Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place, New Delhi. Is
an ancient (pracheen in Sanskrit) Hindu temple and is claimed to be one of the
five temples of Mahabharata days in Delhi. The idol in the temple, devotionally
worshipped as “Sri Hanuman Ji Maharaj” (Great Lord Hanuman), is that of Bala
Hanuman namely, Hanuman as a child. The temple, which has a self manifest idol
of Hanuman, has an unusual feature fixed in the spire (Viman) in the form of a
crescent moon (an Islamic symbol) instead of the Hindu symbol of Aum or Sun
that is commonly seen in most Hindu temples. This became particularly important
during the Mughal period corroborating this extraordinary depiction.
Historically, Delhi located on the banks of
the Yamuna River has been stated to be the Indraprastha city built by Pandavas
of the Mahabharata epic period. In the Mahabharata days, Pandavas ruled from
Indraprastha and Kauravas from Hastinapur (two collateral families) as per a
brokered partition of the Kuru empire. But, in a dice game, Pandavas lost their
Kingdom and were exiled for a 12 year term and in the 13th year must remain in
hiding (with a rider that if they were detected during this period they would
undergo the exile denovo). Mythological legend states that during the Pandavas’
exile (imposed by their cousin Duryodhana of the Kaurava dynasty), in order to
subdue Bhima’s (second of the five Pandava brothers) arrogance, Hanuman
considered to be the brother of Bhima (both Vayu’s children, appeared in the
forest disguised as a weak and aged monkey. Bhima, while in search of a
fragrant flower sought by Draupadi in the forest, found Hanuman lying with his
tail blocking his way and, unaware of Hanuman’s identity, scornfully asked him
to remove his tail. But Hanuman told Bhima to lift the tail since being old he
was unable to do it on his own. Bhima tried hard several times but failed to
lift it, in spite of being a man of great strength. Bhima then realized that
the monkey was none other his own brother, apologizes for his arrogant behavior
and requests Hanuman to show him his true form.
Hanuman was then said to have enlarged himself
and showed Bhima the size in which he had crossed the sea to go to Lanka,
looking for Sita during the Ramayana epic period. After the Pandavas won the
Kurukshetra war against the Kauravas and re–established themselves in
Indraprastha, the Pandava clan is stated to have built five temples of Hanuman
and other deities.
Hanuman3It is believed that Tulsidas
(1532–1623), who wrote Ramacharitamanas (popularly known as Tulsi Ramayan and
penned the famous Hanuman Chalisa hymns in praise of Hanuman, visited this
temple in Delhi. During his visit to Delhi, Tulsidas was summoned by the Mughal
Emperor and asked to perform a miracle, which he did with the blessings of Lord
Hanuman. The Emperor was pleased with Tulsidas and presented the Hanuman temple
with an Islamic crescent Moon finial which adorns the temple spire. It is also
claimed that because of the crescent moon symbol on the spire, the temple was
not destroyed by the Muslim rulers who invaded India at various times.
Reportedly, it was built originally by
Maharaja Man Singh I of Amber (1540–1614) during Emperor Akbar’s (1542-1605)
reign. It was reconstructed by Maharaja Jai Singh (1688-1743) in 1724, around
the same time as the Jantar Mantar. After that the temple has undergone many
improvements making it a notable religious centre in the heart of Central
Delhi.
An important feature of the worship at this
temple is the 24–hour chanting of the mantra (hymn) “Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai
Ram”, since August 1, 1964. It is claimed that this continuous chanting has
been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Note: work is released
under CC-BY-SA.
The main foyer of the temple through massive
silver plated doors, which are engraved with scenes of the epic Ramayana story.
