SRI
ANJANEYA SWAMI, HANUMARAMBALAM, PAYYANUR, KERALA
gk kaushik
Shree Raghavapuram, Payyanur
Shree Raghavapuram is situated in the valley of
Cheruthazham village near Payyanur town, opposite to the hills 'Ezhimala'.
Though the place had been named as Shree Raghavapuram, it is popularly known
as 'Hanumarambalm'. There is a small beautiful Shree Rama temple here which
is one of the most ancient and famous Vaishnava temples of northern Kerala.
Hanumarambalam
It is a popular belief that this temple got its name
Hanumarambalam, in order to express the love Shree Ramachandra's and Shree
Sita Devi's towards Shree Hanuman and also to denote the divine love of Shree
Hanuman had for Shree Ramachandra and Shree Sita. It is also said that the
pooja performed for Shree Hanuman shall be considered as the pooja performed
for Shree Ramachandra Himself. Therefore it is relevant that the poojas
performed to Shree Hanuman is pleasing to Shree Ramachandra Swami also.
The Temple
The original temple is believed to have been built by
Mooshaka dynasty centuries ago and later Shri Udaya Varma Kolathiri during
his rule had renovated the temple in the 8th Century. He had brought 237
scholarly Brahmin families from Gokarna kshethra present Tulu speaking
area under Karnataka. These scholars were settled in five villages including
Cheruthazham, Kunnaru, Arathilpuracheeri, Kullapuram etc. The village
Cheruthazham includes places namely Sri Raghavapuram, Sri Krishnapuram,
Udayapuram.
Legend
Then the main temple where idol of Shree Ramachandra
was originally installed was east facing. As per the ancient annotation the
original idol of Shree Ramachandra was depicting the mood of the Lord as was
during the battle (Rama-Ravana yudha). It was felt during that time,
that population residing on the Eastern side of the temple were experiencing
lot of hardship.
On
conducting 'prashnam' it was decided to open a doorway for the temple
on the western side facing 'Ezhimala', and to shut the doorway facing
eastern side and also to reinstall (punarpadishta) Shree Ramachandra
with Shree Sita Devi along with Shree Lakshma. Accordingly the eastern
doorway is even now closed, and Shree Ramachandra along with His concert was
installed.
In the 'prashnam', it was seen that the 'Devasannithyam'
(the presense of the Deva) of the temple dates back to the 'threthayugam'.
It is believed that during the Rama-Ravana yudham at Lanka, when Shree
Hanuman carried the 'Aushdha Shailam' (Mountain with
Mridhasanjeevani) to Lanka for giving life to Lakshmana, a piece of the
mountain broke and fell down from His hands at this place (where the temple
is located) and thus the 'Ezhimala' was formed. From that time itself
the presence or the Chaitanya of Shree Hanuman and Shree Ramaswami was
felt and experienced here.
The temple is the abode of Shree Ramachandra with Shree
Sita Devi ('parivarasametham'). People from very remote places also
come over to this temple to seek the blessings of the Lord Hanuman. In one
sense the very existence of this temple became possible only due to Shree
Anjaneya Swami since the protection of this temple also is vested in the
hands of the Lord Shree Hanuman.
The temple is the abode of Shree Ramachandra with Shree
Sita Devi. With Shree Ramachandra and Shree Sita Devi as the main deity of
the temple, the devoted brother Lakshmana is also seen. Normally Shree
Lakshman is not seen in same pedestal with his Lord Rama, but the uniqueness
of this temple is that all these three are on the same pedestal
Shree Hanuman's temple
Shree Hanuman's temple is located inside the 'Naalambalam'
at the 'Vaayu mula' (Northwest corner) of the main 'Shree Koil' of the
temple. There is a unique feature of this temple is the presence of a 'Shree
Koil' for Lord Shiva just outside the Nalambalam. Lord is facing the west,
and 'Shanta Shiva Prathshta' is the importance of the idol. On to the
western side of the Lord Siva temple there is a 'Shree Koil' for Shree Durga
Devi. Earlier there was no idol for Shree Durga (Bhimba pratishta) and there
was only 'Peedha pradishta' for Her.
Festivals and Traditions
Every year in the month of Makaram (21st to
25th) of Indian solar calendar temple Mahotsavam is celebrated. The
festival is well attended by the devotees and is famous in the north Karala.
During the festival the idols (uthsavamoorthi) of Shree Parameshwara,
Shree Ramachandra, Sree Hanuman, Shree Durga are carried on the heads of 'Brahmana
shreshtas' at a time and the special dance is performed. This deva
vigraha dance known, as 'Thidambu Nrithyam' is not common to any
other temple.
The offering of "Avil" (rice flake) to Lord Anjaneya
Swami is famous in this temple. The offering is normally done only in the
evening between four and 'sayaraksha'. It is said that Lord Hanuman
who is always meditating upon Shri Ramachandra Swami will be giving audience
during this time without any hindrance to His meditation upon His Lord.
The greatest 'Shree Ramabaktha', Lord Anjaneya is
meditating upon His Lord Shree Rama all the time. His Lord had devoted the
name of His temple itself in the name of His Baktha, as 'Hanumarambalam'.
Great are Shree Rama and His Baktha both waiting for their devotees in
this kshethra, to bestow on them their love and show the path of love.
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