Bhanwarrathore at 08:33, 16 September 2024

2024-09-16T08:33:11Z

>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link; reformat 1 link. Wayback Medic 2.5

2021-04-21T20:17:25Z

Rescued 1 archive link; reformat 1 link. Wayback Medic 2.5

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Hanuman Temple
| image = Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India New Delhi
| map_caption = Location in Delhi
| coordinates = {{coord|28|37|48|N|77|12|54|E|type:landmark_region:IN_scale:100|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes= <ref>http://wikimapia.org/9910709/</ref>

| country = [[India]]
| state =
| district =
| location = [[New Delhi]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Bala (child) [[Hanuman]]
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Hindu architecture|Hindu temple architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 1724
| creator = [[Maharaja]]s – [[Mansingh]] and [[Jai Singh II of Amber]]
| website =
}}
'''Hanuman Temple''' in [[Connaught Place, New Delhi]], [[India]], is an ancient [[Hindu temple]] and is claimed to be one of the five temples of [[Mahabharata]] days in [[Delhi]]. The other four temples are the [[Kalkaji]], a [[Kali]] temple in [[South Delhi]] containing [[Swayambu]] ([[Sanskrit]]: "self manifest") rock Idol, the [[Yogmaya Temple]] near [[Qutub Minar]], the Bhairav temple near the [[Purana Qila]] and the [[Nili Chatri]] Mahadev ([[Shiva]] temple) at [[Nigambodh Ghat]] outside the walls of [[Old Delhi]].<ref name=Lugen>{{Cite book|author= Philip Lutgendorf|title= Hanuman's tale| access-date=2009-05-07|work=A Tale of two Temples | page= 253|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fVFC2Nx-LP8C&pg=PA253&dq=yogmaya+temple&ei=0skDSuHQKovUkwTd4PyqBA|publisher= by Oxford University Press US|year=2007|isbn=0-19-530921-9 |id={{ISBN|9780195309218}}}}</ref><ref name=Arch>{{Cite book|title= Delhi and its Neighbourhood|author=Y.D.Sharma|work=Hanuman Mandir|page=99|access-date=2009-04-24|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|location=New Delhi|orig-year=1964|year=1974|url={{google books|8tABAAAAMAAJ|page=99|plainurl=y}}|quote=Situated on the Baba Khark Singh Marg Road (old Irwin Road) about 250 m south-west of Connaught Place is of little architectural importance. The residents of Delhi are, however, particularly devoted to it. The original temple appears to have been constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh about the same time as the Jantar Mantar, but has undergone large scale renewals since then.}}</ref><ref name=Lucy>{{Cite book|title= Delhi - A thousand years of Building|access-date= 2009-05-27|author=Lucy Peck|work= Pre-existing buildings | page =263 |publisher=Roli Books Pvt Ltd.|location=New Delhi|year=2005|isbn=81-7436-354-8|url={{google books|t-1PAAAAMAAJ|plainurl=y}}|quote=Hanuman Temple: This was rebuilt by Mansingh of Amber and has now been rebuilt in the 20th Century so the building is not historic, although the site is supposed to be of great ancient antiquity. It is always thronging with devotees}}</ref>

The temple, which has a self manifest idol of [[Hanuman]], has an unusual feature fixed in the spire (Shikhara) in the form of a [[Hilal (crescent moon)|crescent moon]] (an [[Islamic symbol]]) instead of the Hindu symbol of [[Om|Aum]] or Sun that is commonly seen in most Hindu temples. This became particularly important during the [[Mughal period]] corroborating this extraordinary depiction.<ref name=Lugen/>

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.<ref name=Lugen/>

==History==
[[File:Hanuman temple spire of crescent moon.JPG|right|thumb|Crescent Moon on the spire of the temple]]
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. Pandavas ruled from Indraprastha and [[Kauravas]] from [[Hastinapur]] (two collateral families) as per a brokered partition of the [[Kuru (kingdom)|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|Maa Sita Ji]] 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.<ref name=Lugen/><ref name=smith>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/11/28/stories/2005112800710200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104082458/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/11/28/stories/2005112800710200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-04|title=More than just a tailpiece!|access-date=2009-05-27|author=R.V.Smith|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2005-11-28}}</ref>

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|crescent Moon]] [[finial]] which adorns the temple [[spire]].<ref name=Lugen/> 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.<ref name=Lugen/>

