Introduction to 5 most famous Hanuman temples
5 most famous Hanuman temples in India include the following temples- (i) Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi (ii) Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (iii) Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan (iv) Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka; and (v) Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan.
Lord Hanuman is often referred to as Sankat Mochan Hanuman, the Lord who removes all hurdles or the reliever of all troubles in life. In the epic Ramayana, Lord Hanuman helped Lord Ram to get Goddess Sita freed from the evil clutches of the demon King Ravana of Lanka.
In the epic Ramayana, the role of Lord Hanuman, his Vanar Sena, and Sugriva’s arm, and rescuing Lord Laxmana by bringing Sanjeevani booti in time, have all been remarkable. Lord Hanuman is called as ‘Anjani Putra’.
Lord Hanuman is revered and worshipped across India and devotees have immense faith, devotion, and belief in Him and his noble and valiant acts of benevolence.
It is worthwhile to discuss here the 5 most famous Hanuman temples in India to enable pilgrims and devotees to seamlessly offer their prayers at these altars. The 5 most famous Hanuman Temples in India are the following:-
Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi
Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi is located in the heart of the capital of India- New Delhi on Baba Kharak Singh Marg. The area of Connaught Place is nowadays called Rajiv Chowk.
The famous Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi was built in the 16th century by Maharaja Man Singh I of Amber, Rajasthan during the reign of King Akbar.
Subsequently, the temple was reconstructed by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1724. According to the mythology, the Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi dates back to the Mahabharat era and is believed to have been constructed by Pandavas after the epic battle Mahabharat at Kurukshetra, Haryana.
It is believed that the idol of Lord Hanuman at the Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi is swayambhu (Self- manifested) and represents the childhood of Lord Hanuman holding a gada (Mace) in his left hand.
The entrance of the Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi is intricately designed, built-in black and white marble stones, and the ceilings are adorned with beautiful paintings.
Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi Timings:
Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi’s opening and closing Timings for Darshan and Aarti are: 05:00 am to 01:00 pm & 03:00 pm to 11 pm.
Devotees visit the temple in large numbers especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays for worshipping Lord Hanuman.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh is located on the banks of the holy Ganges river in the Temple town of Varanasi or Kashi. Lakhs of devotees and pilgrims visit the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi to offer their prayers with reverence and devotion and seek solace and blessings of the Lord Hanuman.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh is located at a distance of about 11 km from Varanasi Railway Station & at a distance of about 5 km from the Kashi Vishwanath Shiva Temple.
Entry into the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh is free.
The temple was established in the 16th century by Goswami Tulsidas, the Hindi poet who wrote Ramcharitmanas. A large number of devotees celebrate the Hanuman Jayanti and other Hindu religious festivals and completely immerse themselves in religious fervor and fanfare.
The opening and closing timings of Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh are as follows-
The temple opens daily at 5:00 am and closes at 10:00 pm. Partha Aarti is performed at 05:00 am; Sandhya Aarti is performed at 08:30 pm and Ratri Aarti is performed in the night at 10:00 pm.
Special Pujas are performed every Tuesday and Saturday as these are considered auspicious days for seeking the blessing of Lord Hanuman worship.
Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan
Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It is located in the Churu district of Rajasthan. Here, Lord Hanuman is called as Balaji.
During Chaitra Purnima and Ashwin Purnima festivals, a large number of devotees visit the Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan to worship Balaji, Lord Hanuman.
It is believed that the idol of Lord Hanuman was located by a farmer and the priest in whose dreams the Balaji appeared and instructed them to establish the idol at Salasar.
They immediately complied with the instruction in earnest and as a result, the idol of Lord Hanuman was consecrated at the Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan in 1754.
Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan is built from white marble by using brick, lime, and mortar. The idol of Balaji sportsa beard and moustache as well. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple features floral patterns intricately designed in gold and silver.
The entrance of the Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan bears intricate marble carvings.
Rituals, such as Savamani and Coconut tying are followed here at the Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan. During the Savamani ritual 50 kg of food is offered to the deity which is later distributed.
At Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan, devotees tie coconuts with red Kalava threads symbolic of their wishes sought from the deity. During Chaitra and Ashwin Purnima, a large number of devotees visit the Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan temple to worship the deity and seek blessings for their well-being.
Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan Timings:
Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan opens at 04:00 am and closes at 10:00 pm. While performing Puja -Archana, Hanuman Chalisa and various Vedic hymns are chanted and recited. Morning Aarti and Sandhya Aarti are performed regularly at the temple.
Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan is located on National Highway 668 and is easily accessible from the major cities of Jaipur and Delhi.
Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka
Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka, also known as Pranadeva temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman who helped Lord Ram in freeing Goddess Sita from the evil clutches of demon King Ravana of Lanka.
Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka is situated on Ajneya Hilltop. River Tungbahdra flows nearby. Devotees also refer to the temple as the Antrodharak Hanuman temple.
