Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple

The Ragigudda Sri Prasanna Anjaneya temple[1] is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, spread across 5 acres also having a hillock in Jayanagar 9th Block suburb of Bangalore.[2] The temple[3] also houses a Shivalinga along with Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman shrine in the same precinct. The temple is on a hillock. There is a smaller temple dedicated to Ganesha, Navagraha and goddess Rajarajeshwari at the base of the hillock. It also plays host to the Hindu holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara on huge engraved rocks at the side of the temple.[2]

An image of Hanuman

Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple
View of the temple dome
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictBangalore
DeityHanuman
FestivalsHanuman Jayanti
Location
LocationJayanagar 9th Block
StateKarnataka
CountryIndia
Location within Bangalore
Geographic coordinates12.91424°N 77.59320°E / 12.91424; 77.59320
Architecture
Completed1969
Website
ragigudda.org

Currently Namma Metro work is underway a few 100 mts from the temple with a Metro station planned as well.[4]

History and mythology

It is believed that the hillock or gudda in Kannada language that hosts the main deity Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy was formed from a heap of Raagi/Finger Millet and hence was termed "Ragigudda". Local mythology has it that this place owes it to a dharmic lady Sudharma who was the wife of a local chieftain. She is an embodiment of good character and a very pious. One day the trinity come in the form of visitors and ask for bhiksha (alms). She gives them newly harvested Raghava Dhanya or Ragi. Her mother in law disapproves it and wants it back. This being an unholy act she says that if the visitors do not want the bhiksha then she does not need the Ragi. This Ragi becomes a hillock. In the end, the holy trinity are pleased with her selfless behavior and grant her their sacred darshan. The holy trinity expressed their will to remain near the hillock and turned themselves into stones nearby. These three stones now bear engravings of the trinity.[5]

The temple was formed in 1969 and registered in 1972.[6]

Culture

Over the past decades, this temple has become the social center in this locality. It has a charitable arm that provides affordable education and healthcare to the less privileged in and around the temple. The schools provide education till the 10th standard in Karnataka State syllabus in both Kannada and English medium. The temple also provides a healthcare services through Sanjeevini Aarogya kends and Yoga classes for devotees. Free tuition classes are held for graduate students. It also has a marriage hall that is budget conscious while providing the necessary services. It also has a Gau shaala (cow shed) that provides the milk for the pooja and for the students.[2]

In December every year the festival of Sri Hanumajjayanthi (the auspicious birth of Lord Hanuman) is celebrated as a 12-day event in grandeur at the temple with over 35,000 pilgrims attending the festivities. A lot of yagyas, abhisheka and poojas are carried out with the Mahaprasad being served to thousands of devotees.[5] The temple provides its devotees an opportunity to work as volunteers for various activities. Hundreds of youngsters participate in various activities from crowd management to providing devotees with prasad. During this period there is a big fair in and around the temple and it acts as a livelihood for hundreds of families in South Bangalore.[7]

References
  1. "About Ragigudda Sri Prasanna Anjaneyaswamy Temple". web.archive.org. TripAdvisor. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. "Ragigudda Temple" (in Kannada). 18 March 2017. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  3. "Ragigudda temple visit". nativeplanet.com. native planet. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  4. Ray, Aparajita (30 June 2020). "Ragigudda temple and Silk Board flyover finalized for Rs 800". Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  5. "Ragigudda Sri Prasanna Anjaneyaswamy Temple". ishtadevata.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  6. http://www.bengaloorutourism.com/ragigudda-anjaneya-temple.php
  7. "Festive fervour fills Ragigudda Temple". news18. THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS. 11 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
A few images of Ragigudda Sri Prasannajaneya temple
  • Side view of the temple from the back
  • Ragigudda Main Temple
  • Ragigudda Temple from main entrance
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.