Top Hanuman Temples in India
Lord Hanuman, one of the principal deities of Hinduism is widely revered by Hindus living all over the world. Regarded as the supreme devotee of Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman
is one of the crucial characters in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Being a vanara (group of people living in woodlands), Lord Hanuman took part in Lord Rama's warfare against Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Lord Hanuman is also named and glorified in various Indian texts and Hindu epic, which include Mahabharata, assorted ancient Hindu texts and in a few Jainist texts as well. Also known as Pavana Suta, Maruti, Bajrangbali and Anjaneya, Lord Hanuman
is celebrated as an avatar of Lord Shiva and the son of Vayu Deva (the Lord of the winds).Lord Hanuman
is often considered as the symbol of knowledge, devotion, valor, courage, strength, and humbleness and dedication to virtue. Seen as a robust monkey holding a monumental Gadha (mace) with a picture of Lord Rama on his chest, Lord Hanuman keep inspiring people forever. Although there are hundreds of thousands of temples and sacred sites of Lord Hanuman across the country, some of these temples are extremely special and not to mention, people throng them with sheer devotion. Let's find out some of the must-visit, greatest and top Hanuman temples in India (in no particular order).Must Read: Hanuman Jayanthi 2016Hanuman Chalisa in EnglishHanuman Jayanthi Celebrations at the Salasar Balaji Temple in Rajasthan108 Names of Lord Hanuman
Location: Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
Ideal time to visit Hanuman Garhi Mandir: From sunrise to sunset
Located in the heart of the holy city of Ayodhya (aka Saket), Hanuman Garhi Mandir is one among the most visited and most important religious sites in the region. Perched on a small hill that is visible from a long distance, the Hanuman Garhi Mandir is accessed by climbing as many as seventy-six steps. Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Hanuman Garhi is a monumental quadrilateral fort with circular citadels at each corner with this temple inside.
Fundamentally a cave temple, it is widely believed that Lord Hanuman lived in this sacred site in a cave and defended the Janambhoomi (Ramkot). The principal shrine houses the idol of Anjana with Bal Hanuman on her lap. It is believed that a visit to this historic shrine ensure all the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled. Rama Navami, Diwali, Hanuman Jayanthi and Dussehra are some of the most important festivals celebrated in this temple.
Salasar Balaji Temple
Location: Salasar, Churu District (Rajasthan), Jaipur - Bikaner Highway
(57 kilometres from Sikar and 24 kilometers from Sujangarh)
Temple Timings: 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Popularly called as Salasar Dham, the renowned Salasar Balaji Temple
is situated in the Salasar town (on National Highway 65) of the Churu district in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. The age-old temple is the home of Lord Balaji, an avatar of Lord Hanuman. The deity of Balaji in this temple is different from all other statues of Hanuman located across the country.
Contrary to regular statues and forms Hanuman, the presiding deity of Balaji here features round face with a beard and moustache, which make it the most singular Hanuman in the globe. Furthermore, the Salasar Balaji Temple is an important name in a popular pilgrimage circuit that includes the Rani Sati Temple and Khatushyamji (Sheesh ke Daani), where all three celebrated religious sites are close to each other.
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Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Location: Sankat Mochan Road, Saket Nagar, Nagwa Lanka, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005
Temple Timings: 5:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Regarded as one of the most illustrious temples of Lord Hanuman, Sankat Mochan Hanuman
Temple is located in the spiritual capital of India Varanasi in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. A landmark in the southern Varanasi, the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple can be found en route to the illustrious Durga Kund Mandir and Shri Vishwanath Mandir (New Vishwanath Temple) in the Benaras Hindu University.
The term 'Sankat Mochan' can literally be translated as 'reliever from problems' and hundreds of thousands of devotees throng the mandir throughout the year and read Sundara Kanda from the Hindu epic Ramayana, chant Hanuman Chalisa with devotion and offer prayers. The present structure of the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple was constructed during the early 90s by the renowned Indian educationist and freedom fighter, Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The majestic Lord Hanuman deity idol here is covered up with orange color sindoor and Laal Pedas are offered.
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Shri Balahanuman Sankirtan Mandir
Location: Shri Prembhikshuji Marg, Government Colony, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361001
Temple Timings: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
The oldest temple founded by Shri Prembhikshuji Maharaj during the year 1963-64, the Bala Hanuman Temple
is located on the southeasterly side of Ranmal Lake (Lakhota Lake) in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The illustrious mandir is far-famed for the uninterrupted 24-hour chanting of the highly sacred mantra of Lord Rama - Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram, since 1st August 1964.
This veneration has garnered the Lord Hanuman mandir earned a spot in the Guinness World Records. Scores of devotees visit the Shri Balahanuman Sankirtan Mandir throughout the year. Early evening is a good time to visit this mandir as daily prayers take hues of a spellbinding ritual with evening pooja.
To know more about the Shri Balahanuman Mandir in Jamnagar, Gujarat, Click here
Location: Near Patna Junction, Patna, Bihar 800001
Temple Timings: 5:30 AM - 10:30 PM
One of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the famous Mahavir Mandir is located in the metropolitan city of Patna in Bihar. Regarded as the second most visited temples in all of North India, Mahavir Hanman Mandir is administrated by Shri Mahavir Sthan Nyas Samiti (Mahavir Mandir Trusts). The renowned Mahavir Mandir houses the brass shrines which can be found on the top of the temple structure. Between 1983 and 1985, the mandir was reconstructed and several deities were consecrated.
