KARANJI
ANJANEYA SWAMI TEMPLE. BASAVANGUDI, BANGALORE
gk kaushik
The Anjaneya the dispeller of Sri Rama's grief
Anjaneya, the epitome of humility, celibacy, magnanimity, presence of mind,
 valour and courage visits Lanka in search of Mata Shree Seetha as an emissary
of Sri Rama. He carries back the message of Sri Seetha as also the Chudamani
given by her to Sri Rama. In Lanka Anjaneya submits himself to the Brahmastra
cast by Ravana's son Indirjeet. The demons, assisting Indirjeet, without
knowing that Sri Anjaneya was under the spell of Brahmastra starts binding
Anjaneya with chains and ropes and consequently the effects of Brahmastra
were nullified. Thereafter Anjaneya was taken to Ravana's court. Ravana
orders that the great monkey be burnt by its tail and subsequently Sri
Anjaneya gets out of Lanka after burning a part of the City. The swayambu
Anjaneya Swami - the presiding deity of the Bangalore's "Karenji Anjaneya
temple"- depicts the 'swaroopa' of Anjaneya who is returning to meet Sri Rama
after locating Mata Sri Seetha in Lanka.
Bangalooru and it's South boundry Karenji
The Bangalore subsequently was under the rule of Vijayanagar kings.
Kempegowda-I (1513-1569), the ruler of Yelahanka, predatory to the
Vijayanagar rulers, was a great builder of tanks and temples. He had planned
the modern Bangalore and built it. The southern boundary of Bangalore was a
huge lake amidst the rocks. This area is known as Karenji. In Kannada "kare"
means lake and "enji" means remains. Then the lake was in existence from
where the present day National College is located to just beyond Bull temple.
Therefore the entire area gets the name Karenji.
Kempegowda and Karenji
During his exploration of the area of the town he was planning to build,
Kempegowda-I came across the hillock housing the swayambu Anjaneya Swami in
the Karenji area. He built the Gharbhagraham for the Anjaneya Swami and also
arranged for the performance of the Pranaprathista of the deity. He made
arrangements for the performance of the daily pujas in the temple. It is
believed that Janamejayan, the grand son of Abimanyu, had done penance at the
hillock in which Anjaneyaswamy's idol is located.
Karenji becoming Basavanagudi
There is another temple built by Kempegowda-I dedicated to the Rishaba - the
carrier of Lord Siva. This is known as Nandi temple -in English it is Bull
temple and in Kannada it is Basavana Gudi. The locality draws its name
Basavanagudi from this temple. While this temple is most popular among the
tourists who are visiting Bangalore, the Karenji Anjaneya Swami temple which
is just few hundred meters away has maintained its exclusivity and one gets
peace of mind on visiting this temple. The reverberations of the manthras,
recited by the 96 years old priest Sri Lakshmi Narayanachar is splendid to
hear.
The lakshanas of Anjaneya moorthi
A gigantic twenty two feet mono stone sculpture depicting the deity is a
feast to the eyes. Anjaneya is north facing as he is returning from Lanka.
One could see the Mata Sri's Chudamani held with all piousness in both his
palms. Fury with which he had fought Indirjeet, his assistants and the other
demons of Lanka can be imagined while keenly observing the deity, what with
the 'kora-pal' (protruding teeth - the teeth that of a lion) showing and also
in the properly tied up tuft having got loose. The 'Kaupina vasthram' (loin
cloth) is held by the 'oddiyanam' and a dagger dangling in his hip also are
clearly seen. One could see the broken chains in the arms along side the
bangles known as 'kankana', as also broken chains with bells around, in the
anklets along side the 'thandai'. They represent the remains of the bonds
with which the assistants of Indirjeet had tied Sri Anjaneya. With the
glowing eye Sri Anjaneya blesses one and all of those who visit him.
 We
acknowledge courtesy extended by shri r.krishanan of Birmingham for the photo
of the Lord Anjaneya embossed in the dwaja sthamba of the karanji temple.
The 'kataksha' of Anjaneya Swami
The 'kataksha' of Swami in this 'kshethra' is so good and benign that while
with the look from one eye Sri Anjaneya is ensuring that the Chudamani given
by Mata Shree and held in his hand is safe he does not fail to bless the
devotees with his kataksha from the other eye.
Sri Ram Mandir built by Marathas
On receiving divine directions, Sri Muthnjirao Scindia - the Maratha
chieftain - built a Rama temple facing Sri Anjaneya.'s locale. The Ram Mandir
is built in accordance with the agama vidhis and Sri Rama is seen with his
consort Mata Sri Seetha, His anuja Lakshmana. There is a small opening in the
northern wall of Anjaneya temple through which Sri Anjaneya is ever seeing
His Lord.
Next time when you visit
Bangalore, bring home the blessings of Karenji Anjaneya Swami.
| 
.
