Purna Prasad Hanuman Temple
Purna Prasad Hanuman Temple- Bangalore
Lord Hanuman Temple is a 150 year old sanctuary situated close to the fundamental passage of the Bangalore Turf Club constructed at Bangalore. The sanctuary is devoted to Lord Hanuman, the monkey god, an honorable legend and an extraordinary enthusiast of Lord Rama.Though the temple is Purna Prasad Hanuman Temple, and a private temple people know that this temple as BTC [Bangalore Turf Club] Hanuman temple.
This is a private temple and actually a part of the building called “Purna Prasada”, got constructed by Diwan Krishna Murthy and named in memory of his grandfather Diwan Purnaiah.Being a private temple, entry is restricted and permission is required to visit the temple.
Architecture
The architecture of this temple is unique fusion of Hoysala and Chandela style of architecture. The vimana of the temple has eight sides and twelve stories forming a hexagonal tapering tower. Each side of the vimana, separate statues of Sri Vishnu’s Dasavathar, Asta Lakshmi postures etc sculptured in black stone had been placed. This unique tower serves as the vimana of the Hanuman temple.
The temple by itself is not big but the prakara has some beautiful stone windows with stone meshed [jally] work. The events from the great epics Sri Ramayana and Sri Mahabaratha form the jally work. Sri Bhima trying to lift the tail of Sri Hanuman in the jally work is worth mentioning. There are other beautiful wall sculptures dipicting some of the Sri Madwacharya’s philosophy and Sri Acharya taking lessons from Sri Vyasa has been wonderfully sculptured.
The Sanctum [Garbhagraha] where Sri Anjaneya is, can be seen from the porch or the connecting mandap. The vigraha of Sri Hanuman is small and may be about two to two and half feet tall. But artha shila vigraha is a wonder to look at. The Lord attracts the devotees with a grace of his kataksh mesmerizing the devotees to forget the entire world around him. The Lord’s presence can be felt there in the temple. The poojas are conducted as per the Madhwa tradition.