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 A visit to Nanganallur is incomplete without a holy communion with 'Aadhi Vyadhihara Sri Baktha Anjaneya Swami'. You must be wondering as to which temple I am referring to. Yes, it is the world-renowned, 32 ft Anjaneyar temple which is a major spiritual spot in Chennai. Replete with history and miracles, the temple is almost one-and-a-half-decades-old. The antecedents of the existing temple dates back to 1974.
Spiritual preceptor Ramani or Ramani Anna, as he is reveredly called, was a Mylaporevasi, living in Nattur Subburaya Mudali Street. A schoolteacher, he was initiated into performing pooja for Anjaneya by a divine order. The bronze idol was barely the size of the thumb - about 32 mm. A devout group, his friends, was unable to comprehend the celestial sanction, but it played along.
The group called itself 'Maruti Baktha Samajam' and started organising Hanumath Jayanti festivals along with homams, archana and spiritual discourses and music festivals. The widespread acceptance of the devout multitude made Hanumath Jayanti an annual event. It was the Kanchi Paramacharya who asked Ramani Anna to celebrate the festival.
 To idea to construct a shrine for Anjaneya was on their minds. It became an obsession with the members. The obsession become their passion and wish. Another wooden idol of Anjaneya - 8 ft tall - made from
'Athi tree' replaced the bronze statue. This life-like idol of God mesmerised His devotees and He became a crowd puller. The devotees became so ecstatic that they were willing to sacrifice anything to celebrate the spiritual events.
Lord Rama's friend started curing illnesses and solving problems. Devotees started thronging to have a tete-a-tete with Anjaneya. The atmosphere was surcharged with bhakthi and emotion. It looked as if the group's sole purpose was to construct a big temple for the Lord. Anjaneya He ruled their actions and thoughts.
Meanwhile, belief in the Lord's prowess spread like wildfire. The samajam became a trust - Maruti Bhaktha Samajam Trust. Ramani Anna was the founder and his associates, trustees. Their frantic search for a place within the city proved futile and the choice fell on Nanganallur. Another temple was being constructed in this hallowed temple town. Lord Rama's devout follower Anjaneya chose His abode in 'Ram Nagar'. It is not a strange coincidence or compulsion, but His divine will. Such a staunch devotee of Rama, perhaps Anjaneya wanted a temple in a place which bears His Lord's name.
 It is believed that the seven ground plot chosen for the temple has the divine concurrence of Saptha (seven) Kanyas. Another unique feature of the location is the proximity to Raghavendra Brindavan. As the Mantralaya Mahan is a devoted disciple of Anjaneya, no wonder our Lord wanted to be near his staunch devotee. The location of the two temples speaks volumes about the acharya-sishya relationship which echoes the tenets of Hindu mythology.
Lord Anjaneya chose to bless His devotees in 'viswaroopa form' (the form in which He travelled to Lanka).
As per custom, boomi pooja was performed for the temple. Nanganallur those days presented a totally different picture. Stretches of arable land, which was inundated during the rains, was a common sight. A special ceremony was performed during the bhoomi pooja. The interesting episode in the construction of the temple for Vayu Putra will be unravelled next week.
To be continued
UshaRaja
Plot-93-D,
Second Main road,
Nanganallur,
Chennai-600061.
usharaja60@hotmail.com
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Anjaneyar Temple-1
