Saturday, April 23, 2022

Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple

 


Did you know that the Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple in the Malayavan hill, close to Anjanadri near Hampi in Karnataka, is the place where Rama had met Hanuman for the first time, in the Itihasa of Ramayana?


The Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple, also known as Pranadeva Temple, dedicated to Hindu God Hanuman, glorified in the epic Ramayana. is situated in  Malayavan hill adjoining Anjanadri mountain within the ambit of Hampi town, a historical place inscribed in the UNESCO's  list of World Heritage Sites referred to as the " Group of Monuments at Hampi". Anjanadri is the birth place of Hanuman and it is said that during Rama's search for his wife  Sita who was abducted by rakshasa Ravana of Lanka from Panchavati forests on Dandakarayna, Rama met Hanuman at   Malayavan hill close to Anjanadri in then Kishkinda Kingdom of Vanaras. This hill and the surrounding hills were the playgrounds of Hanuman and his friends who indulged in making large stack of stones at various places in the hills which are seen even today. In these stone structures the lower layer has smaller stones while bigger stones are piled at the top of the heap,  defying gravity they stand balanced at the cliff edge of the hills even today. 


In memory of the meeting of Hanuman with Rama for the first time,  there is temple of Lord Rama called Kodandarama Temple . right behind the unique temple of Hanuman known as the Yantrodharaka Hanuyman temple. Both these temples were built during the reign of the Vijayanagara Emperors in the 14th-15th centuries. The idol worshipped in the Yantrodharaka Hanuman temple is an image of Hanuman carved on a granite boulder,  in an unique  sitting Padamasana posture encircled in the star shaped Yantra, a Srichakra,  a mystical diagram, surrounded by 12 monkeys in the outer circle of this yantra. This image was created from  a mental  image seen 12 times continually  by the  saint Vyasathirtha of Madhva sect of Dvaita philosophy propounded by Madhvacharya, while doing meditation at a particular spot on the bank of the Tungabhadra River.  Saint Vyasathritha was then (15th century) the Pontiff, Rajaguru of Emperor Krishna Devaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire.  


The interesting legend behind the origin of the Hanuman deity as Yantrodharaka in this temple, a mystical story amazing to hear,  relates to the sage Vyasathritha,  Rajaguru or Pontiff  to the Emperor Krishna Devaraya. During his stay in Hampi, Vyasatirtha  used to go to a calm and idyllic spot on the banks of the Tungabhadra River  and mediate for long hours. On a particular day during his meditation he chanced  to see the image of Hanuman flashing before his eyes repeatedly. Perplexed, he changed the location of his mediation  but there he could not see the image of Hanuman.  He could not see any  image of Hanuman if he sat anywhere else. It was only when he sat at that particular location that he could see the image in his minds' eye. Later the same night Madhavacharya, the first pontiff of Madhava  school of philosophy who had lived in the 12th century,  appeared before Vyasathitha in a dream and instructed him to install the Hanuman (also known as Ajaneya) deity at the very spot  where he had meditated and  seen him in his mind’s eye. 


Vyasathirtha went again to the same spot where he had seen the image of Hanuman and started meditating. Yet again he saw the image of Hanuman appear in his mind's eye . Without any delay he started outlining the image on a nearby rock using an angara (coal) as his pen. As soon as he finished drawing the image of Hanuman,   to his astonishment,  a monkey came to life from the drawing on the rock. The monkey jumped out of the rock and the drawing on the rock disappeared immediately. Vyasatirtha was pleasantly surprised and he repeated the process of drawing and  each time a monkey would jump out of the rock and the drawing would disappear . This happened 12 times on 12 days in a row and a monkey emerged  from the granite boulder  rock every single time. Thus there were 12 monkeys around Vyasathirtha. Amazed, Vyasathirtha finally decided to bind the image of Hanuman in a Hexagonal shaped Yantra (device, an amulet). He first drew a yantra, then drew the image of Hanuman sitting in Padmasana (lotus posture) at the centre of the Yantra. The star shaped Yantra was enclosed within and this circle around the star had flames going outwards, thus giving it the look of  the Sun., In order to make sure that Hanuman does not escape from the Yantra  he made those 12 monkeys, which had previously emerged from the rock, guard the yantra. He made the monkeys stand in such way that one monkey would hold the tail of the next, thus forming a closed  benzene like ring (,hexagonal ring arrangement found in benzene)  which formed the outermost structure of the Yantra. A careful look at the amulet revealed that 12 monkeys  stood like the hour markers in a clock dial. It is said that the Lord Hanuman himself directed  Vyasathirtha to first constrain him in a hexagonal or a six angled amulet and install him in that place. 


