Lord Hanuman’s birthplace: While the birthplace of Lord Ram is witnessing the building of a grand temple, there is a tussle amongst Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh more than the birthplace of Lord Ram’s ardent devotee Lord Hanuman. Karnataka has been claiming that Hanuman was born in Kishkinda on the Anjeyanadri Hill, close to Hampi. On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh has been claiming as his birthplace Anjanadri amongst the seven hills in Tirumala. However, now, based on references in the Indian epic Ramayana, a third location is also becoming claimed as the feasible birthplace of Lord Hanuman, according to a report in IE.
First claim to Hanuman’s birthplace
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in Andhra Pradesh had constituted an specialist committee in December 2020. The panel incorporated members such as an ISRO scientist, archaeologists as effectively as Vedic scholars. The committee has been directed to study the matter and submit a report on the actual birthplace of Lord Hanuman by April 21.
The report cited KS Jawahar Reddy, the executive officer of TTD, as saying that their claims are backed by mythological, archaeological as effectively as scientific proof, which was why the board, which manages the Tirupati Balaji temple, has constituted the eight-member committee.
As per Reddy, the committee would look at all the proof and the connected info to the birthplace of Lord Ram’s devine vanara companion. This proof and connected info, Reddy mentioned, would be brought out in the type of a book and it would be submitted to the TTD. Reddy has also mentioned that the committee has studied the Siva, Varaha, Brahma, Matsya and Brahmanda Puranas, apart from Brihatsamhita of Varahamihira and Venkatachala Mahatyam.
Karnataka’s claim
TTD’s claims have been countered by Karnataka ministers, who mentioned that the Anjeyanadri Hill has been referenced in the Ramayana. They mentioned that the epic states the spot as the location exactly where Lord Ram and his brother Laxman met Lord Hanuman. A Hanuman temple is also situated at the prime, and it has a carved idol. In the vicinity, Anjana Devi, Ram and Sita temples are also situated.
The report also quoted Karnataka agriculture minister BC Patil as saying that the state would create the birthplace as a pilgrimage centre, tagging it as the Hanuman Janmasthala.
Soon on the heels of the TTD constituting the panel, Karnataka started to work on a project that would create Anjeyanadri Hill as a hub of religious tourism, with an estimate project price of Rs 50.18 crore, with regard to which state tourism minister CP Yogeshwar met with many other state ministers final month. The report also cited Yogeshwar as saying that the cabinet nod on the detailed project report was awaited just before the division could lay the foundation stone. He is scheduled to check out the website with other ministers on Friday, April 16.
Plot twist: The third contender
Amid the tussle amongst Karnataka government and the TTD, a third location has emerged as a contender for the tag of becoming Lord Hanuman’s birthplace. The head of Ramachandrapura Mutt in Karnataka’s Shivamogaa district, Raghaveshwara Bharathi has been cited by the report as claiming that Kudle Beach at Gokarna in Karnataka is the actual birthplace of the devotee of Lord Ram.
He mentioned that as per Ramayana, Gokarna was the janmabhoomi (birthplace) of Lord Hanuman, even though Kishkinda’s Anjeyanadri was his karmbhoomi (the location exactly where he performed his deeds). He also asserted that Gokarana was clearly stated as the birthplace in Valmiki Ramayana.
Bharathi is arranging to make a temple at this spot by the time Ram Navami comes next year, roughly a year from now, and a massive Hanuman statue would be placed at the spot, he mentioned.