Summary-
Discover Hanuman’s lesser-known presence in the Mahabharata, from his legendary encounter with Bhima to guarding Arjuna’s chariot in Kurukshetra. Explore 10 unique Hanuman temples across India, each with fascinating legends—like Bedi Hanuman of Puri, where he is tied in chains, Sakhi Hanuman of Jhansi, where Hanuman is dressed as a woman, and Ulta Hanuman of Indore, where the idol is upside down! This blog Hanuman’s eternal devotion, power, and significance across epics and sacred spaces.
Hanuman, the deity who is a devotee first, is synonymous with Bhakti- an affection towards one’s God that goes beyond what can be defined by “devotion”. The legends of his power and wisdom bring to life the episodes of Ramayana, making him one of the most prominent characters of the epic. But his presence in the other epic- Mahabharata- is often overlooked.
Always present in the images of the Kurukshetra, on the flag of Arjun’s chariot, Hanuman (one of the Chiranjeevi immortals) lived to see and participate in the famous war. His presence in Mahabharata is one of the threads that connect it with the Ramayana, stringing together two of the greatest texts of India.
In this blog, we start with stories of Hanuman in Mahabharata and will take a journey through the unique temples of Lord Hanuman, located all over India, marking his omnipresence in the traditions of the country.
One of the most interesting tales of Hanuman from the Mahabharata is his meeting with Bhima, the powerful Pandava. Hanuman and Bhima are both sons of Vayu (God of wind), which makes them brothers, adding another layer to this episode. One day, Bhima, ever-proud of his strength, was wandering the forest, searching for Saugandhika flowers as a gift for Draupadi.
On his quest, he stumbled upon an old monkey lying across his path, obstructing the journey of Bhima. Bhima was eager to finish his search, and in his impatience, he ordered the old monkey to clear his path. The monkey looked at him with amusement and smirked before asking Bhima to move his tail as he was too tired.
Bhima, with a mix of irritation and pride, attempted to lift the tail, but to his surprise, he was unable to move it an inch. Having tried every move, Bhima sat defeated. He realized that this was no old monkey. At that moment, Hanuman revealed his true form. Bhima bowed in front of the Lord and was blessed with Hanuman’s knowledge and strength. He also received a lesson in balancing power with patience and humility.
This story in the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata is a narrative of the bond of two brothers across two Yuga- Hanuman born in Treta Yuga and Bhima in Dwapara- and is a reminder to the audience to be aware of arrogance that comes with ability and the importance of keeping your own pride in check for truly succeeding in life.
Hanuman flying with his Gada (mace) on one shoulder and the mountain of Sanjeevani herb on the other, or Hanuman blowing the conch, are iconic images of the Lord linked to the Mahabharata war. When Arjun was worried about the battle, lost in his doubts, one of the things that Krishna told him to strengthen his resolve was the presence of Hanuman on the chariot.
Krishna as the charioteer and Hanuman as the guardian of the chariot were the divine shields that protected Arjun throughout the battle, actively defending him from attacks. When the battle became intense, the simple presence of Hanuman, who roared sitting on the top of the chariot, terrorized the enemy, always singlalling to them that Arjun was under the protection of Mahabali- the supreme warrior.
A popular legend related to the Kurkshetra war tells that at the end of the war, Krishna and Hanuman got down from Arjun’s chariot, and it immediately burst into flames. Such was the protection of Narayana and his devotee, Hanuman, that by merely being present, they kept all harm and obstacles at bay.
Hanuman is the devotee, Rama is the Lord, and yet, India has more temples of the devotee, underlining that this is a land of Bhakti, where devotion is worshipped before the devoted. Every village and city has its own Hanuman mandir, each representing eternal traditions of reverence, but there are certain Hanuman temples that are popular worldwide for the distinct deity icon they house, the stories related to the temple, and the powers of Hanuman that attract devotees from across the globe. Here are 11 such temples of Lord Hanuman whose stories represent India’s affection towards the powerful yet gentle god-
Puri is Jagannath’s home, an aspect of Vishnu. And where there is Hari, there is his Hanuman. In the sacred region, Hanuman resides as the guardian in eight forms in temples collectively called the Ashta Hanuman Mandir. Located in different spots in Puri, these forms of Hanuman are believed to protect the land from seen and unseen occurrences.
