THE HANUMAN ABODE HAS PARTS OF SANJEEVANI HILL
Two-face idol of Anjaneya Swamy makes Kondagattu temple unique
The Kondagattu Anjaneya temple is situated 35 km from Karimnagar on a single lane road leading to Jagitial. Sri Anjaneya Swamy resides on a hillock in Kondagattu village of Mallial mandal.
As you drive towards the village, hills start showing up and then there is a left turn leading to the temple at a fairly large junction. The trip from the base to the top of the hill is quite scenic. Surrounded by fields, there is a pleasantness and peace in the air. Then comes some dense forest leading to the temple, and an area that has been cleaned up for parking cars can be seen.
Remnants of the completed deeksha are on show with many branches having torn orange clothing. Huge crowds come during this time and the place can get quite unmanageable.
While the main sanctum sanctorum is still narrow and only a few people are allowed inside, the temple has been expanded for the benefit of worshippers, especially those who take deeksha. Generally, a person takes Hanuman Deeksha Mala for a period of 41 days during Hanuman Jayanti and makes a padayatra to the Kondagattu Hanuman temple. The deeksha gets over on the day of Hanuman Jayanti. The temple also houses 45 dharmashalas for the convenience of devotees.
The surroundings of the temple are breathtaking and a cool breeze blows in the open area. Most worshippers have to leave their vehicle at the base and climb a slightly steep path to reach the temple. A lucky few can drive up to the main temple.
This temple too has a legend attached to it. Singam Sanjeevudu, a cowherd, was on these hills when he lost one of his buffaloes and desperately went in search of it. He soon got tired and fell asleep, when Lord Anjaneya Swamy appeared in his dream and told him the whereabouts of the lost buffalo.
When Sanjeevudu woke up he started searching for the buffalo and following the directions he had in his dream, he found an idol of Lord Hanuman in the bushes with the Shanku Chakra, gadha and with panchamukha. The face of Narasimha was to the north. Narasimha Swamy and Anjaneya Swamy are really one and this idol with two faces is unique to the temple here.
In the dream, Lord Anjaneya told Sanjeevudu to build a shelter for him. Sanjeevudu also found his buffalo to his surprise.
Following the Lord’s request Sanjeevudu built a shelter which was a fourpillared mandapam and then built a small temple for Lord Anjaneya.
Narasimha means saakshat Vishnu swaroopam, hence Kondagattu Anjaneyaswamy has not only Narasimha Mukhatyar but Sri Hari weapons, Shanku and Chakram, and in his Vakshasthalam (or bosom) the image of Sri Rama with Sita is found.
The present Kondagattu temple was cared for by Krishna Rao Deshmukh, who renovated and restored the temple structure 160 years ago. He built three gopurams and a mandapam. He also built the Betalaswamy temple as Lord Anjaneya’s kshetrapalakadu, which is also unique.
Deshmukh also built a 16-pillared porch that graces the entrance of the temple, which is considerably narrow. The original deities — Lord Sri Venkateshwara, Lord Sri Anjaneya, and Goddess Lakshmidevi — are in three inner chambers.
There is an Akhanda Deepam which has been alight for the past 500 years though some legends say that the temple might be 600 years old. There is also a 500-year-old Saligrama. “We follow the Dravida Sampradaya pujas here,” says head priest Dr Jitendra Prasad.
Anjaneya was born on Vaisakha month and so during this month Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in a grand manner. One more birthday is celebrated for Lord Hanuman as per North Indian calendar on Chaitra Pournami. People call it Chinna Hanuman Jayanti and Pedda Hanuman Jayanti.
This temple belongs to the endowments department and has hereditary archakas, founder family members and trustees. There are 21 archakas and they are all related. There are four hereditary families who perform the various pujas, and they are Tirukovilla, Tirukovilluru, Thirunagari and Vakula Brahman. Currently, the seventh generation of archakas perform rituals at the temple.
While the Nama Alwars were found in the earth, so it is believed the Vaishnava Acharams were followed even then. There are caves by the side of the temple, where it is believed that munis used to live and worship.
There is yet another legend associated with the temple. According to this, when Lord Hanuman was taking Sanjeevani for Lakshmana, some rishis performing homam saw him and welcomed him. Hanuman said this was not the time since he had to rush for Rama’s work, but he promised to come back.
At the same time some parts of the Sanjeevani mountain broke and fell and now they call it Kondagattu. Meanwhile, some demons interfered the homam and the rishis did not have anyone to help them, so they created bhootnath bethal but even that did not help. They continued to pray for help when Lord Hanuman came here as Swayambhu. They worshipped him and could complete their homam. There are many beliefs associated with the temple in the area. One such belief is that if a childless woman prays in the temple with complete faith for 40 days, she would be blessed with a child.
There is an Akhanda Deepam which has been alight for the past 500 years though some legends say that the temple might be 600 years old. There is also a 500-year-old Saligrama. We follow the Dravida Sampradaya pujas here. — Dr JITENDRA PRASAD, head priest