Hanuman Janmbhoomi row: Karnataka may seek archeological survey

BENGALURU: Karnataka may seek an archeological survey in a bid to prove its claim that the real birthplace of Lord Hanuman is on its land near Hampi and the government is planning to strengthen its proposed project to develop the place as Hanuman Janmbhoomi.
The move comes as a response to the neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh’s claim that Hanuman was born on the hillock Anjanadri in Tirupati.The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that manages the ancient shrine of Lord Venkateswara declared the place called Japali Theertham on Anjanadri as Hanuman Janmbhoomi on Wednesday on the occasion of Ram Navami following an eight-member expert committee submitted its report.
Dismayed by the development, Karnataka has decided to lay its claim with a renewed vigour that Hanuman was born on the hill also called Anjanadri in Kishkinda near Anegundi in Koppal districts, which abuts the heritage site of Hampi. However, authorities said Karnataka would not prefer confrontation with AP, but wants to settle the issue through consultation based on archaeological and mythological evidence.
"We don't know what made Andhra Pradesh raking up this issue suddenly. This comes at a time when the Karnataka government has embarked on a plan to develop Anjanadri in Kishkinda as a pilgrimage-tourist destination as this is the place that has been authentically identified as Hanuman’s birthplace,” said KS Eswarappa, Karnataka minister for rural development and panchayat raj.
“Tirumala is a great pilgrimage centre and there is no dispute about its sthalapurana (ancient history). While we don’t want to enter into a dispute with the AP government, we will study the evidence they are providing to prove their argument. We will ask experts to verify it and if needed we will seek a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the lines of the Varanasi court’s decision to settle the matter over Kashi Vishwanath Temple,” Eswarappa added.
Based on many epic and mythological references including that of Ramayana’s chapters Kishkindha Kaand and Sundara Kaand, it was believed from ages that Kishkindha is the place where Ram and Lakshman met Hanuman as they came in search of Sita. It is also believed that Anjanadevi gave birth to Hanuman on a hill in Kishkindha and so the hillock got the name Anjanadri. The TTD’s argument is that Anajanadevi did tapasya in Tirumala, following which Hanuman was born and the hillock thus named Anjanadri and Hanuman later went to Kishkindha.
The stakeholders from both sides, however, hope the issue will be settled amicably since it does not involve religious dispute.
“We made the declaration based on the available evidence that proves that Anjanadri in Tirumala is Hanuman’s Janmabhoomi and Kishikindha was his karmabhoomi. We will place the records open in the public and it is subjected to discussion,” said TTD executive officer KS Jawahar Redy.
Eswarappa was scheduled to lead a team of ministers- muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojari, tourism minister CP Yogeeshwara and Koppal in-charge minister BC Patil- Kishinda on April 16. The plan was to launch the project modernise the Hanuman temple on Anjanadri and develop Kishkinda with the modern tourist amenities. The programme was put off after Pooajri contracted covid.
"The programme will be rescheduled once the covid situation is improved. The plan is on to develop Kishkinda as Hanuman Janmabhoomi," said Poojarai.
Hanuman Janmabhoomi in Gokarna too
Ramachandrapura Mutt pontiff Raghaveshwara Bharathi, who is arguing that Hanuman was actually born in a cave near Gokarna in Uttar Kannada district, is holding on to his claim. The pontiff said his mutt will go ahead with its plan on Hanuman Janmabhoomi.
"We have already started renovating the temple in the cave with a cradle to the infant hanuman. The fully-developed Hanuman Janmbhoomi will be inaugurated by the next Ram Navami,” said Raghaveshwara Bharathi.