First Seedling

The School teacher who was ardent devotee of Lord Anjaneya, then living in Nattu Subbaraya Mudali Street in Mylapore had a divine direction to build a temple for Lord Hanuman. He started worshiping with daily pujas to a 32mm height bronze statue of the Lord. His friends who had inclination of love and devotion towards the Lord Hanuman joined him. They formed an association 'Maruti Baktha Samaj' and stared celebrating Hanumath Jayanthi in a grand manner. The jayanthi celebration was grand and attracted lots of devotees. Every day during the celebration, in the evening they use to organize Carnatic music concerts as a part of offer to the Lord, as Lord Hanuman is a lover of music and also an exponent. It is worth to note that most popular artistes of that time will offer the concerts without any remuneration, so as to get the blessings of Lord Hanuman.

First Step

In ten years time, the Jayanthi celebration had become so popular, an eight feet height statue of the Lord Hanuman made out of 'Athti' wood (wood of the fig tree) and pujas conducted. They were moving towards fulfillment of building a temple for the Lord. 'Maruti Baktha Samaj' under the noble guidance of H.H.Sri Paramacharya of Sri Kanchi Sankara Mutt, selected a site in Nangai Nallur. His Holiness had then explained that atleast sixteen holy temples will come up in Nangainallur.

First-Sri Ramadootha

Nangainallur was an upcoming colony and it was not easy to get plots/land. In spite of that they were able to get about 1700 square meters of land, which is not because of the human efforts, but because of the Dheyva chittam. Not only 'seven ground' plot in Nangainallur was bought, the name of the colony was 'Ram Nagar' and the plot was adjacent to brindhavan of Sri Raghavendra, a great devotee of Lord Hanuman. Therefore Lord had selected the site in Ram Nagar (His Guru) adjacent to Brindhavan of Sri Raghavendra (His disciple).

First Stone

Next came, the selection of stone for the statue. Firstly a stone near Trichinapalli was tested as to whether suitable for making of divine statue etc., it was rejected by the Stapatis. Next, a stone in the place Bhasyam near Vellore was tested and found to be suitable. Since the stone was in the ground level, extraction of stone will be easy, it was felt. The committee members were very happy and the work was entrusted to a contractor. After a month when they went to see, the progress at the site, it was found that the work was not progressing as per schedule. It was found that the contractor had absconded from the place. It was also observed that the stone had developed crack.

After further try a stone was found in the place called Paramanallur near Vandhawasi. But only the little portion of the stone was above the ground level and rest (majority) of the portion under the earth. It was learnt that the stone was originally selected for building of a temple for Lord Krishna, by Sri Birlas, but was subsequently dropped. It was then decided that to extract the stone from the earth even if it involves more time and money. But before that a small portion of the stone from the rock was cutout and the sample was presented to HH Sri Paramacharya of Sri Kanchi Mutt for his approval. His Holiness was observing 'mavna virth' (vow of silence), and had assessed the stone and signaled the approval.

First Journey

With lot of efforts the stone was unearthed which was measuring thirty five feet in length, ten feet in width, and ten feet in height and was moved by the lorry which had sixteen axils. It was a shear divinity that the driver of the lorry happens to be follower of the Christ and the owner of the lorry follower of the Mohammed had moved the stone that was to be Lord Hanuman. It is still remembered by the residences of Nanganallur (Nangainallur in Tamil) and devotees of the Lord Hanuman, the day the stone entered through the Pavazanthangal railway crossing with ease. It is still a wonder that the huge lorry could maneuver the small streets of Nangainallur with ease, and without any hindrances. The great wonder is till now nothing happened to the lorry, but movement it had arrived at the place, the tyres of the lorry busted as if to announce the arrival of the Lord in Nangainallur.

