O.T.C. Hanuman Temple, Palayam
Encyclopedia
O.T.C. Hanuman Temple is one of the most visited Hanuman temples in Kerala. This temple is situated at Palayam in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram
, Kerala
.
, the capital of Travancore
was shifted from Padmanabhapuram
to Thiruvananthapuram. Initially, the headquarters of the Nair Brigade was shifted from the old capital to the new. Then it was shifted to Kollam and later brought back to Thiruvananthapuram. The Nair
soldiers brought many of their deities to Thiruvananthapuram. The cavalry
of the Nair Brigade
brought with them the Ganesha idols of Pazhavangady
and Palayam temples, whereas, the cavalry soldiers brought Sri Hanuman to Thiruvananthapuram. Since the temple was originally located with the military camp, the temple is officially referred as O.T.C. (Officers Training Camp) Hanuman Temple.
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
History of the temple
After the reign of Marthanda VarmaMarthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
, the capital of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
was shifted from Padmanabhapuram
Padmanabhapuram
Padmanabhapuram a city and a municipality near Thuckalay in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-History:Padmanabhapuram was the old capital of the princely state of Travancore in India...
to Thiruvananthapuram. Initially, the headquarters of the Nair Brigade was shifted from the old capital to the new. Then it was shifted to Kollam and later brought back to Thiruvananthapuram. The Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
soldiers brought many of their deities to Thiruvananthapuram. The cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
of the Nair Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
brought with them the Ganesha idols of Pazhavangady
East fort
The East Fort is located at the heart of the CBD of Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital city of Kerala- a South Indian state.-History:East Fort got its name from the eastern entrance to the fort built by the Kings of Travancore. The old city was all inside the fort on four sides with the Sri...
and Palayam temples, whereas, the cavalry soldiers brought Sri Hanuman to Thiruvananthapuram. Since the temple was originally located with the military camp, the temple is officially referred as O.T.C. (Officers Training Camp) Hanuman Temple.