Sri Bayalu Anjaneya Swamy Temple

Sri Bayalu Anjaneya Swamy Temple is one of the oldest temple located in Hanumantapura 6 kms away from Tumakur in Karnataka.This is a very special temple where Lord Hanuman is facing front and this temple is divinely installed by His holiness Sri Sri Sri Vyasa thirtharu.

A simple structure constitutes the temple which is located on a huge open ground. At a distance one can see the chariot shed housing the chariot used during the car festival. A small arch depicting the main deity on the top of the porch welcomes the devotees to the temple. Devotees can have darshan of the Lord from the doorway itself.

In earlier days the scene described above where Sri Hanuman acts as chariot for Sri Rama had been sculpted on a rock which was in the open space in present-day Hanumanthapura. People living nearby started worshiping Lord Hanuman along with Sri Rama. To have these two deities together in the same vigraha is very rare and unique. ‘Bayulu’ means open space in Kanada language; hence the Anjaneya came to know as Bayulu Anjaneya. Over a period Sri Anjaneya attracted more devotees towards him. Many rulers of this place had contributed their might towards the mdevelopment of this temple.

Uniqueness of Sri Bayalu Anjaneya
In the scene of war-field in Lanka described above Sri Anjaneya carries Sri Rama facing Ravana. But in the murthy (idol) of Hanumanthapura, there is a Rakshasa near the feet of Sri Anjaneya is also found. Legend goes that when Sri Rama was carried by Lord Hanuman, Ravana a demon crawled unto the feet of Sri Hanuman. His intention was to pull the feet of Lord Hanuman so as to imbalance him thereby make Sri Rama’s fall. But when the demon caught the feet of Sri Hanuman, he felt the divinely bless of the both the Lords. His intention changed, and as a devotee of Sri Rama he clinched on to the charan of Sri Hanuman, the greatest of all Sri Rama bhakta.

The temple is west facing so also Bayalu Sri Anjaneya.The idol of Lord Anjaneya is about ten feet tall. Sri Anjaneya is facing the devotees and with his right hand blesses all his devotees with ‘abhaya’. The demon is seen near his left foot. Sri Rama is seen standing on the strong shoulders of Sri Anjaneya.