Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple, built in the Dravidian style, is in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Hanuman. The temple morning timings are 07:00 am to 01:00 pm, and the evening timings are 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm.
Hanuman is the vanara or monkey god. He is the son of the vanara woman Anjana and the Vaayu, God of air. Hanuman plays a crucial role in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
About the Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
Contents
- 1 About the Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.1 Legends of the Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.2 History of Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.3 Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple Architecture:
- 1.0.4 Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple Timings:
- 1.0.5 Best time to visit Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.6 Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple Entry Fee:
- 1.0.7 Rituals at Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.8 Festivals Celebrated at Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.9 Tips for Visiting Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.10 Tourist places nearby Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.11 Hotels nearby Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.12 Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple Contact Details:
- 1.0.13 How to Reach Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- 1.0.14 FAQs:
- 1.1 How many years old is Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple?
- 1.2 Who built Namakkal Anjaneyar?
- 1.3 What is the Speciality of Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple?
- 1.4 What is the history of the Namakkal Narasimha temple?
- 1.5 Can non-Hindus visit the temple?
- 1.6 Can devotees offer prayers and perform rituals at the temple?
- 1.7 Is photography allowed inside the temple premises?
Anjaneya helps save Lord Rama’s wife, Sita, from Lanka, where she is held captive by the Lankan demon king Ravana. Anjaneya was a great devotee of Lord Rama and was known for his strength and prowess.
Today, he is seen as the embodiment of these qualities, and those who want to gain courage and faith believe that worshipping Hanuman will help them acquire such qualities.
Hanuman Chalisa is a hymn praying to Hanuman and is chanted by those who want to overcome various fears and opposing forces. The harmful planet Saturn is also believed to be feared by Hanuman, who protects his devotees from negative influences.
Legends of the Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
The legend of this temple is related to the incarnations of Narasimha, Vishnu, his wife, Lakshmi and Hanuman. A demon named Hiranyakashipu received a boon from Brahma, which made him invincible.
Because of that gift, no human being will kill him, morning, noon or night. Hiranyakashipu cannot kill him on land, water or air. After receiving the boon, Hiranyakashipu began to harass the gods with great pride.
He had one son named Prahlad, who was, by far, a great devotee of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu did not accept this and tried his best to prevent his son from worshipping Vishnu. But all his appeals and threats were in vain, and Prahlada continued to worship Vishnu.
The enraged Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlad, but each time, the boy was saved by the grace of God. One day, during a hot argument with his son, Hiranyakashipu asked him to tell him if Vishnu was everywhere, as his son had said.
Angrily, he hit a pillar with his mace and opened it, proving to his son that Vishnu was not in it. At that moment, the pillar split and Vishnu emerged as Narasimha, half man and half lion.
He killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk, not in the morning, afternoon or night, and the doorway of his palace, devoid of land, water and air. In this way, he escaped from the boon Brahma gave to the demon.
History of Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
Many ages later, while Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, was meditating in this place, she saw Hanuman, also known as Anjaneyar, holding a doll made of saligram.
Lakshmi asked to get one of Vishnu in her Narasimha form. Hanuman handed over the saligram to her and asked her to hold it until he returned.
Before Hanuman returned, there was a picture of Lakshmi in this place. Then Narasimha appeared before them and settled here.
The Narasimhaswamy temple at the bottom of the hill is also associated with this myth. It is believed Hanuman worshipped him in a latitude posture, standing at a distance.
Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple Architecture:
The Anjaneyar Statue is 18 feet (5.5 m) high and is one of India’s tallest Hanuman statues. The temple has a vast hall with many pillars which leads into the sanctum sanctorum.
It has a flat gateway tower. The sanctum sanctorum has an 18-foot (5.5 m) Anjaneyar statue, which is latitude 130 m (430 ft) below the foot of the Narasimha temple.
The Anjaneyar statue is carved out of a single stone and is believed to have existed since the 5th century. The sanctum sanctorum has no roof, and the statue of Anjaneyar is extraordinary. He has a sword on his waist and a saligrama necklace in his hand.
Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple Timings:
The temple morning timings are 07:00 am to 01:00 pm, and the evening timings are 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm.
| Days | Morning Timings | Evening Timings |
| Monday | 07:00 am to 01:00 pm | 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 07:00 am to 01:00 pm | 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 07:00 am to 01:00 pm | 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm |
| Thursday | 07:00 am to 01:00 pm | 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm |
| Friday | 07:00 am to 01:00 pm | 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm |
| Saturday | 07:00 am to 01:00 pm | 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm |
| Sunday | 07:00 am to 01:00 pm | 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm |
Best time to visit Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
The excellent time to visit is in the summer, from March to May, when it is hot and the average temperature for three months varies between 32-35 degrees Celsius. Visiting from November to February is best when the weather is pleasant.
Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple Entry Fee:
It is free to all. There is no entrance charge to see the temple.
Rituals at Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
The temple priests perform Pujas or rituals every day and during festivals. Poojas are usually performed four times daily, at 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm, and 8:45 pm.
Each ritual for the presiding deities takes place in three stages: alankaranam (decoration), nivetanam (food offering) and lamp aradanai (waving of lamps).
Rituals are performed here on a weekly, monthly and fortnightly basis. The temple is open to people from 6:30 am to 1:00 pm and from 04:30 pm to 9:00 pm. However, on festive occasions, the time is extended.
Festivals Celebrated at Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
Here are some festivals
Hanuman Jayanti:
This festival commemorates the birth of Lord Hanuman, the presiding deity of the Anjaneyar Temple.
The nine-night festival of Navaratri was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the temple. It involves the worship of Goddess Durga and various other forms of the divine feminine.
Thai Poosam:
Thai Poosam is a significant festival observed at the Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple. Devotees undertake Kavadi and perform rituals to seek the blessings of Lord Murugan, the brother of Lord Hanuman.
Margazhi Hanuman Jayanthi:
Devotees engage in special prayers and recitation of Hanuman Chalisa and participate in religious gatherings.
Hanuman Vratham:
Hanuman Vratham is a religious observance dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Devotees observe fasting and engage in prayers, chanting Hanuman mantras, and reading sacred texts associated with Hanuman, such as the Hanuman Chalisa.
Tips for Visiting Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
Here are some tips for visiting the temple
- Check for parking facilities near the temple if you arrive by private vehicle. There may be designated parking areas available for visitors.
- Follow the entry procedures specified by the temple authorities.
- Remove your footwear outside the temple premises, if required.
- Follow the instructions of the temple staff and maintain patience while waiting for your turn.
- Carry any offerings, such as flowers, fruits, or coconuts, that you would like to present to Lord Hanuman.
Tourist places nearby Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- Namakkal Fort
- Arulmigu Thiru Arthanareeswarar Temple
- Seeku Parai View Point
- Kanchi Kamakshi Temple
- Puliancholai
- Arulmigu Ettukai Amman Temple
- Kolli Hill Forest
- Varadaraja Perumal Temple
- Tiruchengode Gandhi Ashramam
- Chitragupta Temple
- Periyamanali Sri Kariakaliamman Temple
Hotels nearby Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
- Parkview Inn
- Flagship Royal Residency
- Hotel Sanu International
- Sri Aswin Grand
- Hotel Sreee Sarvana Bhavan
- Dfront Golden Palace
- Samy Hotel
- Nala Hotels
- Hotel Sri Bhavan
Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple Contact Details:
- Address: Hanumar Koil St, Palaniyappa Colony, Thillaipuram, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu 637001
- Contact Number: 04286 233 999
How to Reach Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple:
By Air:
Salem Airport is the nearest airport. It is located at a distance of 60 km from Namakkal. Coimbatore International Airport is 160 km away, and Trichy Airport is 90 km away.
Through Rail:
Namakkal Railway Station locates on the Salem-Karur route.
By Road:
Namakkal is on the National Highway. It is 50 kilometres from Salem and 45 km from Karur.
FAQs:
How many years old is Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple?
The Anjaneyar temple is more than 1500 years old. It had said that Lord Anjaneya carried the hills of Salakrama from Nepal as his Mentor, Narasimha Murthy, told him to do so and rechristen it as Namakkal.
Who built Namakkal Anjaneyar?
Arulmigu Anjaneyar Swamy Temple is located in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. The Pandya rulers built this Dravidian-style temple in the 8th century. The temple’s primary deity is the Hindu God, Lord Hanuman (Anjaneyar), who was praised in the Holy Scripture of Ramayana as an ardent devotee of Lord Ram.
What is the Speciality of Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple?
It was constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture. The temple’s legend is associated with Narasimha, an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, appearing for Hanuman and Lakshmi.
What is the history of the Namakkal Narasimha temple?
The temple was believed to be constructed during the 8th century by the kings in rock-cut architecture. Historian Soundara Rajan placed the date to a pre-Varagunan I (800–830) era in the 8th century. P.R. Srinivasan placed it in the 8th century based on palaeography and rock-cut architecture.
Can non-Hindus visit the temple?
Yes, the temple is open to visitors of all faiths, and non-Hindus are welcome to visit and explore the spiritual ambience of the Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple.
Can devotees offer prayers and perform rituals at the temple?
Devotees can offer prayers, perform rituals, and seek blessings at the Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple.
Is photography allowed inside the temple premises?
Photography may be allowed in certain areas of the temple, but it is advisable to seek permission from the temple authorities beforehand.