In the southern part of Hyderabad lies the ancient Karmanghat Hanuman Temple, a site that dates back to the 12th century. The name of the locality, Karmanghat, translates to “harden your heart”. The story is tied to a centuries-old tale involving royalty, divinity, and defiance.
Legend has it that during a hunting expedition, a Kakatiya king grew weary and stopped to rest under a tree. As he sat in stillness, he heard a mysterious voice echoing through the air, chanting the name of Lord Rama.
Intrigued, the king began searching for the source of the voice. Soon, he stumbled upon an idol of Lord Hanuman in a serene, seated posture. Strangely, the chant seemed to emanate from the idol itself. That night, Hanuman appeared in the king’s dream, and seeing it as a divine intervention, the king commissioned the construction of what we now know as the Karmanghat Hanuman Temple.
Centuries passed. During the reign of Aurangzeb, when temples across India faced destruction, his armies marched toward Karmanghat with the same intent. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t enter the temple grounds.
An infuriated Aurangzeb himself arrived at the temple with a crowbar in hand, determined to demolish it. But the moment he stepped into the premises, a deafening roar thundered through the air, and the crowbar slipped from his grasp. Fear seized him.
Then came a booming voice from above:
“Mandir todna hai, to karo maan ghat”
— “If you wish to destroy this temple, harden your heart.”
The phrase is said to have inspired the name Karmanghat. Today, the temple is a popular site of worship, with Lord Hanuman revered in his meditative form as Dhyana Anjaneya Swamy.
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