Sri Bhakta Anjaneya Swami Temple is at Ethamukkala in Prakasam District in Andhra Pradesh.
Sri Anjaneya Swamy, also known as Hanuman, is a devoted follower of Lord Rama. He is believed to be a Vanara who helped Lord Rama in his war against the demon king Ravana. Sri Anjaneya Swamy is also believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
Late Shri Munagala Suryanarayana, son of Late Shri Seshaiah Garu, took the initiative to build a temple for the benefit of the village based on advice from scholars. With his efforts, he built the Shri Bhakta Anjaneya Swami Temple in 1983 and performed the Prana Pratishta ceremony according to Agama Shastras. Since then, Shri Munagala Suryanarayana managed all the rituals and temple maintenance using his own resources. Over time, devotees began visiting the temple regularly, participating in events like Gramotsavam (village festival) and Annadaanam (food donation).
Ethamukkala was originally known as Enthi Mukkala. There is an interesting story behind this name. When Lord Rama was sent to the forest by King Dasharatha, at the request of his wife Kaikeyi, Rama was accompanied by his brother Lakshmana. During their stay in the Dandakaranya forest, Surpanakha, the demon sister of Ravana, was attracted to the two brothers.
When she approached them with romantic intentions, Rama and Lakshmana rejected her advances. Angered by her persistence and tantrums, Lakshmana became furious and cut off her nose and ears. The name Inthi Mukkala originated from this incident, where “Inthi” refers to a woman and “Mukkala” means parts (nose and ears).
Over time, the name evolved into Ethamukkala. Additionally, the area later grew rich with Eetha trees (a type of palm tree), further solidifying the name Ethamukkala as it is known today.
Each year, the number of visitors increased, and their faith in the temple grew stronger. Thousands of devotees visit the temple during Hanuman Jayanthi, a traditional festival celebrating the birth of Sri Anjaneya Swamy.