The foyer is ventilated with clerestory windows that are adorned with paintings
of Hanuman in the cardinal directions depicting his four aspects. Below each
Hanuman painting, the full text of Tulsidas’s Sundar Kand is inscribed on the
marble tablets affixed on the walls. The Sanctum Sanctorum, which houses the
Hanuman idol, is on the north wall on the right side of the entry foyer
(pictured), with the idol facing the southern direction in a small bass Relief carving
(pictured). Images of Radha and Krishna, a central triumvirate of Rama,
Lakshmana and Sita are also installed to the right of the Hanuman idol on the
same wall. As the idol of Hanuman faces the southern direction, devotees can
discern only one eye of the idol. The idol depicts a Gada (mace or club) in the
left hand with the right hand crossed across the chest showing veneration to
the adjacent idol of lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. A tapering crown adorns the
idol, which has a sacred thread on the right shoulder and is clad in a
fashioned dhoti.
Hanuman2The height of the temple is reported
to be 108 ft (32.9 m). The ceiling of the main mandap (hall or pavilion)
depicts the epic story of Ramayana artistically painted. The last named deity
has created a cult culture among women with Friday worship that was propagated
by the religious feature film Jai Santoshi Ma, since 1975. Historically, Delhi
located on the banks of the Yamuna River has been stated to be the Indraprastha
city built by Pandavas of the Mahabharata epic period. In the Mahabharata days,
Pandavas ruled from Indraprastha and Kauravas from Hastinapur (two collateral
families) as per a brokered partition of the Kuru empire. But, in a dice game,
Pandavas lost their Kingdom and were exiled for a 12 year term and in the 13th
year must remain in hiding.
Mythological legend states that during the
Pandavas’ exile (imposed by their cousin Duryodhana of the Kaurava dynasty), in
order to subdue Bhima’s (second of the five Pandava brothers) arrogance, Hanuman
considered to be the brother of Bhima (both Vayu’s children, appeared in the
forest disguised as a weak and aged monkey. Bhima, while in search of a
fragrant flower sought by Draupadi in the forest, found Hanuman lying with his
tail blocking his way and, unaware of Hanuman’s identity, scornfully asked him
to remove his tail. But Hanuman told Bhima to lift the tail since being old he
was unable to do it on his own. Bhima tried hard several times but failed to
lift it, in spite of being a man of great strength. Bhima then realized that
the monkey was none other his own brother, apologizes for his arrogant behavior
and requests Hanuman to show him his true form. Hanuman was then said to have
enlarged himself and showed Bhima the size in which he had crossed the sea to
go to Lanka, looking for Sita during the Ramayana epic period. After the
Pandavas won the Kurukshetra war against the Kauravas and re–established
themselves in Indraprastha, the Pandava clan is stated to have built five
temples of Hanuman and other deities.
Hanuman It is believed that Tulsidas
(1532–1623), who wrote Ramacharitamanas (popularly known as Tulsi Ramayan and
penned the famous Hanuman Chalisa hymns in praise of Hanuman, visited this
temple in Delhi. During his visit to Delhi, Tulsidas was summoned by the Mughal
Emperor and asked to perform a miracle, which he did with the blessings of Lord
Hanuman. The Emperor was pleased with Tulsidas and presented the Hanuman temple
with an Islamic crescent Moon finial which adorns the temple spire. It is also
claimed that because of the crescent moon symbol on the spire, the temple was
not destroyed by the Muslim rulers who invaded India at various times.
Reportedly, it was built originally by
Maharaja Man Singh I of Amber (1540–1614) during Emperor Akbar’s (1542-1605)
reign. It was reconstructed by Maharaja Jai Singh (1688-1743) in 1724, around
the same time as the Jantar Mantar. After that the temple has undergone many
improvements making it a notable religious centre in the heart of Central
Delhi.
An important feature of the worship at this
temple is the 24–hour chanting of the mantra (hymn) “Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai
Ram”, since August 1, 1964. It is claimed that this continuous chanting has
been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
दर्शन समय
Tuesday, Saturday: 4:00 AM - All Night
Other Days: 4:00 AM -
11:00 PM
Temple History
Palika Kendra, Hanuman Lane,
Hanuman Road Area,
Connaught Place, New Delhi,
Delhi 110001