Sri Sanjeevi Varadha Anjaneyar Temple, popularly called Getwell Anjaneyar Temple, is located at Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.Local belief says the temple is about 500 years old, though the current structure inside the hospital premises is more recent.
Sri Sanjeevi Varadha Anjaneyar Temple in Tirunelveli is a sacred place where Lord Hanuman is worshipped as the healer and protector. The temple roots are deeply connected to the Ramayana legend of Sanjeevi Parvatham. Devotees believe that sincere prayers here bring recovery from illness, health, and happiness, making it a very special temple for the people of Tirunelveli and beyond
The presiding deity is Sri Sanjeevi Varadha Anjaneyar (Hanuman) idol is about 2½ feet tall, carved in stone.
Hanuman is in a graceful standing posture, showering blessings on devotees.Alongside Hanuman, there are shrines for Mahalakshmi (goddess of prosperity) and Lord Dhanvantri (the divine physician and healer, an aspect of Vishnu).
The temple is built on a raised platform, with around 20 steps leading to the sanctum. It is not a very large gopuram-style temple, but rather a compact shrine built in a hospital setting. The idol of Hanuman is housed in a small sanctum (garbhagriha) and is often beautifully decorated with silk clothes, flowers, and butter alankaram. The nearby sannidhis for Mahalakshmi and Dhanvantri complete the healing aura of the temple.
The temple’s roots go back to the worship of Hanuman in Tirunelveli for several centuries. Its association with healing became stronger when it was established inside the Getwell Hospital premises. Because of this unique link, Hanuman here came to be called “Getwell Anjaneyar”, symbolising his role as a healer. Over the years, devotees who prayed here experienced recovery from illness and peace of mind, which spread the temple’s fame.
The legend of this temple is linked to the Ramayana. When Lakshmana fell unconscious during the war, Hanuman brought the Sanjeevi hill from the Himalayas to save him. On his return journey, Hanuman is believed to have rested in Tirunelveli while carrying the mountain. Because of this, the place is filled with the healing vibrations of Sanjeevi herbs.
Another version of the legend says that once a group of patients and doctors prayed here, offering butter and Vadamalai to Hanuman, and soon their illnesses reduced. From then on, the tradition of worshipping Hanuman here as a healer grew stronger.
Hence, Hanuman here is called Sanjeevi Varadha Anjaneyar, meaning “the one who grants the blessing of Sanjeevi (life and healing)”. Devotees believe that praying here removes illness, restores energy, and gives mental courage — just as Hanuman restored Lakshmana’s life in the battlefield. Over time, because of the hospital setting and the many healing experiences of devotees, he became popularly known as Getwell Anjaneyar.
At Sri Sanjeevi Varadha Anjaneyar Temple, the main festival is Hanuman Jayanthi, celebrated with special abhishekams, alankarams, and chanting of Hanuman Chalisa. Rama Navami is also observed with devotion, highlighting Hanuman’s service to Lord Rama. Apart from these, Saturdays and Amavasya (New Moon Days) are considered very auspicious, when devotees offer butter, betel leaves, Tulsi garlands, and vadai malai to the deity. These simple but heartfelt celebrations make the temple vibrant and spiritually uplifting.
