ARULMIGU AADHI VYADHI HARA BHAKTHA ANJANEYAR TEMPLE

The Anjaneya Temple at Nanganallur, Chennai, is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Here the idol of the Lord is of 32-feet in height. The whole creation is sculpted using a single piece of granite. Considering its height, this idol is considered the second tallest Hanuman after Panchavatee.

 

If we go back into history, we find that the idol was established in 1989 and sanctified in 1995. Sri Maruthi Bhakta Samajam Trust, along with various devotees, made the creation of this temple possible. The idol was sculpted using a single rock, and this factor distinguishes it from the rest.

 

Inside the Temple

 

When you enter the temple, you see the main shrine, which houses Lord Hanuman or Anjaneya. This is built on a tower 90 feet tall; the idol faces West, and the entrance is also in the West. There is one more temple in the South direction used during different festivals related to Lord Hanuman.

 

There are pathways in the temple building and ample space, also called Mandapam, so many devotees can be gathered at once.

 

Significance of the Temple

 

The Anjaneya temple at Nanganallur is visited by thousands of devotees to pray for their wellness. Lord Hanuman sanctifies his devotees for better health; a devotee who prays there for his good health gets his wish granted.

 

The height of the idol and the single stone creation are two factors that make this idol unique. There are idols of Sri Rama, Sri Lakshmana, and Seetha with Sri Anjaneyar, Sri Vinayagar, Sri Ragavendra, and Sri Krishna with his consorts Bhama and Rukmini. It is believed that the idol possesses powers that listen to the people coming here and heals them from their ailments.

 

Going further into the temple, you see a full-fledged Sannidhi for Sri Rama on the North-West corner. Here Rama's idol is signified as the protector as he is holding his bow and hence named "Kothanda Rama." He is settled here with his consort Sita and brother Laxman; all the gods are facing East.

 

When you head to the South-West of the temple, you find a Sannidhi for Lord Krishna with Rukmani and Satya Bhama; all these gods are facing East. There is a weighing balance that lets the devotees make offerings equivalent to their weight. It is common to see a Sannidhi for Lord, but it is rarely built in Krishna temples, and here it is built for Krishna also.

 

Krishna Sannidhi is a reminder that among all the Gods, only Hanuman was the one who was present in both the Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Ramayana, Hanuman became a direct disciple of Lord Rama, and in Mahabharata, he was in the flag of Arjuna's Chariot. The flag with Lord Hanuman imprinted on it was established by Krishna himself to save the chariot from the destruction of opponents.

 

There is a small platform for Vinayaka as well when you visit the North-East part of the temple. The deity here is facing East, and to his left, a platform for Naga is installed.

 

The Town – Nanganallur

 

Nanganallur is the satellite town of the city of Chennai. One has to cover a distance of 10 Km from the city, and it is 5 Km from the Airport. There is no doubt that the temple serves as the prime landmark here in the town. There are absolutely no tourist buses that skip the route of this temple. The place is accessible using buses as well as trains; trains stop at Pazhavanthangal Railway station. From the station to the temple, it is about 8 minutes or 2 km of distance which you can cover using any auto or taxi.

 

Temple Address

 

No. 1, 8th Street, Ram Nagar, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600061, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600061

 

Temple Timings

 

The temple is open to devotees every day from 5.00 am to 12:00 pm and 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm.