Hanumath Jayanthi 2019 ~ Mogappair Aanjaneyar

There is only one by name Sri Rama, born in the lineage of Ikshwaku.  He is totally balanced, one in complete control of His words, thoughts and deeds; a man of great valour ~ a person of steadfast character and radiant countenance – Lord Sree Rama*

सर्वदाऽभिगतस्सद्भिः समुद्र इव सिन्धुभिः ।

आर्यस्सर्वसमश्चैव* सदैकप्रियदर्शनः ॥

His great qualities are such that noble persons all over the World are drawn to Him like rivers finding their way to the Ocean.  He conducts himself equably all the time and he is extremely charming ! – the great Sri Rama.

~ in the great Ithihasa “Sri Ramayana” -  there is a great character – a warrior, mightily powerful, whose body was as hard as a diamond, whose speed equalled those of fastest flying eagles, who possessed great wisdom, who could organize a group of roaming ones, who can jump hundreds of miles, yet who remained at the feet of his Master, totally committed thinking of their welfare alone – unassuming, yet capable of telling the right things at the right moment – that is Pavana Puthra Hanuman – Aanjaneya, ‘thiruvadi’ – bearer of Lord Rama – who carried Rama on his shoulders during the war in which the demon was killed.

In Periyazhwar Thirumozhi, in the hymns celebrating the power of Govardhana Giri, Azhwar says  that in the Greatly reverred hill, female monkeys in singing lullabies to their kids, mention the heroic deeds of Hanuman, whose valour completely destroyed the city of demons – the  Lanka.  அடங்கச்சென்று இலங்கையையீடழித்த அனுமன் புகழ்பாடித் தம்குட்டன்களை* குடங்கைக் கொண்டு மந்திகள் கண் வளர்த்தும் கோவர்த்தனமென்னும் கொற்றக் குடையே. 

Today  (26^th Dec and in some places 25.12) Hanuman Jayanthi, the birthday of Lord Aanjaneya was celebrated.  At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam, it is celebrated on chathurthasi / Pournami  and would fall on 4^th day of Irapathu Uthsavam which this time,  is 9^th Jan 2020.

Think about Hanuman, what strikes immediately is his unparallelled devotion for Lord Rama and his unrivalled physical strength.  Hanumar, by various names Aanjaneyar, Chiranjeevi, Vayu Puthirar, Anjani Mainthan is associated with celibacy, wrestling, physical power, intense concentration, mental toughness, single minded devotion and more.  Hanumar is remembered for his spirit of ‘selfless service’; and is believed to be present wherever, whenever there is recitation of the name of Lord Rama.  Hanumath Jayanthi is celebrated in various time of year in various places. 

Chennai city has expanded rapidly.  What reportedly was a forest and a lake is now booming place with so many buildings – it is Mogappair.   A river once flowed here and now there are settlements called as Eri scheme.  Mogappair (also known as Dr. J. J. Nagar) is a residential neighborhood in north-western Chennai,  located west of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road (Inner Ring Road) and is part of the Ambattur zone of the Greater Chennai Corporation.  The abundance of highly reputed schools, specialized hospitals and the recent influx of IT offices in the industrial estates in and around it have catapulted Mogappair into a strategic location for business.  Etymologically, it is stated that the lake that existed was   called Mugapeeri, from which the name of the locality was derived.  There is also belief that childless couples visit the temple in the locality and offer their prayers, and the fructification of the wishes gave the place the name ‘magapperu’ – aka twisted as  Mogappair.

There are many famous temples of Hanuman including divyadesam Sholinghur – chinnamalai of Sri Anjaneyar,  Sankatmochan temple in Benares, Namakkal Viswaroopa anjaneyar, Suseendram Hanumar and lakhs of sannathies in every temple especially those of Lord Rama.  Lord Anjaneya, [Maruthi, Ramabaktha Hanuman  (Son of Vayu, the Wind God)],  is considered a  terror to demons (Rakshasas),  is present wherever people sing in praise of Lord  Rama, presenting himself with joyous tears in His eyes and folded hands over His head. And to that Anjaneya, We  offer our salutation. 

In Andhra and in many places in the North, there are many tall statues of Hanuman -  the one at Samarlakota is very tall. On the highway leading to Tirupathi, at Nagari, on the main road itself stands this 31 feet tall Sri Ramabaktha Hanuman.  At Mogappair (JJ Nagar) there is a temple known as ‘Arulmigu Navagraha nayaki annai Karumari Amman thirukovil”.  In this temple stands a gigantic Hanuman – 41 ft tall.  Recently had darshan at this temple and here are some photos of the temple.

With regards – Srinivasan Sampathkumar.

26^th Dec 2019.