Hanuman Temple

Hanuman Temple, one of the oldest Hanuman Temple in India, is situated at Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Place, New Delhi. It is an ancient Hindu temple and is claimed to be one of the five temples of Mahabharata days in Delhi. According to Hindu beliefs, Pandavas built five temples including this Hanuman Temple after they won the Kurukshetra war against the Kauravs. The original temple appears to have been constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh about the same times as the Jantar -Mantar, but has undergone large scale renewals since then.

The deity of Hanuman of this temple is very unique and is a swayambhuhu (self-manifested). The face of the main idol of the Bhagawan Hanuman is seen as Bala Hanuman, facing the south. Bhagawan Bala Hanuman carries the Gadha in his left hand and his right hand rests over his chest as in prayer.  The height of the temple is reported to be 108 feet (32.9 m).

The centuries old temple’s main entrance gate known, as Dwar adores embossed artwork done by the skilled craftsmen is a testimony of the devotion. The complete epic of Ramayana as seen by Swami Tulsidas had been painted in the roof of main mantap. These paintings add to the beauty of the temple and are a feast to the eyes. Just below the paintings the entire verses of Sundarakant of Swami Tulsidas’s Ramachritha manas has been engraved in marble stabs.

The entire temple complex had been redone and developed by the New Delhi Municipal Council with great care and serves as hub for the religious activity. The complex is also famous for the ‘mehandi’ work done on the hands of ladies. Designs are drawn on the palms of ladies using mehandi paste.

2) History and Significance

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 Moon finial which adorns the temple spire. 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.

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 August 1, 1964. It is claimed that this continuous chanting has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.

3) Temple Festivals

Hanuman Jayanti (birthday celebrations of lord Hanuman) is held every year with great fanfare on the 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.

4) Temple Pooja Daily Schedule

Puja Timings: 5.00 am to 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm to 11.00 pm (Tuesday and Saturday Full Day Open) Tuesday and Saturday are special days of worship when devotees congregate at the temple in large numbers.

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