This temple with the Yantra Image of Hanuman image is probably the only such temple where Hanuman is seen in a seated posture. It is a representation of the 12 days of prayers that Sri Vyasaraja did before the Lord blessed him. Generally Hanuman deities are seen standing, blessing or flying positions. The temple is white-washed structure,  a pyramid structure with a small red dome atop at the edge of the hill.  It is said that Vyasathirtha after building  temple  around the Yantra built  712 Hanuman temples all over South India.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏


यन्त्रोधरक हनुमान मंदिर


 क्या आप जानते हैं कि कर्नाटक में हम्पी के पास अंजनाद्री के पास मलयवन पहाड़ी में यन्त्रोधरक हनुमान मंदिर वह स्थान है जहाँ रामायण के इतिहास में राम पहली बार हनुमान से मिले थे?


 यन्त्रोधरक हनुमान मंदिर, जिसे प्रणदेव मंदिर के रूप में भी जाना जाता है, हिंदू भगवान हनुमान को समर्पित है, जिसे महाकाव्य रामायण में महिमामंडित किया गया है।  हम्पी शहर के दायरे में अंजनाद्री पर्वत से सटे मलयवन पहाड़ी में स्थित है, एक ऐतिहासिक स्थान जिसे यूनेस्को की विश्व धरोहर स्थलों की सूची में अंकित किया गया है, जिसे "हम्पी में स्मारकों का समूह" कहा जाता है।  अंजनाद्री हनुमान का जन्म स्थान है और ऐसा कहा जाता है कि राम की अपनी पत्नी सीता की खोज के दौरान, जिसे दंडकारयण पर पंचवटी जंगलों से लंका के राक्षस रावण द्वारा अपहरण कर लिया गया था, राम की मुलाकात वानरस के किष्किंडा साम्राज्य में अंजनाद्री के पास मलयवन पहाड़ी पर हुई थी।  यह पहाड़ी और आसपास की पहाड़ियाँ हनुमान और उनके दोस्तों के खेल के मैदान थे, जिन्होंने पहाड़ियों में विभिन्न स्थानों पर पत्थरों के बड़े-बड़े ढेर बनाए जो आज भी देखे जाते हैं।  इन पत्थर की संरचनाओं में निचली परत में छोटे पत्थर होते हैं जबकि बड़े पत्थरों को ढेर के ऊपर ढेर किया जाता है, गुरुत्वाकर्षण को धता बताते हुए वे आज भी पहाड़ियों की चट्टान के किनारे पर संतुलित खड़े हैं।


 पहली बार राम के साथ हनुमान की मुलाकात की याद में, भगवान राम का मंदिर है जिसे कोडंदरामा मंदिर कहा जाता है।  हनुमान के अनोखे मंदिर के ठीक पीछे यन्त्रोधरक हनुमान मंदिर के नाम से जाना जाता है।  इन दोनों मंदिरों का निर्माण 14वीं-15वीं शताब्दी में विजयनगर सम्राटों के शासनकाल के दौरान किया गया था।  यंत्रोधरक हनुमान मंदिर में पूजा की जाने वाली मूर्ति, एक ग्रेनाइट शिलाखंड पर खुदी हुई हनुमान की एक छवि है, जो इस यंत्र के बाहरी घेरे में 12 बंदरों से घिरे तारे के आकार के यंत्र, एक श्रीचक्र, एक रहस्यमय आरेख में घेरे हुए एक अद्वितीय बैठे पद्मासन मुद्रा में है।  .  तुंगभद्रा नदी के तट पर एक विशेष स्थान पर ध्यान करते हुए, माधवाचार्य द्वारा प्रतिपादित द्वैत दर्शन के माधव संप्रदाय के संत व्यासतीर्थ द्वारा लगातार 12 बार देखी गई मानसिक छवि से यह छवि बनाई गई थी।  संत व्यासत्रिथ तब (15वीं शताब्दी) विजयनगर साम्राज्य के सम्राट कृष्ण देवराय के पोंटिफ, राजगुरु थे।


 इस मंदिर में यन्त्रोधरक के रूप में हनुमान देवता की उत्पत्ति के पीछे दिलचस्प कथा, सुनने में अद्भुत एक रहस्यमय कहानी है, जो सम्राट कृष्ण देवराय के ऋषि व्यासथरिथ, राजगुरु या पोंटिफ से संबंधित है।  हम्पी में अपने प्रवास के दौरान, व्यासतीर्थ तुंगभद्रा नदी के तट पर एक शांत और रमणीय स्थान पर जाते थे और लंबे समय तक मध्यस्थता करते थे।  एक विशेष दिन अपने ध्यान के दौरान उन्होंने हनुमान की छवि को अपनी आंखों के सामने बार-बार चमकते हुए देखा।  परेशान होकर उन्होंने अपनी मध्यस्थता का स्थान बदल लिया लेकिन वहां उन्हें हनुमान की छवि नहीं दिखाई दी।  कहीं और बैठे तो उन्हें हनुमान की कोई छवि नहीं दिखाई दे रही थी।  जब वे उस विशेष स्थान पर बैठे थे, तभी उन्हें अपने मन की आंखों में छवि दिखाई दे रही थी।  बाद में उसी रात माधवाचार्य, दर्शनशास्त्र के माधव स्कूल के पहले पुजारी, जो 12 वीं शताब्दी में रहते थे, एक सपने में व्यासथिथ के सामने प्रकट हुए और उन्हें उसी स्थान पर हनुमान (जिन्हें अजनेय के नाम से भी जाना जाता है) को स्थापित करने का निर्देश दिया, जहां उन्होंने ध्यान किया था।  और उसे अपने मन की आंखों में देखा।