At the Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka, the idol of Lord Hanuman is carved in granite stone. The deity of Lord Hanuman is 8 feet tall and Lord Hanuman is depicted in the Padmaasan Sitting pose or the lotus pose within Srichakra, the Yantra.
His right hand is raised portraying as if he is giving some discourse and the left hand indicates his sitting in meditation. 12 monkey idols encircle the presiding deity of the Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka.
Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka was built by Shri Vyasraja, a philosopher and guide of the Vijayanagar empire. The temple is about 500 years old.
Devotees visit the Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka around the year however, during the period from October to March, when the weather becomes pleasant, the pilgrims, come in large numbers to connect themselves spiritually and seek solace and peace at the Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka.
Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka Timings:
Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka opens at 06:00 am and closes at 09:00 pm.
Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan
Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan is located near the border of Karauli and Dausa district at a distance of about 120 km from Jaipur and about 300 km from Delhi.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Large devotees and pilgrims visit the temple for worshipping Lord Hanuman who is depicted in his childhood form.
Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan is known for providing spiritual connection and healing. It is also known for the exorcism of evil spirits.
At the Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan, the Gods- Lord Hanuman, Lord Bhairav, and Lord Pretraj, the King of evil spirits are worshipped. People believe in getting cures from evil spirits
As per the story associated with Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan, Lord Hanuman appeared in the dream of Ganesh Puri Ji Maharaj and was instructed to find the idol of Lord Hanuman in the Mehandipur forest and build a temple and install the idol at the Mehanidpur. Accordingly, the Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan was built and the idol of Lord Hanuman was consecrated.
Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan Temple Timings:
Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan opens at 06:00 am and closes at 09:00 pm. A large number of devotees come to Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan on Tuesdays and Saturdays to seek the blessings of the presiding deity.
Celebrations during the festivals of Hanuman Jayanti and Holi are held with grandeur and fanfare. Devotees offer garlands, sweets (Boondi ), and light diyas (lamps).
Special Pujas and Abhishekams are performed by chanting Vedic hymns and mantras. Hanuman Chalisa and Sunderkand from Ramcharitmanas are recited. Devotees observe fast and connect themselves spiritually with higher consciousness.
Conclusion:
According to mythological legends, Lord Hanuman’s son is Macchanu borne by Suvannamachha, daughter of Ravana. According to another legend His son is demigod Matsyaraja or Makardhwaja or Matsyagarbha.
Lord Hanuman is revered and largely worshipped by Hindu devotees across the countries. Lord Hanuman is also known for bringing the entire mountain Dronagiri, laden with plants bearing medicinal properties (Sanjeevani booti) to revive Lord Laxman when he became unconscious. There are innumerable legends associated with his valor, prowess, wisdom, statesmanship, and acts of benevolence and large-heartedness
The famous legend of Lanka Dahan(burning of Lanka with his lighting tail) and the story of his meeting with Goddess Sita as the ambassador of Lord Rama, reflect upon Lord Hanuman’s supernatural powers.
Shri Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place, Delhi, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Salasar Balaji Temple, Salasar, Rajasthan, Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka, and Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan are the famous Hanuman temples in India.
Pilgrims and devotees visit these holy shrines and worship Lord Hanuman with reverence and devotion. They seek solace and connect themselves spiritually to higher consciousness.
FAQs About 5 most famous Hanuman temples
Q.1. Why is Mehandipur Balaji so famous?
Ans. 1. Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Rajasthan, located near the border of Karauli and Dausa district is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Large devotees and pilgrims visit the temple to worshipping Lord Hanuman. The temple is also known for the healing and exorcism of evil spirits.
Q.2. Which temple is famous for the Hanuman ghost?
Ans. 2. Mehandipur Balaji temple is famous for alleged supernatural healing and exorcism practices.
Q.3. Why is Salasar Balaji so famous?
Ans.3. Salasar Balaji is famous for its miraculous story of origin. It is believed that an idol of Lord Hanuman was discovered by a farmer in a field in Asota village. Lord Balaji appeared in the dreams of Local Thakur and the priest Mohandas and instructed them to establish a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Salasar, Rajasthan.
Q.4. What is the story of the Hanuman Temple in Hampi?
Ans. 4. Hampi Hanuman Temple, Karnataka is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. Lord Hanuman was born to Anjana and is, therefore, called Anajani putra or Anhaneya.
5. What is the myth of the Mehandipur Balaji Temple?
Ans. 5. The myth of Mehandipur Balaji Temple is that Lord Hanuman is considered to be self-manifested (Swayambhu) and is believed to have the power to exorcise evil spirits. It is said that Lord Hanuman appeared in the dream of Shri Ganesh Puri Maharaj and instructed him to find his idols in the Mehandipur forest.
