Anjaneyar Temple at Nanganallur
MADURAI UNIVERSAL FRIENDS
The Anjaneyar Temple at Nanganallur, Chennai is famous for the Hanuman which is 32 feet tall and sculpted from a single piece of stone.
Sri Ramani Anna of Nanganallur, Chennai planned to build a temple with a big Anjaneyar of 32 feet high, in Nanganallur. He went to Sri Kanchi Matam, met Sri Maha Periyava and sought his permission and blessings. With great difficulty, they hunted for a single big stone and finally the sculptor selected a suitable one and began his work. One fine morning, he finished the work and the statue of the great Anjaneyar was brought to Nanganallur and kept at the place where the temple was to be built. The Balalayam (before prathishta, the deity had to be kept for a certain period separately in the water, milk, paddy, grains, etc.) was established properly.
In the meantime, Ramani Anna went to Sri Kanchi Matham to inform about the arrival of the Anjaneyar at Nanganallur and get further instructions from Maha Like Lord Ganesha, Anjaneya is also Maha Periyava’s favourite God!
Maha Periyava inquired enthusiastically about the full shape of Anjaneya part by part. Ramani Anna too explained and answered all the questions to the satisfaction of Periyava. Finally, Periyava asked about the position of Anjaneyar’s tail part. Ramani Anna replied, “The tail is curvaceously and beautifully raised above his head Periyava!” expecting an appreciation from the Periyava.
But, Periyava was silent for a few minutes. Ramani Anna felt a bit uneasy. Finally Periyava said, “You say you are also going to keep Sri Rama there opposite to Anjaneyar! Maruthi never stands with his tail raised above in front of Sri Rama! Ramani Anna’s worry increased considerably. He asked, “Oh! Periyava! What can I do now? The deity is completed and ready! The Balalayam too is ready. The muhurtham date and time has also been fixed. If we remove the tail now, we should again reorganise the Balalayam and the Kumbhabhishekam again. The Prathishta of Anjaneyar cannot be done in the already fixed auspicious best muhurtham. Periyava only has to show me a way and a solution for this!
Periyava said calmly, “You just proceed further with your fixed schedule. Everything will be alright. Anjaneyar will co-operate!
Periyava then blessed them with prasadam. Ramani Anna came back to Nanganallur and he was thinking about Anjaneyar’s tail all the time. After the Balalayam was complete, they did all the proper Homams and other rituals and brought a big crane to lift and keep Anjaneyar on the Peetam at the auspicious time. When all the other things were over, they went to lift Anjaneyar. To their great astonishment, they found that the tail had already been cut off so expertly at the right place as though it had been done by a sculptor and that too without any flaw!!!
Can there be words to describe the state of mind of Ramani Anna and other members of the committee? They simply raised their folded hands in the direction of Sri Kanchi with tears rolling down their cheeks!!!
*Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara
