Among the seven sacred hills that form Tirumala, collectively called the Saptagiri, Anjanadri holds a place of special significance. It is revered in tradition as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, the supreme devotee of Lord Rama. Named after Anjana Devi, Hanuman’s mother, Anjanadri connects the Tirumala range to the Hanuman tradition and adds another layer of sanctity to the Seven Hills.
Table of Contents
The name Anjanadri
Anjanadri is a compound of Anjana and adri, the Sanskrit and Telugu word for hill. The name directly honours Anjana Devi, the mother of Hanuman. According to this tradition, Anjana Devi performed intense tapas (penance) on this hill, praying for a son. Hanuman was born as a result of her devotion and the grace of Vayu, the wind god. This is why Hanuman is also called Vayuputra (son of Vayu) in addition to Anjaneya (son of Anjana).
The name Anjaneya is perhaps the most commonly used name for Hanuman across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which gives Anjanadri a particular resonance for Telugu-speaking devotees who visit Tirumala. The hill they climb has a direct etymological and traditional link to the deity many of them have worshipped since childhood.
The Hanuman birthplace tradition
Several places across India are associated with Hanuman’s birth in different regional traditions, and Anjanadri at Tirumala is among the revered sites in this long-standing devotional geography. The connection to Tirumala is reinforced through multiple threads:
- The name Anjaneya (son of Anjana) by which Hanuman is widely known throughout South India.
- The strong tradition of Hanuman worship across the Tirumala-Tirupati region.
- The Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy Temple at Tirumala, located directly opposite the main Venkateswara temple.
- Hanuman’s role as a vahanam during Brahmotsavam, when the Lord rides the Hanumantha Vahanam on Day 6 of the festival.
If I had to pick one thing that makes Anjanadri stand out among the Seven Hills, it is the theological completeness of having both the supreme Lord and the ideal devotee present in the same sacred geography, with the hill itself as the site where devoted prayer brought forth a divine birth.
Significance for the pilgrimage
Hanuman is revered across traditions as the embodiment of strength, devotion, humility, and selfless service. His presence at Tirumala as a worshipper of Lord Rama, and his role in the Vaishnava universe as a devotee of Vishnu in His various forms, reinforces the deeply devotional character of the pilgrimage to Tirumala itself.
For many devotees, the knowledge that Hanuman’s birthplace is among the Seven Hills means that the ideal devotee and the Lord he serves are united within a single sacred landscape. Pilgrims walking the alipiri footpath or ascending by road pass through this geography whether or not they pause to reflect on it. Anjanadri makes explicit what the Tirumala hills as a whole represent: a place where divine grace and devoted aspiration have converged over a very long time.
Hanuman worship at Tirumala
For devotees wishing to pay respects to Hanuman directly during their Tirumala visit, the main opportunities are:
- Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy Temple: The principal Hanuman shrine at Tirumala, located directly opposite the Venkateswara temple. Bedi refers to the chains with which Anjaneya is depicted, symbolising the voluntary binding of the devotee to the Lord’s service.
- Hanuman Jayanti: Celebrated at Tirumala with special significance given the hill’s association with Hanuman’s birth. Exact dates vary by year; check news.tirumala.org for the current year’s observance.
- Hanumantha Vahanam: During Brahmotsavam, Lord Malayappa Swamy is taken in procession on a vehicle representing Hanuman on Day 6 of the festival. The procession is free for all devotees along the mada streets.
The Seven Hills and their individual significance
Anjanadri is one of seven hills that together form the Saptagiri, each with its own name and association in tradition. The seven are identified variously across different sources, but all traditions agree that the hill of Venkateswara’s abode is the central sanctum, surrounded by others associated with sages, devotees, and divine figures from the Puranic literature. Anjanadri’s association with Hanuman places a great devotee-figure within the same constellation of hills, framing Tirumala as a place where devotional aspiration in its purest form has always been present.
Worth flagging: the precise identification and boundaries of each of the seven hills vary between different accounts, and visitors should not expect clearly marked signs distinguishing each hill on the ground. The spiritual significance of the Saptagiri as a whole is what most pilgrims engage with, rather than the individual hills as distinct physical destinations.
Common questions
What does Anjanadri mean? The hill of Anjana, named after Anjana Devi, the mother of Lord Hanuman. Adri means hill in Sanskrit and Telugu.
Is Anjanadri recognised as the birthplace of Hanuman? It is revered in the Tirumala tradition as Hanuman’s birthplace; it is one of several sites across India associated with this in different regional devotional traditions.
Why is Hanuman called Anjaneya? Anjaneya means son of Anjana, a matronymic name honouring his mother, Anjana Devi.
Where can I worship Hanuman during a Tirumala visit? At the Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy Temple, located directly opposite the main Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.
Is Anjanadri one of the seven hills? Yes, it is counted among the Saptagiri, the seven sacred hills that together form Tirumala.
What is the Hanumantha Vahanam? During Brahmotsavam, Lord Malayappa Swamy is taken in procession on a vehicle representing Hanuman on Day 6 of the festival, free for all devotees to witness in the mada streets.
Related reading
- Saptagiri — The Seven Sacred Hills of Tirumala
- Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy Temple Tirumala
- Hanumantha Vahanam, Day 6 of Brahmotsavam
For more on the Saptagiri and Tirumala’s sacred geography, refer to tirumala.org.