 व्यासतीर्थ फिर उसी स्थान पर चले गए जहां उन्होंने हनुमान की छवि देखी थी और ध्यान करना शुरू कर दिया था।  एक बार फिर उन्होंने देखा कि उनके मन की आंखों में हनुमान की छवि दिखाई दे रही है।  बिना किसी देरी के उन्होंने अपनी कलम के रूप में अंगारा (कोयला) का उपयोग करके पास की चट्टान पर छवि को रेखांकित करना शुरू कर दिया।  जैसे ही उन्होंने हनुमान की छवि बनाना समाप्त किया, उनके आश्चर्य के लिए, चट्टान पर चित्र से एक बंदर जीवित हो गया।  बंदर चट्टान से कूद गया और चट्टान पर चित्र तुरंत गायब हो गया।  व्यासतीर्थ को सुखद आश्चर्य हुआ और उन्होंने ड्राइंग की प्रक्रिया को दोहराया और हर बार एक बंदर चट्टान से बाहर कूद जाता और चित्र गायब हो जाता।  ऐसा लगातार 12 दिनों में 12 बार हुआ और हर बार ग्रेनाइट की चट्टान से एक बंदर निकला।  इस प्रकार व्यासतीर्थ के चारों ओर 12 वानर थे।  विस्मित, व्यासतीर्थ ने आखिरकार हनुमान की छवि को एक हेक्सागोनल आकार के यंत्र (उपकरण, एक ताबीज) में बांधने का फैसला किया।  उन्होंने पहले एक यंत्र खींचा, फिर यंत्र के केंद्र में पद्मासन (कमल मुद्रा) में बैठे हनुमान की छवि खींची।  तारे के आकार का यंत्र भीतर से घिरा हुआ था और तारे के चारों ओर के इस घेरे में आग की लपटें बाहर की ओर जा रही थीं, इस प्रकार इसे सूर्य का रूप दे रहा था।  चट्टान से निकले, यंत्र की रक्षा करें।  उन्होंने बंदरों को इस तरह खड़ा किया कि एक बंदर दूसरे की पूंछ पकड़ ले, इस प्रकार एक बंद बेंजीन जैसी अंगूठी (बेंजीन में पाई जाने वाली हेक्सागोनल रिंग व्यवस्था) का निर्माण हुआ, जिसने यंत्र की सबसे बाहरी संरचना का निर्माण किया।  ताबीज को ध्यान से देखने पर पता चला कि घड़ी के डायल में 12 बंदर घंटे के निशान की तरह खड़े थे।  ऐसा कहा जाता है कि भगवान हनुमान ने स्वयं व्यासतीर्थ को निर्देश दिया था कि वह पहले उन्हें एक षट्कोणीय या छह कोण वाले ताबीज में बांधकर उस स्थान पर स्थापित करें।


 हनुमान प्रतिमा की यंत्र छवि वाला यह मंदिर संभवत: एकमात्र ऐसा मंदिर है जहां हनुमान बैठे हुए दिखाई देते हैं।  यह उन 12 दिनों की प्रार्थनाओं का प्रतिनिधित्व है जो श्री व्यासराज ने प्रभु के आशीर्वाद से पहले की थीं।  आम तौर पर हनुमान देवताओं को खड़े, आशीर्वाद या उड़ने की स्थिति में देखा जाता है।  मंदिर सफेद धुली हुई संरचना है, एक पिरामिड संरचना है जिसमें पहाड़ी के किनारे पर एक छोटा लाल गुंबद है।  ऐसा कहा जाता है कि व्यासतीर्थ ने यंत्र के चारों ओर मंदिर बनाने के बाद पूरे दक्षिण भारत में 712 हनुमान मंदिरों का निर्माण किया।

 







