INTRODUCTION
The Lord Hanuman is honored at Sankat Mochan Temple. Because there are so many monkeys inside the premises, this shrine is also known as the Monkey Temple. It is one of Lord Hanuman’s sacred temples, as well as the focal point for Hindus’ many religious and cultural events. It’s at Varanasi’s southern outskirts, on the road to the Durga Mandir and New Vishwanath temple BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Sankat Mochan’s meaning is “relief from all worries” (Sankat means problem and Mochan means relief giver). In the early 1900s, educationist and independence warrior Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya (the founder of the BHU) built Sankat Mochan Temple. Every year on Hanuman Jayanti (Lord Hanuman’s birthday), a unique Shobha Yatra (parade) is organized from Durga temple (Durga Kund) to Sankat Mochan Temple.
Prasad and Sindoor are placed on the Lord Hanuman statue, which is sold on the temple grounds, by devotees. They also use the flower garland to decorate Lord Hanuman’s idol. The Sankat Mochan temple is distinguished by the presence of Lord Hanuman’s idol in front of his Lord Rama (to whom he is always dedicated unselfishly).
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE
The temple is said to have been constructed after Goswami Tulsidas had a vision of Hanuman. The shrine was founded by Goswami Tulsidas, a famous saint (the author of the Ramacharitamanas). The Ramcharitamanas is the Hindi translation of the Hindu epic Ramayana, written by the Valmiki. The Sankat Mochan Foundation was founded in 1982 by Veer Bhadra Mishra (the temple’s head priest). Veer Bhadra Mishra worked to clean and maintain the sacred Gange River. The US and Swedish governments jointly funded this initiative. Veer Bhadra Mishra was the past head of the IIT, BHU, Varanasi’s Department of Civil Engineering. The 7th of March 2006 left a very terrible effect on Lord Hanuman’s worshippers. One of the three explosions that day occurred there, and it struck the temple. That explosion cost us a lot of money. That incident occurred during the aarti and impacted a large number of worshippers and wedding guests. The most crucial thing to remember is that on the day after the explosion, the temple was packed with worshippers.
Millions of followers think that performing pooja at this ancient temple (Sankat Mochan Temple) will grant their wishes as well as provide relief from all Sankat diseases. In their daily lives, they will discover the path to advancement, success, and prosperity. Tuesday and Saturday are the greatest days of the week to do pooja to Lord Hanuman. Every Tuesday and Saturday, thousands of devotees flock to the temple to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman and chant the Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand. Lord Hanuman, according to Vedic Astrology, saves his people from the Shani Grah (planet Saturn), which indicates the development of a variety of problems. The most efficient approach to pleasing Shani is to worship Lord Hanuman. Worshiping Lord Hanuman is also thought to counterbalance the opposite influence of the Mangal Grah (Mars), as well as any other planet, according to astrology.
Every year in April, the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh (a celebration of classical music and dance) takes place. Great musicians and performers from all across India gather to participate in this festivity. This festival was held for the first time 88 years ago. At the temple, this ceremony draws a large crowd. Pandit Jasraj, a vocalist, and Pandit Birju Maharaj, a Kathak model, attended the ceremony in 2009.
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
Sankat Mochan Temple’s architecture is highly appealing. On one side of the temple, there are statues of God Ram and Goddess Sita, and on the other, there are statues of Lord Lakshman and the Vanar army worshipping Lord Shiv. Lord Hanuman is worshipped in an elliptical-shaped adoration gallery at Sankat Mochan Temple, which seats roughly 250 worshipers. Lord Hanuman’s statue may be seen from all sides of the gallery, as well as from outside the hall. Sankat Mochan Temple’s architectural emblem is its cleanliness, which adds to its attractiveness. Sankat Mochan Temple, like other committed citizens, has performed every activity that can help to keep the environment clean. Even the flowers offered on behalf of the god are placed in specially constructed pits to be converted into fertilizer. Sankat Mochan Temple’s architecture is a combination of traditional and modern elements.
HOW TO REACH?
You can hire a car or take an auto rickshaw to go to the temple. Sankat Mochan Temple is about 11 kilometres from Varanasi’s train station, 3 kilometres from BHU, and the same distance from the highway bus stop. You may easily access the temple from anywhere in Varanasi because there is an excellent auto rickshaw service available at every place. Simply ask the driver for directions and he will properly direct you.
From the railway station or the bus stop on the highways –
You can take an auto rickshaw directly to Sankat Mochan from the Banaras railway station or the roads bus terminus for Rs 15 and 45 minutes.
The Temple’s Opening Hours
The Sankat Mochan Temple is open every day from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Aarti Timings
Aarti begins at 4 a.m. (Subah Aarti) and ends at 9 p.m. (Sandhya Aarti).