My last blog post was on Sri Rama Navami Festival which we
celebrated yesterday, 28th March 2015. As I mentioned in that article, Sri Rama
Navami festival is to celebrate the birthday and marriage day of Lord Sri Rama
and seek the divine couple’s blessings. Today as I was thinking of writing on
some interesting subject I was reminded of Sitaram Bagh Temple in Hyderabad,
where these celebrations are held differently. While almost all the Temples in
the State including the most important and popular one at Bhadrachalam perform
Sri Sitarama Kalyanotsavam (wedding ceremony) in the morning, here at Sitaram
bagh temple the birthday related pooja/celebration is performed in the morning
and the marriage ceremony late in the night. This interesting fact has reminded
me of the beauty of this temple and prompted me to post this article.
Sitaram Bagh temple is over 180 years old and even today it
stands out magnificently. The attached photographs will give you an idea of its
overwhelming architecture. The temple complex is a labyrinth of interconnected
quadrangular courtyards, each accessed through imposing gateways. The main
Gopuram is a complex collage composed of elements representing myriad
architectural styles comprising Rajput, Mughal, Kakatiya, Qutub Shahi and
Classical European, which all come together creating an impressive façade.
Courtyards open up dramatically, surprising the eyes at every turn with abrupt
variations in scale and proportion creating a constantly changing environment.
The diverse architectural styles represented in the numerous structures of the
temple complex which include portals, sanctums, mandapams, rooms, inns and
step-wells, make the temple complex a rare treat for visitors who are
overwhelmed by their grace and beauty. Traversing through the maze of
quadrangles, one finally arrives at the innermost court, the sanctum sanctorum
where you can have darshan of the deities of Sri Rama, Sita Devi, Lakshmana,
Bharata and Shatrughna, as at the time of Sri Rama Pattabishekam (Coronation).
There are Utsava Vigrahalu of Sri Rama, Sita Devi, Lakshmana and deities of
Lord Venkateshwaraswamy, Padmavathi Devi and of Lord Krishna and Radha Devi,
and also deities of Hanuman and Garuda. Adjoining this temple are the temples
of Sri Varadarajaswamy with his consorts and of Sri Hanuman.
Sitaram Bagh Temple is built by Seth Punarmalji Ganeriwal. He
is the son of Seth Mahanand Ramji, scion of Ganeriwal family. Seth Mahanand
Ramji migrated to Hyderabad from Rajasthan and set up a financing firm in
Hyderabad in 1802 and was soon recognized as a very prominent and noble person.
His son Seth Punarmalji was also an astute businessman. He acquired a large
plot of land around 1825, over 25 acres on the then outskirts of the city, near
the village of Mallepally. There he constructed this beautiful temple complex
and laid out a garden in the remaining grounds. A garden is called Bagh in
Hindi and as the temple in it is of Sita and Rama, this temple complex is
called Sitaram Bagh. Sitaram Bagh is well maintained even today by the
Ganeriwal family, as you can see in the attached photographs.
It is must-see temple/place in Hyderabad.