First Respect

The stapati who was to sculpture the Lord Hanuman did not find any difficulty in carving the Lord in the granite stone, for that matter it seems that Lord had come out of the stone on His own. There are many divine indications that had come while the idol was being sculptured out. In one such incident it is said that the guard on duty had seen a light had passed from the nearby Sri Raghavendra Swami brindhavan to Lord Hanuman's deity. It is a divine grace that this thirty two feet deity had came out as a santha swaroopi, instead of ugra swaroopi.

First Anugraha

As customary the deity to obtain the divinity, was placed immersed in milk, water, flower, grains etc., for the specific period as prescribed under Agama rules. It is still not known how the twelve thousand liters of milk in which the Lord was immersed, was not spoiled and that too during summer (of Chennai), nothing else could be attributed except the divinity.

The thirty two feet tall idol was to be installed on the lotus base, a yentra for the Lord Hanuman was to be kept in between the Lords idol and the lotus base. All precautions were taken so that the weight of idol does not crush the yentra, but all the same the idol should be in contact with the yentra. This task was a challenge to the experts who were involved in the installation of the deity of Lord, and they could achieve this with the blessings of the Lord. Now that the Lord was in the standing position, stapati on the prescribed date went up to open the eyes of the idol. On finishing, it was seen that one eye of the Lord was looking towards the Sri Raghavendra Swami. Alas! Is it that the Lord wants see his prime devotee Sri Raghavendra all the time?

First Pradishta

Lord Brahadeswara of Thanjavur was first installed and then the temple was built after installation of the Lord. Probably after that big temple where the Lord came first and the temple was build after that, in modern time Adi Vyadihara Sri Baktha Abjaneya Swami temple is the one which was build like that. The gopuram of this temple is ninety two feet tall and the kalasam is made of copper and covered with gold plates. The temple was completed in accordance with the Agma rules, latter sannathi for Lord Vinayaka, Lord Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, and Sri Garuda were added.

First Kumbhabishekam

On May 19th of 1995 the Kumbhabishekam was performed in accordance with Agma rules. Today at least one lakh devotees pay visit to this mammoth temple every month. This temple acts as a nodal temple for many religious activities, and had been an inspiration for many Hanumath devotees.

There are shrines for Lord Rama, his consort Sita, Lakshmana, Sri Anjaneya and separate shrines for Garudazwar, Lord Ganesha, Nagar, Lord Krishna with His consorts.

The day starts for the Lords with Go-pooja (pooja to cow and calf). The traditional band using Nagaswaram and Thavil is played next. The traditional recitation of Hari Vayu Sthuthi by Madhwa pundits follows. Abishekam is performed everyday to all the deities.

Social activities

Anjaneya the music lover is worshipped by good music, the trustees used to organise a music festival from their Mylapore days. Hanumath Jayanthi Music Festival of this temple is a big event and music lovers await for this festival. The temple has been awarding Hanumath Gana Siromani to artistes every year.

The traditional way of telling the mythological stories laced with music, dance and abinayam is known as Harikatha Kalakshepam. To keep this tradition alive Harikatha is organised during Rama Navamani and Krishna Jayanthi festivals. During Krishna Jayanthi the great epic Bhagavatham is recited and discourse is conducted for nearly eight days. Sita Kalyanam and Rukmini Kalyanam are performed once a month. Devotees can offer thulabaram in Lord Krishna's Sannadhi.

Poor feeding for around one hundred and fifty people is offered every day.

I salute Thee to give me inspiration, magnanimity, and Santhi.

-Ms. Vijayalakshmi Gopalan
New Delhi

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Sri Adhi Vyadhihara Bhakta Anjaneya Swami Temple
Sri Maruthi Bhakta Samajam Trust (Regd)
1, 8th Street :: Ram Nagar
Nanganallur :: Chennai
Pin : 600 061
Phone : (044) 2267 1410, 2267 1420

Working Hours of Temple : 5 AM to 12.30 AM & 4.30 to 9 PM
Working Hours of Office : 7 AM to 11.30 AM & 5 PM to 8.30 PM

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