Sanjeevi Raya Hanuman Temple, Ayyangarkulam,
Kanchipuram – Legends
Lakshmi Kumara Thathachariar (1456–1543) was
a prominent Vaishnava
saint and Guru in
the Hindu tradition
in Vaishnavism.
He was the Royal Preceptor "Raja Guru" of king of Vijayanagar Empire Venkata Raya I and
Venkata Raya II. He was the responsible for managing the Divya
Desam Temples including Sri
Rangam, Kanchipuram, Tirumala,
Melkote,
and Srivilliputhur.
He is recorded as one of the
greatest Aacharyas in the lineage of Sri Ramanuja's Vaishnavism.
Sri Thatha Desika was the adopted son of the famous Sri Pancha Madha Bandhana
Thatha Desikan (his paternal uncle), a learned scholar and most revered Aacharya
of the Indian Philosophy and Sri Ramanujacharya's
Vishishadvaita. Legends say that, Sri Thatha Desikan was a very pious devotee
of Lord Sri Rama.
Once Sri Thatha Desikan was
travelling with all the wealth he got as a reward for his knowledge and as a
tribute from various kings. He was intended to offer them to the Lord of
Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal. On reaching the outskirts of Kanchi, it was
late night. So Thatha Desikan decided to stay with his disciples at the place
for a while and decided to continue the travel once the sun rises. So, all the
treasure was kept near a tree and Thatha Desikan along with his disciples fell
asleep.
On knowing the wealth
assimilated there, a group of thieves came there to loot them. So, without any
one's knowledge they came there and started bundling all the resources
available there without any one's notice. By then, immediately a crew of
monkeys led by a senior monkey came there and started beating the thieves very
badly and drove them away from the treasures. The monkeys started guarding the
treasure.
Thus, the treasure, which was
meant to be offered to the god, got saved from getting plundered. As a miracle,
Thatha Desikan had a dream in which he was shown the entire happenings and was
blessed with the darshan of Sri Hanuman.
Thatha Desikan realised that it was none other than Lord Hanuman a
sincere servant of Lord Rama came there in his rescue. So Thatha
Desikan was very much moved in Joy and tears started flowing down from his
eyes.
He immediately woke up and saw
the thieves who have fallen unconscious being beaten heavily and the treasure
being guarded by a crew of monkeys. Thatha Desikan also found his treasures
saved. He was overwhelmed in devotion and decided to spend a part of the saved
sum in building a magnificent temple for Lord Hanuman
along with Sri Rama,
Sri Sita,
Sri Lakshmana.
He also built a very big lake
near the constructed temple and named it as 'Sri Lakshmi Saras',
that means the 'Pond of Goddess Lakshmi' who happened to be his mother of
Divine Origin as the presiding Goddess of Kumbakonam by name Sri Komalavalli of
Sri Sarangapani Temple fed him the Mother's milk and the presiding Goddess of
Kanchipuram Sri Perundevi saved him throughout his life and was herself a
teacher of various Arts and Philosophies to him.
But later this lake was fondly
called as "Sri Thatha Samudhram" in remembrance of this great
Aacharya, as the Lake was appearing majestically like an ocean running for
about 150 acres in area. Even during the present days, this Temple stands to be
the biggest Temple dedicated to this form of Lord Hanuman known
as "Sri Sanjeeviraya" built during the ancient times of India.
Sri Thatha Desikan also composed
a famous literary work called "Srimath Hanumath Vimsathi" in praise
of this Lord Hanuman, which are inscribed on stone tablets
and are kept in the prakarams (the circle enclosure
surrounding the main temple) by the then King of Vijayanagar Empire. Later the
entire surroundings of this Temple came to be known as "Sri Thathayyangar
Kulam" in the remembrance of Sri Thatha Desikan.
