shivaji) for
services in war rendered in his campaign to the Carnatic. The Jagirdars of Arni were
Maratha Brahmins and followers of the Dwaita philosophy professed by Sri
Madhwacharya and ardent followers of Madhwa Sampradaya. The descendants of
Sri Bhaskar Pant continued to be headed by the Jagir until the Zamindari Abolition
Bill was passed in 1948. The tradition had been that the Jairdars were named either
Srinivas Rao Saheb or Tirumala Rao Saheb.
A Holy spot near Arni
Sri Vyasaraja Teertha (1460-1539), the great saint and follower of Sri Madwa's Dvaita School of philosophy had built around 732 Hanuman temples spreading all over the south. One such temple is located around ten kilometers from Arni. This holy place used to be visited by many Madwa saints of that time. Today this place is known as Sri Sathya Vijaya Nagaram, named after another great Madwa saint. The biography of the saint who gave his name to this holy place will tell us the importance of Sri Hanuman which was installed by Sri Vyasaraja.
Biography
Sri Sathya Vijaya Teertharu: [1726-1737]
Sri Sathyapoorna Teertha pontiff of Sri Uttaradi Mutt initiated young boy Ramacharya into sanyasa ashrama. He was given the name Sri Satyapriya and was chosen to be the next head of the mutt. Young Sri Satyapriya went on a yatra to propagate the Dvaita philosophy. After a few years, Sri Sathyapoorna Teertha felt that he had to leave his mortal coils and leave for the heavenly abode. Sri Sathyapriya Teertha who was to be anointed as the next head of the mutt could not be located. As an alternative Sri Balacharya of Mannargudi was initiated into sanyasa as Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha and with specific instructions that he would hand over the Mutt to Sri Sathyapriya Teertha on his return from the pilgrimage. A few days hence Sri Sathyapoorna Teertha entered Brindavan near the bank of the river Krishna in Kolpur.
Since Sri Sathyapriya Teertha did not turn up, Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha continued as
head of Sri Uttaradi Mutt. During his Vijaya yatra, he came to Arani. Arani during
that time was under the Jagirdar who were ardent followers of the Madwa philosophy.
Arni Jagir felt that they were honored by the visit of the Guru and made all
arrangements for them for the peaceful conduction of pooja. One day after the pooja
Teertharu took Jagirdar for a stroll. At one place they saw a snake [Sri Nagaraja]
and Jagirdar wanted to know the significance of this. Srigalu told him that a war
was ensuing and he may have to shift his place of residence.
Brindavan for Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha
After some time Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha felt that his end was nearing but could not locate the whereabouts of Sri Sathyapriya Teertha. He called the Jagirdar and instructed him that his Brindavan would be built when the pallbearers could no more bear the weight. Further, he made the inventory of all the things with him and gave a copy to the Jagirdar and one more to Sri Sathyapriya Teertha. He had also instructed that the pooja box should be buried after his entrance into Brindavan and has to be unearthed only by Sri Sathyapriya Teertha. Further, he instructed that Sri Sathyapriya Teertha has to exchange his danda.
During the course of his vijaya yatra Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha came to Arani. Arani during that time was under the Jagirdar who were ardent followers of the Madwa philosophy. Arni Jagir felt that they were honored by the visit of the Guru and made all arrangements for them for the peaceful conduction of pooja.
On Chaitra Krishna Ekadashi, Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha passed away and as instructed they started carrying him. When they came to the very spot where the snake was sighted [which was known only to the Jagirdar and Srigalu], the pallbearers were unable to bear the weight and stopped. Jagirdar built the Brindavan for Sri Sathya Vijaya Teertha and also shifted his palace to a nearby place. He renamed the place Sri Sathya Vijaya Nagaram in memory of Sri Swami.
Return of Sri Sathyapriya Teertha
Sri Sathyapriya Teertha came to Sathyavijaya Nagaram and was briefed by the Jagirdar about the happenings. The Pooja box was taken out and given to Sri Sathyapriyaru. All went well until the Jagirdar informed the Swamiji that he had to exchange his danda. Now this created a peculiar problem. Sri Sathyavijayaru was not his ashrama guru and it is a normal practice to receive the danda from the ashrama guru only more he was senior to Sri Sathyavijaya Teertharu in Sanyasarama. Confused and hesitant he started walking out of Sri Sathyavijaya Nagaram in dilemma.
