RARE HANUMAN IDOL AT SRI RAJAGPALA SWAMY TEMPLE

SRI RAJAGOPALA SWAMY TEMPLE, ANANTHA MANGALAM, TAMIL NADU 

UNIQUENESS 

It is the only Temple in the world where Sree Hanuman is depicted with three eyes and ten arms called Sree Trinetra Dasa Bhuja Veera Anjaneya Swamy.  

LOCATION 

It is located in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu about 6 Kms from Thirukadayur, the well known Shashti Abda Boorthi Sthalam, where devotees offer prayers on their 60th birthday. From Mayiladuthurai it's about 20 Kms and also reachable from Sirgazhi - 30 Kms 

MAP

 "Thri Nethra Dasa Bhuja Sri Veera Anjaneya Temple"

HISTORY 

The Rajagopala Swamy Temple at Ananthamangalam has roots in the 11th century, initially built by Kulothunga Chola I, (1070-1122 CE) with later expansions by other Chola Kings,  the Vijaynagar kings and Thanjavur Nayakars, making it a rich historical structure with multiple contributors. 

MOOLAVARS & UTSAVARS

Temples in Southern India usually have two types of idols - Moolavars and Utsavars. Moolavar refers to the permanent stone idol installed in the garbh graham while Utsavar refers to the metal idols used for worship and taken out during festivals and processions.

Sree Rajagpala Swamy Temple at Anantha Mangalam is unique in the sense that it derives its name from the Utsavar deity.   The name of the Moolavar at this Temple is Sree Vasudeva Perumal with his consort Shanbaghavalli Thayar.  The  Utsavar deity is called Sree Rajagpala Swamy with his consorts Rukmini and Satyabhama.  

Similarly the name of Moolavar Hanuman is Chaturbhuja Anjaneya with a deer idol in front of him while the most famous idol of the entire temple is the Utsavar Sree Trinetra Dasa Bhuja Veera Anjaneya Swamy.

LEGEND 

While all the rakshasas of Lanka were killed in the war, two of them, Raktha Bindu and Raktha Rakkadhan, had survived the war and wanted to avenge the killings of their people by destroying Sri Rama and his army. To achieve this, the two had undertaken severe penance by placing themselves at the bottom of the ocean.

Sri Rama directs Hanuman to destroy the demons and gives him his bow (Kothandam) and arrows.  Vishnu gave the conch [Shanka], Chakra [Sudarshana], and also a weapon called Maththaksham. Brahma gives him a powerful Ankusha. Shiva gives his third eye and his Trishul to Anjaneya. Parvathi Devi gives him her whip [Pasham]. (according to some, the whip was given by Sree Rajagpala Swamy) Laksmi gives Padmam(lotus flower), and Garudan his wings to Anjaneya. In his tenth hand Anjaneya is seen holding Navaneetham or Butter. Thus Sri Anjaneya, armed with all these weapons, acquires the form of "Thri Nethra Dasa Bhuja Sri Veera Anjaneya". 

Apart from the Three eyes and Ten hands holding various weapons, it is believed that all the nine planets (Navagrahams) are present in the tail of Hanuman.The devotees pray to Lord Anjaneyar and get relieved of doshams.   (Auspicious abode of Happiness) which later got changed to An-antha Mangalam (Abode of never ending happiness).

STHALA VRIKSHAM & STHALA THEERTGAM

The sthala thertham (Holy water body) of the temple is called Hanuman thertham while there is no specific sthala VRIKSHAM (Holy tree) mentioned for the temple

AUTHOR’ NOTE

The name of the Utsavar idol of the temple derives its name from the famous temple located in Mannargudi Sri Rajagopala Swamy Temple which

was also built by Kulothunga Cholan. 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Executive Officer,

Sri Rajagopala Perumal Thiru Kovil,

Ananthamangalam, 

Kaziyappa Nallur Post,

Tarangai circle

Nagapattanam Dist ,

Tamil Nadu

Pin : 609 307

Phone : (04364) 289888