These temples are Siddha Mahavir, Daria or Bedi Mahavir, Kanapata Mahavir, Vargi Mahavir, Masani Mahavir, Pancha Mukhi Mahavir, and Phate Mahavir.
1.) The Siddha Hanuman temple is where the author of Ramcharitmanas, Tulsidas, visited and remained for some time.
2.) Daria Mahavir or Bedi Mahavir temple has a gigantic Hanuman statue in an animated stance. This form of Hanuman protects the people from the disasters caused by the sea or Daria. Additionally, a legend of the temple tells that Hanuman was given the task of protecting the region, but he left his post for some time. Worrying about the protection of his devotees, Lord Jagannath tied him with Bedi or chains, which is why he is called Bedi Mahavir.
3.) Kanapata Mahavir is another popular temple whose legend is connected to Lord Jagannath Mandir. Lord Jaganath visited his wife Devi Lakshmi during nighttime, as per the traditions (according to which Mahalakshmi does not visit the Lord). Whenever they met, the entire world was wrapped in silence, except for the noise of the ocean or Saagar, who is the father of Lakshmi and, hence, the father-in-law of Jaganath.
Unable to say anything to the ocean, the Lord casually jokes about the sounds to Lakshmi, who was hurt by the complaint. Realizing that his words had hurt the goddess, Jaganatha apologized and asked Hanuman to keep an ear (Kan) toward the ocean, ensuring that it did not make any sound. Till date, Kanapata Hanuman stands at the spot from where the nosies of the nearby ocean waves can not be heard!
4.) Vargi Mahavir temple is located in Puri and is believed to be over 1000 years old. This temple stopped the Vargi clan, a group from Maharashtra known for raiding towns, from entering the region. When the Vargis saw Hanuman, their tutelary god or Ishta, guarding the town, they stopped, and the town was saved.
5.) The Masani Mahavir temple is a locally popular shrine of Hanuman, with a 2-foot large statue of the god. The temple dates back to 17-18th centuries and is an undiscovered heritage in need of protection and conservation.
6.) Panchamukhi Hanuman (five-headed) is a powerful aspect that resides in the Pancha Mukhi Mahavir temple. Connected to the Jaganath temple, Hanuman, established by the Ramananda sect, in this shrine is the protector of the sacred Puri region.
7.) Phate Mahavir (Fateh- victory) temple is also a shrine located near the Jaganatha temple, visited by devotees who come to the Sri-kshetra.
Sakhi Ke Hanuman (Sakhi- female friend) is a rare temple of the Lord in which Hanuman appears wearing a woman’s attire- lehenga and chunri, while holding Gada (mace) in both his hands. The form is called Charushila, a lesser-known aspect in which Hanuman accompanied Maa Sita as her Sakhi (companion) when she was visiting the Girija Vatika. This temple is especially revered among couples who seek the boon of a child and get their wishes fulfilled by darshana of Hanuman’s awe-inspring Sakhi roopa.
Vrindavan, the home of Krishna and his Lilas, has a 3000-year-old temple of Lord Hanuman. Lutera in Hindi means thief. Locals believe that Hanuman resides in this temple as the Kotwaal, or the guard of Vrindavan, and protects them from thieves and other crimes, which were threatening the peace of the region for a very long time. Luteria Hanuman Ji was found by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu during his visit to Vrindavan, and since then, devotees worship Hanuman, who like a thief, takes away all the worries and troubles from their lives.