Sri Hanuman Temple [Sri Vyasaraja pradeshta]
Sri Sathyapriya Teertharu reached the Sri Mukya Prana [Hanuman] temple at the end of
the village which was consecrated by Sri Vyasaraja. The moment he reached the temple
he was swarmed by monkeys which stopped him from proceeding further. Srigalu
returned and looked for the pooja box which became invisible to him. It was then he
realised the greatness of Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha and composed the famous sloka
“Sri Sathya Vijayaru” in praise of Sri Sathyavijaya Teertharu. Sri Sathyapriya
understood the significance and exchanged the danda with Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha
and continued his journey.
Sri Vyasaraja pradeshta Sri Hanuman
The temple of Sri Mukya Prana [Sri Hanuman] is at the beginning of the SV Nagaram as one takes the bus from Arani. The Brindavan of Sri Guru is about one km from this temple. The temple had been renovated recently by Sri Uttaradi Mutt. Sri Hanuman blesses the devotee the moment he enters the temple.
Sri Hanuman of this kshetra is a yathurmuki i.e., he is facing the
devotees directly with both eyes. A tall and gigantic figure is majestic to look at.
Lord is facing south. He is wearing 'Thandai' and 'Nupuram' on His
lotus feet. The dhoti He is wearing is holding His well-built thighs tightly.
He is seen wearing an ornamental waist belt in His waist. A small short knife is
seen held by this ornament. He is wearing 'keyuram' in His upper arm and
hollow bangles [kankanam] in His wriest. In His broad chest, He is seen
wearing a rosary with two rows of beads. There is another garland having a single
row of beads with a pendent in which figures of Sri Rama, Sita, and Lakshman are
embossed. Lord is also wearing a necklace close to His neck. In the ears, He is
wearing kundal, and in the upper portion of the ear He is wearing 'karna
pushpa'. Neatly tied hair is held by the ornament known as 'sikha
mani'.
With all this, the Lord is great looking and the tail of the Lord is seen raised above His head in the form of ‘OM’. End of the tail which has a curve with a small bell at the end. His raised right hand is in abhya mudra offering the quality of fearlessness to all His devotees. Lord's left hand is seen resting on the left thigh and holding the lotus flower.
Sathyavijaya Nagaram
Sathyavijaya Nagaram is a village on the banks of the Kamandala Naaga River in Arani Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District, and Tamilnadu. It is about 10 km from Arani. The Moola Brindavan of Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha is situated here on the banks of the Kamandala Naaga River. The village had been named by the Arani Jagir as Sathya Vijaya Nagaram after the great Guru, popularly now known as SV Nagaram or Nagaram in Vellore district. The village was once flourishing with activity, learned scholars of Dvitha philosophy were settled here under the patronage of Jagirdars of Arani. But today it is different, even the palace of the Jagir of Arani is in ruins, but the Brindavan of Sri Guru is active. The descendants of Jagirdar of Arani and other ardent devotees keep visiting this holy place seeking the blessings of Sri Sathyavijaya Teertha and Sri Veera Anjaneya Swami. The Brindavan is under the administrative control of Sri Uttaradi Mutt and is positioned amidst serene nature away from the crowd and commercialism of habitation. The place reverberates with positive vibrations pertinent for spiritual upliftment and helps us forget the mundane issues of life.
This village also houses the palace of the then Jagirdar of Arani, who were ardent followers of Madhwa philosophy. The Brindavan of Sri Sathyavijaya Teertharu was taken care by the Jagirdars of Arani, but after the abolishment of Zamindari [Jagirdari] the administrative control had passed over to Sri Uttaradi Mutt. Presently there is provision for the devotees to come and stay in the mutt at this village. The devotees can avail of these facilities, feel the presence of the Srigalu at this place, and have darshan of Sri Vyasa pradeshta Prana Devaru - Sri Hanuman.
Location of the temple: "Sri Vyasaraja pradeshta Hanuman :Sri Anjaneya Temple :: SV Nagaram :: Arani :: TamilNadu"
Experience
Take the double benefit of being blessed by Sri Sathyavijaya Teertharu and Sri Vyasaraja pradeshta Sri Veera Anjaneya Swami – Sri Mukya Prana Devaru of the holy kshetra. The visit to this holy place is bound to bring ‘Santham’ into one’s life.
SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE
Ed [January 2013] Sri Hanumath Jayanthi Special
Updated May 2018 / Mar 2019 /Jan 2025
*The author is practicing medicine