Sri Veera Anjaneya Temple Manamadurai

Sri Veera Anjaneya Temple is located near Manamadurai in Sivaganga District of Tamilnadu. Lord Hanuman is believed to have come here after the war and enjoyed the Vana (forest) and Vaigai river banks. He told Sri Rama that he would like to stay back here. Vibheeshana is believed to have presented his princely crown to Hanuman here. To ensure that another Ravana should not emerge, it is believed that the tall 6 1/2ft Hanuman stayed here facing south keeping an eye on Lanka in an ever watchful posture. Sita is also believed to have presented a 3 day feast to Hanuman here as a payback to the service rendered by him.

Sri Hanuman idol of this kshetra is around six and a half feet tall. Lord is in standing posture facing south. In his lotus feet he is wearing Thandai. He is seen with his folded hands and joined palms in ‘anjali’ posture. In the wrist, kankanam is seen. In the neck Lord is wearing a necklace. He is wearing kundalam in the ears. Karna pushpam is also seen on the ears. He is seen wearing a crown on his head. His eyes are seen sharply looking with a bright glow. As per the legend, the lord is looking at Vibheeshana the Rama devotee and his kingdom – reason for the glow seen in the eyes.

Legend
Sri Sathyapriya Teertha went on a pilgrimage to Rameshwaram, and on return, he halted on the banks of Ruver Vaigai at present-day Manamadurai. In those days, the area was a dense forest. While he was camping at that place, some thieves attacked the Math and stole away the Pooja box, thinking it as a jewel box. Guru was wonderstruck to see this mishappening and started praying Mukhya prana (Sri Hanuman) to restore Moola Rama pooja in the mutt. [Normally the bell used for pooja in the mutt has Sri Hanuman idol on it .] As a miracle sprang a monkey from the idol of Hanuman on the bell kept for pooja in the Mutt. Following this first monkey many more came. The thieves were shocked when they saw huge number of monkeys screaming wildly at them. Frightened thieves sought forgiveness from Guru and pleaded that they would work and earn their food henceforth.

This incident had brought the name “Veera Vanara Madurapuri” to this place. With time it became Vanara Madurai then Vana Madurai and later Mana Madurai.

There is a second version of legend which says that Sri Hanuman was entour to Lanka after Vibheeshana became king of Lanka, along with vanara sena. On the way they saw this pleasant kshetra and they stayed here for a long period. Vibheeshana after waiting for some time to receive Sri Hanuman and entourage at Lanka, he came to this kshetra itself. He placed his crown on Sri Hanuman took him along to Lanka.

Since Veera Vanaras along with Sri Hanuman stayed in this place, this came to be known as “Veera Vanara Madurapuri” which became Manamadurai at later stage.