Description
In the epic Ramayana, we learn about the greatest devotee ever i.e. Lord Hanuman. He was the one who play the most pivotal role in the freeing of Goddess Sita. Thus Lord Hanuman is known for his devotion, dedication, obedience and exemplary strength. He is one who is believed to be the problem solver and one of the most worshipped deities in India. One such temple of Lord Hanuman is located in Patna, Bihar. This temple is said to be the second most visited temple of North India. Millions and millions of pilgrims visit this temple every year. As Lord Hanuman is considered to take away the evil and sorrows from one's life, the belief for this deity in the hearts of the pilgrims is everlasting.
History
This temple is so ancient that its exact origin is yet unknown, but it has gained more popularity since 1947 when a number of refugees came here after the partition and in 1948 this temple was declared as public temple. Consequently it was reconstructed into a monumental marble temple. The statue of the deity which is known as Sankatmochan stands in it.The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Hanuman but there are some other cherished deities here like- Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.There is also a stone from the floating Ram setu which is placed in a glass container of which the volume is approximately 13000mm, while the weight is around 15kgs. Exactly opposite this is a temple of Shani Maharaj which is built in the form of a cave like structure. This is another place of worship for the devotees.
Importance/Significance
Devotees come here to wipe out their sorrows, difficulties and obstacles by receiving the blessings of these deities. This temple is mostly very crowded and there are very lengthy queues on Saturday and Tuesdays as these are considered to be important days for worshipping the deities. Also another important celebration that takes place annually in this temple is that of Ram Navami. It is said there are queues which extend upto a few kilometers on this day. Festivals like Hanuman Jayanti, Janaki Navami Durga Puja etc are also celebrated with great enthusiasm.A unique thing about this temple is that it performs pujas, vedic and pauranic rituals like the Sindoor Shringar, Akhand Jyoti etc for all aspirants irrespective of caste, creed and sex. Rather this temple also offers the facility that even if a person cannot be physically present the spiritual offerings are performed on behalf of him. This temple also has a Mahavir Cancer Institute and a Research Centre and numerous other hospitals and orphanages in and around Bihar for helping people.We often worship temples not understanding the legends that are relevant to the establishments or to deities. It is hence crucially important to educate ourselves with the significance of these temples to make our visits more meaningful. Thus after learning about the significance of the Sri Mahavir Hanuman Temple in Patna, Bihar it will certainly be a delight to visit this place.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings