Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Veera Mangala Anjaneya Temple, Nallathur, Thiruvallur

Veera Mangala Anjaneya Temple, Nallathur, Thiruvallur
Veera Mangala Anjaneya Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman located in Nallathur Village in Thiruthani Taluk in Thiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu. The Temple is situated on the banks of the Kusasthalai. Presiding Deity, Veera Anjaneya is also popularly known as Bala Anjaneya.

Legends
It was here that sage Jamadagni, father of Lord Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord Narayana, did penance. So, the holy place was in existence long before the Ramayana period in the Tretha Yuga.

History
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
Though the presiding deity is Lord Veera Anjaneya, he is popularly known as Bala Anjaneya since his features resemble those of a small child. The idol of Anjaneya, carved on a single slab of stone, faces north and is known as Veera Mangala Anjaneyar. It is one of the nine forms of Anjaneya, according to the Parasara Samhita. Lord Anjaneya is seen as walking towards North direction where Tirupati abode of Lord Venkateswara is situated. Lord Veera Anjaneya's right hand depicts 'abhaya mudra' with lotus petals in the palm, the left is found holding a lotus bud close to the chest.

The lotus is known as the symbol of Gyana, Aishwarya, and a symbol of Vijaya; representing Goddess Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Durga. The tail is raised over his head with a bell tied at its end. The small-sized carving of Lord Rama is found over his head. On the back of the idol is found the description of the ten incarnations of Lord Narayana. On his chest is found a carving in silver of Sita-Rama. As the best ornament of a Brahmmachari, he has a tuft and this long hair is tied up and he wears the Vaishnava symbol Thiruman in his long forehead.

He gives his darshan to the devotees through Pingaksha as his eyeball has a golden hue. Vishnu in his incarnation as Narasimha is said to have long sharp teeth known as gorapal. Bala Anjaneya also has gorapal. His long ears ever listening to Ramakatha wears a Panchamukha earring in kundala form. There are also garlands sculptured around his neck. He adorns a mala made of Saligramam – a rare fossil stone, found normally in Nepal. His both arms are adorned with armlets known as keyura, a bracelet known as parihariyajha and a bangle known as kankana in his wrist. He has a dagger at his hip and a long belt around the waist.

In his lotus feet he has two different types of anklets one resting in the foot known as Noopuram, one on his ankle known as thandai. Lord Veera Anjaneya's shrine has a single - tier vimana. On the southern side of the vimana Yoga Anjaneya with Sangu chakra and mala is found. On the east side is the Bhakta Anjaneya. On western side of the vimana is the Panchamukha Anjaneya with five faces and ten hands. On the northern side of the vimana is the Veera Anjaneya with the right hand lifted towards the sky left hand resting on his waist.

In the main shrine of Anjaneya are also found the Utsava idols of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha, Sri Sudarsana and a dancing Navaneetha Krishna. A small silver idol of Anjaneya with Panchayudha is also found here. On either side of the Moolavar idol of Anjaneya are the images of Sri Sudarsana (Chakra) and Panchajanya (Shanka). Two more shrines — one for Vishnu Durgai and another a Shadgona shrine for Sri Sudarsana with Sri Narasimha on the back have been built recently. The temple rituals are conducted according to the Vaikanasa Agama. A snake, which guarded the temple in the past, is said to be a regular visitor and provision has been made in the outer wall for its entry.

Lord Rama's shrine has a two tier vimana and in the shrine Lord Rama is found in the "Panchhtra" pose along with his consort Sita, Lakshmana, and Anjaneya. A 26 ft-high Dwajasthambam has been installed before the shrine of Lord Rama. Lord Vinayaka is housed in the shrine which has a single tier vimana. The Navagrahas have a separate shrine, the Navagrahas are found with their vahanas. Saneeswara faces Anjaneya and hence will be more benevolent towards those who worship the Lord here, it is believed. All of them are adorned with silver Kavacham.

A 42-ft-high Sudhai image of Anjaneya, in sitting posture, blesses devotees at the entrance of the temple facing east and laid with marble floor. It has been constructed by the sthapathis of Mahabalipuram, who have also carved the idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Sudarsana, Vinayaka and the Navagrahas. The maha Kumbabishekam was performed on July 7, 1998 after reinstalling the idol of Lord Veera Anjaneya in accordance with the Pancharatna Agama rules by the Shri Veera Anjaneya Bhaktha Samaj.

The temple is not a stranger to VIP devotees. Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who visited the temple when he was the Opposition leader, went there again after he won the elections. He spent some time offering worship to the deities and taking part in the many rituals conducted at the temple.

Connectivity
Nallathur is located near Thiruthani, en-route to Tirupati. The Temple is located at about 15 Kms from Thiruthani, 16 Kms from Thiruthani Bus Stand, 14 Kms from Thiruthani Railway Station, 16 Kms from Thiruthani Murugan Temple, 66 Kms from Tirupati, 37 Kms from Thiruvallur, 85 Kms from Chennai Airport and 90 Kms from Chennai.
When you travel further beyond Tiruvallur on the Chennai – Tiruvallur – Thiruthani route, there will be a point where the road forks into two. You have to take the branch that goes to the right and immediately take a right turn (yes, one more right turn) as soon as you enter it. There is a sign board here that says the temple is 12 Kms away.