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SRI VYASATIRTHA & THE LAKSHANAS OF ANJANEYAS CONSECRATED

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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.

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Again the fully blossomed saugandhika is shown in 2 ways:
(a) flower hanging down as Anjaneya holds by its twig/branch or
(b) an upright flower.
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Similarly, the style & position of the tail vary:
(1) raising above the right hand or
(2) below the right hand.
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It also comes in patterns of:
(1) fully coiled
(2) bent upward or
(3) pointed straight.
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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.
 
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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.
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These observations are not exhaustive but cursory ones only. Request the learned scholars to improvise the understanding. I sincerely thank those enthusiasts who collected & posted the photographs on various websites/blogs.
॥श्रीरामदूतम् शिरसा नमामि॥
 
PHOTO CREDITS: FOUND ON INTERNET POSTED BY SEVERAL ENTHUSIASTS.

One thought on “SRI VYASATIRTHA & THE LAKSHANAS OF ANJANEYAS CONSECRATED”

  • Dr. Aditya R
    August 28, 2023 at 7:21 pm
    Permalink

    Greetings sir,
    An important writeup on Sri Vyasaraja theertharu & Mukhya prana devaru.
    I also want add to this.
    The anjaneya swamy have been installed in each and every village of Karnataka & presence of Stone mantapa around the anjaneya is also an important feature, along with the presence of either a peepal tree or a banyan tree.
    Vyasaraja theertharu has utilised soapstone pillars & untamed rocks for his installation.
    If there are anjaneya swamy temples across Karnataka, and people are worshipping him in the idol form, then it’s because of Sri Vyasaraja theertharu.

    Reply

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