Anjaneyar, Namakkal, Namakkal

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Anjaneyar	Ambal / Thayar:	–
Deity:	Anjaneyar	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:	Vaikhanasa	Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	7 to 12 & 4 to 8.30	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Namakkal	District:	Namakkal
Maps from (click):	Current location	Namakkal (2 km)	Karur (37 km)
	Erode (61 km)	Salem (62 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

The temple’s sthala puranam is part of the sthala puranam of the nearby Lakshmi Narasimhar temple.

The temple is connected to the Narasimha avataram, one of Vishnu’s 10 avatarams. Due to the situation created by Hiranyakashipu and the urgent call by his son Prahlada to Vishnu, the Lord had to take the Narasimha Avataram very quickly. He therefore left His abode in a hurry, even as He was taking the form of Narasimha. As a result, Lakshmi was unable to see His form as Narasimhar.

After the events of the Ramayanam, Hanuman returned the Sanjeevani mountain he had taken to Lanka, back to its original place. There in modern-day Nepa, by the river Gandaki, He found a Salagrama vigraham of Vishnu, which he took with him. As he was returning to south to rejoin Rama, he stopped by this place, where Lakshmi was performing penance so that She could see His Narasimhar form. At that time, Hanuman came by, carrying a vigraham made of Salagramam. Lakshmi requested Hanuman to let Her worship it, and view Narasimhar. Hanuman gave her the vigraham to hold, while he finished his worship. Lakshmi received the vigraham, but was unable to bear its weight, and so placed it on the ground, and immediately, the Salagramam grew into a hillock. When Hanuman returned, both he and Lakshmi were presented with a vision of Narasimhar. This is the site of the Lakshmi Narasimhar temple today, which stands a few hundred meters to the east of the Anjaneyar temple.

Lakshmi undertook her penance chanting the ashtakshara mantram that begins with “Namo”, and since the hillock (giri) came up here, the place took the name Nama-giri. Since She is the primal cause of The Lord appearing here, She is offered first worship by devotees, as decreed by the Lord.

To honour Anjaneyar’s contribution to this place, the Lord asked him to stand to the west, facing Narasimhar. Anjaneyar is said to have stood here ever since, and according to a local legend, although made of stone, the vigraham has grown in size over time, imperceptibly.

This temple is an adjunct to the Lakshmi Narasimhar temple.

Hanuman is considered as the overlord of Rahu and Sani, to whom black gram (உளுந்து) and sesame (எள்) respectively are offered. Therefore, Anjaneyar here is offered vada malai made of these two main ingredients.

The original temple here is said to date to back to the 6^th century, contemporaneous with the Lakshmi Narasimhar temple. There is no gopuram, and the entrance is covered by a tall, pillared awning. The current structure is a very recent renovation in the last few decades, prior to which this was an open temple.

Straight ahead is the 18-foot tall vigraham of Anjaneyar, which does not have a covering – it is open to air. Because of this, He is also called Digambara Anjaneyar. Anjaneyar sports a sword around His waist and is depicted holding a Salagrama garland.

A serpentine queue snakes forward up to the sanctum for darshan of Anjaneyar. There is no priority or paid darshan, but the queue usually moves rapidly. Around the queue and behind the moolavar is the pradakshina padam, with various vigrahams and paintings on both sides.