The ancient Gali Anjaneya temple, Bangalore is situated in the midst of the hubbub of the city. It is located on Mysore Road, in the busy street of Byatarayanapura, 5 KM from KR Market.
History of Gali Anjaneya temple, Bangalore
Antiquity of the temple
The Gali Anjaneya temple, Bangalore dates back to 1425 AD, spanning about six hundred years.
Who built it?
Sri Vyasaraya, a saint and philosopher who dedicated 732 temples, also built the Gali Anjaneya temple. This temple was constructed at the confluence of the two rivers, Vrishabhavathi and Paschimavahini, though they do not exist now.
The idol of Gali Anjaneya
The idol of Lord Anjaneya in the Gali Anjaneya temple, Bangalore is unique in its own way. The west-facing idol of Lord Hanuman has a moustache and is smeared with sindoor. The left hand of the Lord rests on his waist, while the right hand blesses all. There is also a knife at his right hip. A bell is tied at the end of the Lord’s tail, as is so with the Hanuman idols of Sri Vyasaraya. The Hanuman statue here faces the Ram Parivar. ‘Gali’ in Kannada means ‘air’. Hence, the Lord assumes the name ‘Gali Anjaneya’ because the idol was found in the open. The name could also be attributed owing to the fact that Hanuman was the son of Vayu, the wind God.
Architecture of the temple
A towering Rajagopuram welcomes visitors at the Gali Anjaneya temple’s entrance. Separate shrines are dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Venugopala Swamy, and Shri Rama Parivar. The Navagrahas are also housed in this temple.
Significance of the temple
The Gali Anjaneya temple is known to ward off all that is evil in devotees’ lives. A sacred thread and a lemon are given to devotees to remove all obstacles and problems in their lives. Lord Hanuman here cures the ailments of children. Politicians, too, flock to this temple for success in their careers.
A car festival that has occurred annually for over 120 years draws a big crowd.
Gali Anjaneya temple timings
The Gali Anjaneya temple is open from 7 AM to 2 PM and 3 PM to 9 PM. Saturdays are usually very crowded.