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Friday, April 22, 2022

Pavanaputra Hanuman stands tall at Visakhapatnam

 Pre-script: A random photo and a religious post - In  a recent trip to  Vizag, I tried taking some photos from air as the plane was about to land – though not a great photo in terms of clarity, this is a beautiful photo capturing ! ? ! 


ஸ்ரீ இராமாயணத்திலே ஸ்ரீ ஹனுமான் அற்புத பாத்திரம்  

 

Sree Rama - Hanumantha vahanam Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam

The son of Vayu  [Pavana puthra] – Hanuman is the epitome of great virtues ~  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 .  The very thought of Sri Hanuman brings to mind ~ his unparalleled devotion for Lord Ram and unrivalled physical strength. 

In Sundara Kaanda of the epic Ramayana – the hero is not only Sri Rama but also Aanjaneya.  This part  depicts the adventures of Hanuman and his selflessness, strength, and devotion to Rama. Hanuman was fondly called “Sundara” by his mother Anjani and Sage Valmiki chose this name over others as the Sundara Kanda is about Hanuman's journey to Lanka. In the words of Valmiki  .. ..  He stood on top of the lofty mountain, home of great tuskers, the eminent Vānara shone like an elephant in a lake. 

स तस्य गिरिवर्यस्य -  तले नागवरायुते ।

तिष्ठन् कपिवरस्तत्र - ह्रदे नाग इवाबभौ ॥ 

Visakhapatnam's history began in the 6th century BCE, when it was considered part of the Kalinga Kingdom, and later ruled by the Vengi, the Pallava and Eastern Ganga dynasties.  Visakhapatnam was an ancient Port city which had trade relations with the Middle East and Rome. Ships were anchored at open roads and were loaded with cargo transported from Visakhapatnam shore by means of small Masula boats. A reference to Vizagapatam merchant is available in the inscriptions of Sri Bheemeswara Swamy temple (1068 AD), East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. The city's control was alternating between the Chola dynasty and the Gajapati Kingdom in 11th and 12th centuries, until its conquest by the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. In the 16th century, after the decline of the Vijayanagara empire and the Gajapatis, the coastal region of North Andhra, including Visakhapatnam, was annexed by the Jeypore Kingdom and remained part of it until the arrival of the British in 1711. 

This time had good darshan at Simhachalam temple housing – Sree  Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, picturesquely located 800 feet above sea level in the Eastern Ghats. The uniqueness of this ancient west-facing Vaishnava shrine is its rich architectural styles, influenced by different dynasties of various eras.  .. then there is an area known as - Seethammadhara   considered as the major residential area in the district. It is located within the jurisdiction of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, which is responsible for the civic amenities in Seethammadhara.  Seethammadhara mandal is one of the 46 mandals of Visakhapatnam District, bounded by Gopalapatnam, Maharanipeta and Bheemunipatnam mandals. 


Though not much of info could be collated from web – here stands a very tall white marble Aanjaneya, which is visible from air (the picture quality of the one taken by me from air  is not all that good) – and a photo taken from web of the Hanuman. 

Jai Hanuman! 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
22.4.2022

 

 

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