SRI VYASATIRTHA & THE LAKSHANAS OF ANJANEYAS CONSECRATED

This article is an attempt to list the standard & variable ‘lakshNa-s’ [characteristics/features] of Anjaneya installed by Sri Vyasaraya (referred to as Vyasa-Anjayena for easy reference)

STANDARD FEATURES:

(a) mid-stride pose

(b) right hand raised above the head with palm fully shown

(c) left hand bent towards chest/waist (d) wide opened eyes.

(e) showing the teeth

(f) tail raising above the head

(g) saugandhika pushpa in left hand

(h) karNakunDala (ear-rings) & shikha (tuft)

(i) kaupIna

(j) Shankha (on left) & chakra (on right)

VARIABLE FEATURES:

(a) rings on each thumb

(b) bell in the tail

(c) Akshakumara (Ravana’s son) lying at the feet

(d) dagger in waist

(e) straight face

(f) mustache

(g) UrdhvapunDra between Shankha & chakra

(h) ornamental rings on tail

(i) Sun & Moon in top portion.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

In addition to these, even the design of saugandhika pushpa varies widely from one installation to another. But broadly it appears in three variations.

(a) a fully blossomed pushpa at one end & a bud at the other or

(b) fully blossomed or

(c) only bud.

Similarly, the style & position of the tail vary:

(1) raising above the right hand or

(2) below the right hand.

 

It also comes in patterns of:

(1) fully coiled

(2) bent upward or

(3) pointed straight.

The answer that I got from elders is that Sri Vyasaraya did the installation of Hanuman after looking at the dangers & calamities being faced by the locals. He meditated upon Anjaneya to take a form that can drive away the evils plaguing that location & its dwellers.

 

 

This way, honestly speaking, the study of Vyasaraya pratishTha prANadEva at different locations in itself becomes a great research material. It also drives us to dwell deeper into various forms of Anjaneya & their representations through shilpa shAstra.