Bengaluru · IN

Sri Abhaya Anjaneya Swamy Temple

Tucked down the narrow lanes of Bhoopasandra in south-west Bengaluru, the Sri Abhaya Anjaneya Swamy Temple is a quietly revered old Hanuman shrine. Its presiding deity is worshipped as Abhaya Anjaneya, a form of Lord Hanuman (Anjaneya) whose name means the granter of fearlessness and protection, and generations of local devotees come here seeking courage, relief from obstacles and a moment of calm away from the city's bustle. What gives this small neighborhood temple an unusual sense of depth is its antiquity. Visitors and temple lore describe the main Anjaneya idol as several centuries old, and point to a Durga inscription stone and Devi Durga sculpture that are said to trace back to the early medieval period, when the Gangas held sway over this part of Karnataka. Whether you come to pray or simply to look, it reads as a place where worship and heritage sit close together.