There can be a host of reasons for a train stopping dead in its tracks. While I shall not enumerate a long list of such causes, surely the reason for my train's hold-up on the 21st of Dec. is the most bizarre one I have encountered in a lifetime of rail travel spanning more than 6 decades. In a classic instance of Ripley's BELIEVE IT OR NOT, 12677 Bangalore Ernakulam Intercity Express had to come to a grinding halt between Dharmapuri and Muttampatti at about 9.30am, as its progress was impeded by a CONGRESS OF MONKEYS (pun unintended). Please note not to interpret my choice of words as referring to a political party even if there be a great temptation to do so. The word CONGRESS is also used as a collective noun to describe a group of monkeys, more particularly BABOONS.
And...
more... I was surprised to find the LP applying the brakes in an effort to save the Congress of our SIMIAN ANCESTORS as they had comfortably parked themselves on the tracks and on both sides of the railway line, foraging for food. It was only about 5 minutes later, after a series of desperate and plaintive honks by the leader among the 3 ALCOS at the helm of the train, that the apes dispersed to the sides and restored the right of way to the Intercity Express.
It was not surprising that soon thereafter the train traversed over a bridge spanning a dry rivulet appropriately called ANJANEYAR RIVER, the term ANJANEYAR being one of the several epithets of the monkey-God, Hanuman. Incidentally there is a Hanuman Mandir at Muttampatti which has a very interesting history associated with its construction. Called the Veera Anjaneya Swamy, this temple suddenly shot into limelight in the 60s.
" It came about this way.
The Salem-Bangalore metre-gauge railway line was being constructed in the mid sixties. At one spot the contractor was not able to quite fix the track no matter how much he tried. He would prepare/ complete the earthen work and spread the stones but the place would be found disturbed the next morning. No one could account for it. Searching around for a clue, he came upon this hill by chance where he found this image of Hanuman sculpted on the rock itself. It was fully covered by growth of vegetation.and was not visible.He cleared the vegetation and prayed to Lord Hanuman to preserve and protect the track being laid and he vowed that he would arrange for the worship. The track then stood firm and he was able to complete his job.
The contractor kept his word and constructed a small gopuram-like structure over the image. Since the image was sculpted on the hill itself, he could not do much more. He constructed a platform in front, all this was done in 1966. A small stream was running at its foot, mostly fed by run-off from the rain on the hills and from the fields beyond. Troops of monkeys were playing around.
There was no regular road but only a bullock cart track running through the place, connecting the interior villages. There was no dwelling near the place.
I hail from Dharmapuri and we used to visit the place often. We used to travel by bus from Dharmapuri to Pagalpatti ( also called Pagalahalli)- a distance of 10 miles and then walk the remaining 2 or 2.5 miles to the shrine. We had to carry all puja articles and food. there were no pujari, priest or any intermediary. the Lord was alone with us. We would perorm abhishekam., do alankaram and archana, recite slokas and sing songs, read from the Ramayana etc- to our hearts content. We would then eat our food joyfully, sharing it with any villagers who happened to pass by and the monkeys who could not be ignored! It used to be hot most days but we did not mind the walk as it was through the valley surrounded by hills and we could sight many types of birds singing. Even children and old ladies would walk the distance. It used to be a joyful experience.
The contractor started celebrating a festival for Anjaneya on the Amavasya day in the Tamil month of Thai ( after mid-January ) at his own expense. Train services started on this line in January 1969. The trains would stop right in front of this shrine, though unscheduled, while the station was about a KM away. Every engine driver would slow down and blow the whistle in front of the shrine as a mark of respect. Hundreds of people would visit the shrine for the festival, but the railways would not ask for ticket. The legend spread and crowds started coming from far and wide.
The shrine has become a crowded place now, but those days , it was really like Heaven on earth. Pagalpatti is the ancestral village of my grandfather, but he could not remember when he first heard of this Anjaneya. Well, the Lord makes himself known when it pleases him!"
(An account by R.Nanjappa in tourismdharmapuri.blogspot.in)
Hope you found this interesting.
