About Ragigudda Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy Temple, 9th Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore

Entrance Arch to Anjaneya Temple

                         

Way to the temple ground floor

                                                                           Place for doing homams

Prasada section

Kitchen Section

                                              Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy in the main sanctum

Trimurthy Sannidhi

Main Temple Tower

This is one of the most popular and well-known temples in Bangalore. Though located on the road the spacious temple surroundings with lush greenery and beautiful structures attract everyone’s attention. The main temple of Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy is located on a hillock and one has to climb nearly 87 steps. Lift facility is available for old and disabled people. At the foot of the hillock there is a temple with three separate shrines for Navagrahas, Maha Ganapti and Raja Rajeshwari. 

As you enter the temple one finds a counter selling tickets for various sevas. Many people buy coupons for doing Annadanam. One can buy rice for any amount starting from ten rupees. If you buy a coupon for Rs.50/- and above, you will get a packet of Prasad at the entrance of the temple. Before the idol of Goddess Annapurna, the devotees drop rice into a big container. In Navagraha shrine one can see the nine Graha Devatas along with their consorts and vahanas. In shrine of Mahaganapati a very big idol of Ganapati is seen. The idol of Rajarajeswari is nicely decorated with garlands and ornaments.

 On the top of the hillock the main deity, Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy is seen bearing a mace in one hand and Mount Sanjeevani with the other hand. On the right side of this shrine the shrine for Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita are seen. The idols are quite big and well-sculpted. On the left side of the main shrine a big Marakatha Linga (made of green-colored stone) is seen. The main hall is very big and neatly maintained. In this temple there are two halls on the ground floor used for conducting ceremonies and marriages.

In the Prasad division there is a hall for dining. Just beside it there is a kitchen. From this Prasad division if you climb a few steps you can see the lofty figures of Holy Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) engraved on huge rocks. It said that Trimurtis once visited this place and decided to stay here in these hilly and scenic surroundings. Thus their holy presence enhanced the sacred atmosphere of this temple. The hillock is called “Ragi Guddam” since this hillock was formed from a heap of Ragi millets. In 1969 a group of youth along with residents of this area set up a small Hanuman temple on the hillock. Later it has developed into a huge temple complex with many facilities in an area of five acres of land and was registered in 1972. The waterfall "Hanuman Dhara" along with temple pond adds much charm to the temple surroundings. 

The Ragigudda Trust undertook many charitable activities like providing free education, free medical care and conducting Yoga, music and Language classes in Kannada and Sanskrit. There is a library with many religious books and a shop for selling books also. There is a Goshala with thirty cows and milk from these cows is used in performing Abhishekam and in preparing Prasad. Every Saturday lunch is served to all devotees. Every year in December a twelve-day grand celebration is held on Hanuman Jayanthi when thousands of devotees visit this place. 

The temple timings are from 8.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays the temple is kept open from 8.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 5.00 p.m to 9.00 p.m. On the road leading to the temple one can see many shops and restaurants. In the busy crowded city this place gives a sense of serenity and happiness not only to elders but to people of all ages.

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           28th September, 2018                         Somaseshu Gutala