Temples - Sankat Mochan Temple in Uttar Pradesh India

Sankat Mochan Temple, Varanasi Uttar pradesh

Sankat Mochan Temple located in Varanasi is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The founder of the Sankat Mochan Temple was Tulsidas and is built within the campus of Banaras Hindu University.

Varanasi Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred temples of Varanasi. It is one of the sacred temples of the Hindus. Literally, the word `Sankat Mochan` means `deliverer from troubles`. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. This temple is situated by the Assi River and falls on the way to the Durga temple and New Vishwanath temple. It is within the Banaras Hindu University campus. The temple structure was built b y the educationist and freedom fighter, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya in the early 1900s. He was the founder Banaras Hindu University.

 

History of Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

According to history, the founder of the Sankat Mochan Temple was Tulsidas, the writer of Tulsi Ramayana, the Hindi version of Valmiki`s Ramayana. It is said that the temple of Sankan Mochan was built in the place where Tulsidas had a vision of Hanuman. Lord Hanuman, follower of Lord Rama is worshipped here. Vedic astrology states that only Hanuman saves man from the anger of the planet Saturn or Shani. Those people who have ill placed Saturn in their horoscopes need to visit the temple to get rid of it. According to some astrologers, Hanuman not only saves one from the anger of the planet Saturn but also neutralizes the ill effect of the planet Mars. It generally curtails the ill effect of any other planet in someone`s life.

Temple of Sankat Mochan

The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple dates back to the ancient times. In the early phase of its establishment, it was a very small temple. In due course of time, the Mahants collected and donated funds to upgrade the structure. Presently it is a fairly big temple. It is regarded that regular worship of Lord Hanuman at this temple, brings good luck to the devotee. People visit this temple in large numbers on Tuesdays and Saturdays to pay their homage to the Lord Hanuman. Devotees in huge numbers flock the temple come here to seek the blessings of the Lord. People apply "Sindoor" (vermilion) on the statue of Lord Hanuman and offer "Laddoos" in the offering. Devotees recite hymns of "Hanuman Chalisa ", "Kishkindha" and "Sundar Kand" as a due part of their prayers. The "Sindoor", from the statue of Lord Hanuman is put on the foreheads of devotees.

The festival of Hanuman Jayanti i.e. the birthday of Lord Hanuman is celebrated on a grand scale. During the festival a special shobha yatra is carried out. The procession takes place from Durga kund adjacent to the historic Durga temple to Sankat Mochan. The festival too, attracts plenty of visitors to Sankat Mochan Temple. The idol of the lord is adorned with marigold flower garland. In the temple the idol of Hanuman faces the image of Lord Rama, whom he worshiped with selfless devotion.

Every year the temple organizes a classic music and dance concert festival in the month of April. It is known as "Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh." The festival is participated by many famous musicians from different parts of India. The first festival was organized 88 years ago, and since then it was attract numerous stalwarts of Indian classical music and dance world.

Lord Hanuman

Hanuman tore his chest open, and everyone noticed with great surprise that Rama and Sita were literally present at his heart Lord Hanuman plays an important role in Ramayana, the Indian epic. In India Hanuman is described as the monkey God. He was a guardian spirit, the offspring of a nymph and the wind god. In Ramayana, Hanuman aided Lord Rama in rescuing his wife, Sita from the Rakshasa king Ravana. Hanuman was born in the Treta Yuga. His mother was Anjana, a female monkey and thus Hanuman is also called as `Anjaneya`. His others names are Bajrangbali and Sankatmochan.

There are several stories in regard to his birth. Anjana was an apsara named Punjikasthala, who was cursed to be born on earth as a female monkey. She could only be redeemed of her curse if she gave birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Anjana was doing a penance to lord Shiva to have a child. Shiva was pleased and gave her the boon that she would give birth to a son. Another story states that when Anjana was worshipping Lord Shiva, king Dasaratha, the ruler of Ayodhya was performing `Putrakama Yagna` nearby.
After the Yagna ended, Dasaratha received some sacred pudding, which was to be shared by his three wives, who later gave birth to Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. By divine regulation, a kite snatched the part of the pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in austerity. Vayu, the Hindu deity of wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. After the completion of the penance Anjana mate Vayu, who was charmed by her beauty. After knowing her destiny, Vayu made love with Anjana. As a result Hanuman was born. He is also called `Pavanputra` as the son of Pavan or Vayu or the wind-god.

Hanuman is also considered as the incarnation of Lord Shiva. It is said that when Ravana once tried to enter Shiva`s abode in Himalayas, Nandi stopped him and Ravana mocked him as monkey, Nandi cursed Ravana that he will meet his end due to Monkey.

Lord Hanuman with Lord Rama Hanuman wanted to have Sun God as his teacher. To do so Hanuman raised his body into an orbit around the Sun and requested Surya to accept him as a student. Surya refused first time saying that he had to move in his chariot all the time so Hanuman could not learn anything effectively. But Hanuman was determined in his mission and enlarged his body. He placed one leg on the eastern ranges and the other legs on the western ranges with his face turned towards the sun and made the request again. Surya was pleased by his persistence and granted his prayers.

Meeting of Hanuman with Rama is an important episode in the epic as from then on Hanuman was a great follower of Rama. At the latter part of the fourteen years exile, Rama and his brother Lakshmana were in search for Sita, who had been abducted by the Rakshasa emperor Ravana. They came near the mountain Rishyamukha where Sugriva and his followers along with Hanuman were hiding from his elder brother Bali, who had cast him out of the kingdom and kept his wife captive.

Sugriva sent Hanuman when he saw Rama and Lakshmana coming to ascertain their identities. Hanuman approached to them in the guise of a Brahmin and talked to them in such a way that Rama was very impressed. When Rama introduced himself, Hanuman revealed his own identity and fell prostrate before Rama`s feet. Rama embraced him warmly and then after Hanuman`s life was interwoven intimately with that of Rama. Hanuman introduced Rama with Sugriva and they committed for a friendship. He helped Sugriva to defeat Bali in battle and regain his kingdom. Sugriva with his monkey army assisted Rama to rescue Sita.

When time came for Rama to set his journey for heavenly abode, many of his followers including Sugriva wanted to follow him. But Hanuman requested to remain on earth as long as people would venerate the name of Rama. Sita granted his prayer. Thus Hanuman is one of the Chiranjeevis (immortals) in Hinduism. There is reference of Hanuman in Mahabharata, too.