Reportedly, it was built originally by [[Maharaja]] [[Mansingh|Man Singh I of Amber]] (1540–1614) during Emperor [[Akbar]]’s (1542-1605) reign. It was reconstructed by Maharaja [[Jai Singh II of Amber|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]].<ref name=Lugen/><ref name=Arch/><ref name=Lucy/><ref name=smith/>

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 1 August 1964. It is claimed that this continuous chanting has been recorded in the [[Guinness Book of World Records]].<ref name="sankat"/>

==Temple features==
[[File:Hanuman and other deities in the Sanctum Santorum.JPG|thumb|left|Sanctum wall with Hanuman and other deities facing south]]

Entry to the temple is through the [[Baba Kharak Singh]] Marg (Road). The approach is through a set of marble steps from the road level leading into 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]] [[window]]s 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 [[bas-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.<ref name=Lugen/>

[[File:Idol of Baby Hanuman facing south in Connaught Place temple.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Main Idol of Bala Hanuman]]
As the idol of Hanuman faces the southern direction, devotees can discern only one eye of the idol. The idol depicts a Gada ([[Gada (mace)|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.<ref name=delhi>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hanuman-chalisa.info/hanuman-temple-at-connaught-place/|title=Hanuman Temple – Connaught Place}}</ref> A tapering [[Crown (headgear)|crown]] adorns the idol, which has a sacred thread on the right shoulder and is clad in a fashioned dhoti.<ref name=Lugen/><ref name=Lucy/> The height of the temple is reported to be {{convert|108|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}.<ref name=Obama>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/obama-to-get-hanuman-idol-from-india-for-luck_10063720.html|title=Obama to get Hanuman idol from India for luck|access-date=2009-05-19|publisher=Thaiindian News|date=2008-06-24}}</ref> The ceiling of the main [[mandap]] (hall or pavilion) depicts the epic story of Ramayana artistically painted. In recent years, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has enhanced the religious character of the temple precincts by incorporating within the main complex a shrine to [[Shiva]], [[Parvati]] and their children, of the same size as the adjoining main sanctum, another enclosure housing idols of [[Durga]], [[Lakshmi Narayan]] and [[Ganesha]] and on the south in an annex the idol of goddess [[Santoshi Mata]] (the wish fulfilling goddess). 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.<ref name=Lugen/><ref name =delhi/>

==Visitor information==
The temple is situated on the Baba Kharak Singh Road (old Irwin Road) about {{convert|250|m|ft|abbr=on|1}} southwest of Connaught place in [[Central Delhi]], which is the commercial hub of Delhi.<ref name=Arch/><ref name=sankat>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lotussuites.com/travel-india/travel-newdelhi/bala_hanuman_temple.htm|title=Hanuman temple|access-date=2009-05-19}}</ref> Tuesday and Saturday are special days of worship when devotees congregate at the temple in large numbers. [[Hanuman Jayanti]] (birthday celebrations of lord Hanuman) is held every year with great fanfare on the full moon ([[Full Moon|Purnima]]) day in the month of [[Chaitra]] (March – April) as per established lunar Hindu [[Panchangam]] or [[Hindu calendar]]. Colourful processions with festoons and with devotees wearing Hanuman masks and tails and carrying large idols of Hanuman fill the streets.<ref name=sankat/> Commercial establishments within the temple complex sell religious offerings and bangles made of lac and plastic. It is also a popular place for women for [[Mehndi]] (temporary henna tattoos).

This temple is well connected by road as well as Delhi Metro. Shivaji stadium is the nearest bus stand and also has [[Delhi Airport Metro Express|Airport Express Metro Line]] nearby and Rajeev Chowk is the nearest metro station.
<ref name=sankat/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/03/hanuman-jayanthi-2009.html|title= Hanuman Jayanthi 2009|access-date=2009-05-19}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Entry steps with massive silver doors to the Hanuman Temple.JPG|Entry steps with massive silver doors to the Hanuman temple at Connaught Place
File:Crescent on Spire of Hanuman Temple, Connaught Place.JPG|The spire with Crescent Moon
File:Main shrine of Hanuman, Connaught Place.JPG|Hanuman Mandir main Gopuram
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage-listing|Delhi/New Delhi}}
*[http://in.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=85310 Obama gets Hanuman's blessing Video Reuters.com]

{{Delhi|state=collapsed}}
{{Hindu temples in Delhi}}

[[Category:Hanuman temples]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Delhi]]
[[Category:1724 establishments in India]]

Hanuman Temple, Connaught Place - Revision history

Bhanwarrathore at 08:33, 16 September 2024

>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link; reformat 1 link. Wayback Medic 2.5