Hanuman temple, Salangpur

Shree Kashtabhanjandev Hanuman Temple, Sarangpur
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Deity	Hanuman in the form of Kashtabhanjan, Swaminarayan
Location
Location	Sarangpur, Gujarat
Country	India
Geographic coordinates	22°09′31.8″N71°46′15.57″E / 22.158833°N 71.7709917°E / 22.158833; 71.7709917
Architecture
Founder	Gopalanand Swami
Website
https://www.salangpurhanumanji.org/

The Shree Kashtabhanjan Dev Hanumanji Temple, Sarangpur is a Hindu temple located in Sarangpur, Gujarat and is part of the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. This temple is among the most prominent sites of worship for Hanuman devotees, honoring him in the powerful form of Kashtabhanjan Dev, meaning the "Crusher of Sorrows." ^{[1] [2]}

History and description

The temple complex before renovation

The idol of Shree Kashtabhanjandev was installed by Gopalanand Swami (a prominent paramhansa of Swaminarayan). Gopalanand Swami touched the murti with a rod and the murti came alive and moved. This story has become a charter for the healing ritual performed at this temple. ^[1] The idol of Hanuman here is a stout figure with a handlebar moustache, with Shani Dev in his feminine form under his foot and baring his teeth, standing among sculpted foliage full of fruit bearing monkey attendants. ^[2] The overall temple renovations were done many times by the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. In 1899, Kothari Gordhandas of Vadtal appointed Shastriji Maharaj (Shastri Yagnapurushdas), the founder of BAPS, to oversee the temple’s affairs. During his tenure, Shastriji Maharaj renovated the temple, constructed the adjacent bungalow, and acquired additional land to expand the complex, contributing significantly to its present form. ^[3] Govardhandas then appointed a new mahant of the temple of Sarangpur. Since, then the Vadtal Gadi has constructed additional improvements and buildings to the temple. Hariprakash Swami is an incumbent trustee. Adjacent to the main temple is a dedicated mandir honoring Swaminarayan, which houses numerous sacred relics associated with his life and teachings. This mandir serves as a place of reverence and reflection for devotees, offering a unique glimpse into Swaminarayan’s legacy through carefully preserved items that are integral to the faith's history.

54-feet tall statue of Hanuman

On 6 April 2023, then Indian home minister Amit Shah unveiled 54-feet tall statue made out of metals which weighs 30,000 kg. The statue, visible from 7 km away, was crafted at the cost of ₹11 crore (₹110 million). ^[4]

Rituals

Entrance gate of temple

The image of this temple is said to be so powerful that a mere look at it will drive the evil spirits out of the people affected by them. ^[5] Saturday is the designated day for a special ritual for those affected by mental illnesses and other disorders. The temple administration has hired a brahmin householder for puja and vidhi at the temple and conduct this ritual. After this, the person affected is instructed to circumambulate the shrine and repeat this after doing darshan a number of times. ^[1]

References

1. Raymond Brady Williams (2001). An introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism . Cambridge University Press. pp.  128, 96. ISBN   9780521652797 . Retrieved May 14, 2009. hanuman sarangpur.
2. Philip Lutgendorf (2007). Hanuman's tale. Oxford University Press US. p. 248. ISBN   978-0-19-804220-4 . Retrieved May 14, 2009.
3. Dave, Kishore (2009). Shastriji Maharaj. Ahmedabad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. p. 44. ISBN   978-81-7526-129-7.
4. "Hanuman Jayanti: 11 करोड़ का खर्चा, 54 फीट ऊंची बजरंगबली की प्रतिमा, 7 किमी दूर से हो सकेंगे दर्शन".
5. Rajaram Narayan Saletore (1981). Indian witchcraft. Abhinav Publications. p. 40. ISBN   9780391024809 . Retrieved May 14, 2009.