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Hanumangarhi

Ayodhya, Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh

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Hanumangarhi
Photo: Prashant Kharote, CC BY-SA 4.0

About

Hanumangarhi is the most famous Hanuman temple of Ayodhya, built on a raised mound in the heart of the town. It looks like a four-sided fort with a round tower at each corner, which gives it the name 'garhi', a small fort. Devotees climb 76 steps to reach the sanctum. Inside, a murti of Bal Hanuman, only about six inches tall, sits in the lap of his mother Anjani. The verses of the Hanuman Chalisa are written on the temple walls. By an old custom, devotees first take Hanuman ji's darshan here and then go on to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. The temple is looked after by Bairagi Mahants of the Ramanandi Sampradaya.

The story

After his victory over Ravan, Shri Ram came back to Ayodhya with Sita ji, Lakshman ji and Hanuman ji. Devotees believe Hanuman ji then made his home in a cave on this mound, so that he could stay close to his Lord and guard Ayodhya and the Ramkot, the area around Ram ji's palace. That is why the place came to be called Hanuman Garh or Hanuman Kot. A tradition based on the Skanda Puran says that King Vikramaditya built a temple here. The fort-like temple seen today is much later and has been rebuilt and enlarged over the centuries. At its heart is a gentle form: little Hanuman ji in the lap of his mother Anjani. Devotees feel that here he is not only the mighty warrior but also a mother's dear son, and they come to him as children come to their mother's home. Because Hanuman ji is Ram ji's doorkeeper and guard, it became the custom to greet him first and then go for Ram Lalla's darshan.

Visiting

October to March is pleasant; Tuesdays, Saturdays, Ram Navami and Diwali are very crowded. The 76 steps are steep, so climb slowly. The temple is about 1 km from Ayodhya railway station. Nearby are the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Kanak Bhawan, the Nageshwarnath temple and Ram ki Paidi on the Saryu.

Festivals

  • Hanuman Jayanti: in Ayodhya it is also celebrated on the night of Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali)
  • Ram Navami
  • Dussehra
  • Diwali

Famous temples

Sources