Some of the other important deities installed include Lord Shiva, Lord Rama with Lakshman and Shavari, Lord Krishna and Arjun, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Durga, Satyanarain Bhagwan, Lord Buddha, Goddess Saraswathi, Shanideva Cave and so on. It is important to mention that Mahavir Mandir is the only religious site in India where donations (dakshina) offered to the priest during poojas goes to the Shri Mahavir Sthan Nyas Samiti. Besides, the temple utilizes the entire donation in spiritual programmes that generally involve serving hapless.
Sri Bade Hanuman Mandir
Location: Baand Marg, Baand, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
Temple Timings: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM and 4:00 PM - 10:00 PMSri Bade Hanuman Mandir
is located pretty close to the Allahabad Fort and is one among the most visited temples in Allahabad. Devotees who visit the temple get to witness something unique, that is, a massive idol of Lord Hanuman, which is 6.096 m long and 2.438 m wide. The presiding deity of Lord Hanuman here offers his blessings from a singular reclining posture and the idol is actually a couple of feet below the ground level. Lord Hanuman in reclining posture is in Veermudra.
It is rather a unique site to witness the reclining Hanuman with blanket forehead, huge arms, broad waistline evoke the devotion in the minds of the devotees in no time! This mandir gets subaquatic whenever the sacred river Ganges is in freshet. According to the Hindu mythology, it is populalr believed that the sacred Ganges wants to touch the touch the holy feet of Lord Hanuman and that is the primary reason behind the rise in the water level.
To know more about the Allahabad Bade Hanumanji Mandir, Click here
Location: Jakhu, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001
Temple Timings: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
One of the oldest Hindu temples in the region, the renowned Jakhoo Temple
is located in Shimla and is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Nestled beautifully on the Jakhoo Hill
at a whopping altitude of 8,000 feet above sea level, the Jakhoo Temple can be accessed only by a steep climb from the Ridge in Shimla. The option of hiring a horse to reach the temple is also available to the devotees.
The Jakhoo Temple is famous for the 108-feet-high Hanuman idol which is touted as the world's tallest statue at such an elevation. Legend has it that Lord Hanuman rested in this place while he was on his journey to find Sanjivni Booti for Lakshmana. The place also has a large population of monkeys.
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Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple
Location: Arulmigu Anjaneyar Sannathi, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu
Temple Timings: 6:30 AM - 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Located in the town of Namakkal in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple is one among the most visited Hanuman temples in the state. For South Indians, especially for the Tamil population, the word 'Namakkal' reminds of the gigantic 5.48 m tall Hanuman who is easily visible from a long distance.
The massive Hanuman status was carved out of a single stone and Lord Hanuman is seen in a worshipping posture with a japamala in his hands, standing under open sky! Yes, you read it right; there is no roof for Lord Hanuman in this temple. To be precise, Sri Namakkal Anjaneyar offer his blessings in the western side of the rock standing under open sky, revering Sri Narasimha Swamy .
Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Temple
Location: 9th block, Jayanagar, Bangalore - 560069
8:00 - 11:30 AM and 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM (weekdays)
8:00 - 12:30 PM and 5:00 PM - 9:00 (weekends)
Popularly called as the Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple, Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Temple is located in Jayanagar, Bangalore. The Hanuman temple is situated on a small natural hill and it is popularly believed that the hill which houses the presiding deity of Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy took shape from a heap of finger millet (ragi) and therefore it was called as 'Ragigudda'.
During this miraculous incident, the Hindu trinity, that is, the creator Brahma, the preserver Vishnu and the transformer/destroyer Shiva wanted to stay near the hill and changed themselves into three stones pillars. These three massive stones now feature etchings of the Hindu trinity. Some of the other shrines in this temple include Sri Seetha Rama Swamy shrine, Sri Rajarajeshwari shrine, Navagraha shrine and so on.
Paritala Anjaneya Swami Temple
Location: Krishna, Andhra Pradesh 521180
Touted as the home of the world's tallest Hanuman statue, the Paritala Anjaneya Swami Temple is located in the Paritala village in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Installed during the year 2003, the Anjaneya Swami here is a 41 meters (135 feet) tall majestic statue.
The Hanumanji here is higher in vertical dimension when compared to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The temple receives devotees from all over the world throughout the year, irrespective of times of year.
Some of the other important Hanuman temples in India include:Hanuman Garhi Temple in NainitalRokadia Hanuman Temple in AnandSankat Mochan Temple in LucknowAlathiyur Hanuman in MalappuramSatchi Hanuman Temple in RameswaramHanuman Temple in ImphalKarmanghat Hanuman Temple in HyderabadSri Lal Nandan Hanuman Mandir in VadodaraSri Jaya Anjaneya Temple in KarurPanchmukhi Hanuman Ashram in GunaVisa Hanuman Temple in AhmedabadPanchamukha Hanuman Temple in Mumbai