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Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: Where Water, Wings, and Time Meet Some places announce themselves with mountains or monuments. Bharatpur does not. It reveals itself slowly — in ripples of water, in the sudden lift of wings, in the quiet patience of a bird waiting for the right moment to strike. Located in eastern Rajasthan, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, popularly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is one of those rare landscapes where nature and history have grown together. It is not untouched wilderness, nor is it purely man-made. It exists in between — shaped by geography, altered by humans, and perfected by birds. A Land Shaped by Geography Before It Was Shaped by Humans Bharatpur lies at an ecological crossroads. To the west stretch the ancient Aravali ranges, among the oldest mountain systems in the world — worn down, rocky, dry, and quiet. To the east begin the fertile Gangetic plains, flatter and more water-abundant. Between these two regions lies a gentle depression in the land, where seasonal rivers like the Gambhir and Banganga once spread their monsoon waters. This region was never meant to hold deep water. Instead, it absorbed floods, released them slowly, and returned to grassland. That natural rhythm changed in the 18th century, when the rulers of Bharatpur constructed the Ajan Bund, an earthen dam built to protect nearby settlements from flooding. Unintentionally, a wetland was born. Water lingered longer than expected. Silt settled. Aquatic plants appeared. Fish followed. And soon after, birds began to arrive — first seasonally, then in vast numbers. From Royal Hunting Ground to Protected Sanctuary During the 19th and early 20th centuries, this wetland became a favored duck-shooting reserve for the Maharajas of Bharatpur and British officials. Ironically, this exclusive use prevented farming and urban expansion, allowing the habitat to survive while many other wetlands disappeared. The turning point came when Dr. Salim Ali, India’s pioneering ornithologist, recognized the extraordinary ecological value of the site. His advocacy transformed perceptions of the wetland — from a hunting ground to a sanctuary deserving protection. This led to a series of recognitions: Declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1976 Designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 What makes Bharatpur unique is that it proves conservation does not always begin with untouched nature — sometimes it begins with correcting our relationship with altered landscapes. A Wetland Designed by Water, Perfected by Birds Keoladeo Ghana is a shallow wetland, rarely deeper than one or two meters. This single feature explains much of its biodiversity. Shallow wetlands warm quickly, grow food rapidly, and create a variety of micro-habitats: Open water for ducks and geese Mudflats for waders and sandpipers Marshes and reed beds for nesting birds Wooded patches for roosting and breeding colonies The sanctuary is a mosaic rather than a uniform lake, and birds occupy it with remarkable precision. Every species seems to know exactly where it belongs. The Arrival of the Migrants Each winter, Bharatpur becomes a global meeting point. Birds arrive from Siberia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Tibetan plateau, following the Central Asian Flyway. Some travel thousands of kilometers, crossing deserts, seas, and the towering Himalayas. Bar-headed geese, famous for flying at extreme altitudes, descend gracefully onto the water. Northern shovelers and teals form floating carpets across the marshes. Painted storks and Asian open-billed storks feed methodically in the shallows. The elegant Sarus crane, India’s tallest flying bird, performs slow, ritualistic dances that seem untouched by time. Once, the sanctuary welcomed the Siberian crane — tall, white, and fragile. Their disappearance from Bharatpur is a quiet tragedy, reminding us that even the most faithful migrants cannot survive when wetlands vanish along their journey. The Aravali Connection: Dry Hills Supporting Wet Wings Though Bharatpur is a wetland, its story cannot be told without the Aravali range. The Aravalis may appear barren, but they regulate climate, slow desert winds, and feed seasonal water systems. Birds adapted to dry forests and scrublands — larks, pipits, bushchats, raptors — depend on wetlands like Bharatpur during migration, breeding, or drought periods. Thus, Bharatpur functions as a refuge ecosystem, supported by the broader Aravali landscape. Wetland and woodland, water and stone — both are necessary for regional biodiversity. More Than Birds: The Invisible Web of Life While birds are the most visible residents, the sanctuary’s foundation lies beneath the water. Fish recycle nutrients and sustain higher predators. Amphibians and reptiles control insect populations. Wetland plants purify water, trap carbon, and stabilize soil. Even microorganisms play their role quietly, maintaining balance. This unseen life is what allows the spectacular bird diversity to exist. A Wetland That Needs Care, Not Neglect Unlike untouched forests, Bharatpur survives through active management. Water must be released at the right time. Invasive plants must be controlled. Seasonal rhythms must be respected. Climate change, upstream water diversion, and declining rainfall pose new challenges. The sanctuary today is a lesson in modern conservation — showing that protection alone is not enough. Understanding ecological processes is equally vital. Why Bharatpur Matters Today In a country where wetlands are rapidly disappearing, Bharatpur stands as proof that: Man-made wetlands can support rich biodiversity Landscape-level conservation is essential Migratory birds connect continents, not just countries Water is the most powerful driver of life in dry regions Leaving Bharatpur When you leave the sanctuary, it does not follow you loudly. There are no dramatic cliffs or roaring rivers to remember. Instead, there is a quiet realization — that life persists not through force, but through balance. Bharatpur teaches patience. It teaches listening. And above all, it teaches that when water is allowed to stay, life will always return.

  Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary : Where Water, Wings, and Time Meet Some places announce themselves with mountains or monuments. Bharatpur does n...