The Girjabandh Hanuman Temple in Ratanpur houses the Lord as a woman, adorned beautifully with traditional jewelry and gold-laced garments. According to temple legends, the local king, Devaju, who was suffering from leprosy, saw Hanuman in his dream who ordered him to bring his idol out of the Mahamaya Kunda.
When the idol was taken out, the king was shocked to see that Hanuman appeared as a woman! Keeping his word, the king established the murti in the shrine, where devotees affectionately offer him Sindoor, ornaments, and garments, seeking his protection.
In Sanwer village (near Indore, Madhya Pradesh), Ulta Hanuman Temple is a distinct shrine of the Lord, where he appears in an “inverted” or ulta pose, standing on his head! The temple is also called “Paatal Vijaya Hanuman”- marking his victory or vijaya over Paatal, where he visited to bring Ram and Lakshman back. It is believed that Hanuman entered the Paatal Loka in Sanwer, thus his inverted position. Devotees over chunri and sindoor to Hanuman, revering his commitment to go to any lengths (and depths), for protecting his loved ones.
A popular and sacred shrine dedicated to Hanuman, Jakhu Temple is located in Shimla, surrounded by beautiful hills and housing thousands of monkeys who are respected as forms and companions of Hanuman. According to the temple legend, it is located on the spot where Hanuman took a pause on these hilltops when he was going on his search for the Sanjeevani Booti (herb).
The idol of Hanuman in this temple is believed to be Swayambhu roopa, not carved but self-revealed, making the temple a sacred spot for his devotees. The 1500-year-old temple is a national heritage under the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act and revered among devotees as a place visited by Sri Rama during his Vanvaas.
Mehendipur Balaji, or simply Balaji (the childhood form of Hanuman), is a popular temple of the lord, believed to remove spirits and negative energies from the lives of those who visit the shrine. The healing powers of Balaji attract devotees from all over the world, who worship Balaji as the last resort to cure them from ailments- both physical and mental.
Another famed temple of Hanuman in Rajasthan, Salasar Hanuman Mandir, has a unique idol, Hanuman ji with moustache and beard, an appearance typical for the men of Rajaputana, highlighting the Lord’s presence and connection with the local traditions. The temple legends tell the story of a Jat who found the idol of Balaji (Hanuman) while working on his land.
His wife lovingly prepared the churma (a local sweet dish) for Hanuman, who was pleased by the offering. Since then, Salasar Hanuman ji has been regularly treated with this regional sweet, and devotees in huge numbers gather year round, but especially during the annual fairs, which celebrate the devotion and culture of Rajasthan.
Situated on the banks of the Shimsha River in Maddur, Karnataka, the Hole Anjaneya Swamy Temple is an ancient shrine of Hanuman, constructed during the Vijayanagar Empire. The idol of a Hanuman has a profound iconography- his hand raised, showing two fingers, which represents the Dvaita or philosophy of dualism.
The form is also known as “Avathaarathraya Hanuman,”- representing the three avatars Hanuman, Bheema, and Madhavacharya. Hanuman’s tail is a characteristic of the god himself, a Saugandhika flower in his hand represents Bhima, who is associated with the flower in Mahabharata, and the knot of hair represents Madhavacharya, a philosophy centric to the teachings of Madhava’s Dvaita Vedanta.
Hanuman Jayanti or Hanuman Janmotsav is the celebration of Bhagwan Hanuman’s birthday, or the day on which he descended on the earth.
12 April 2025 (Chaitra Poornima) and 25 December 2025 (Margashirsha Amavasya) are the two Hanuman Jayanti festivals in the year 2025.
Two Hanuman Jayanti celebrations happen due to the different dates of the festival in north and south India. While most of north India celebrates Hanuman Jayanti during Chaitra month (March- April), south Indian states such as Karnataka and Kerala observe Hanuman Jayanti during Marashirsha (November- December).
The Ramayana establishes Hanuman as a great learner, warrior, and supreme Bhakta of Rama. Mahabharata highlights his role as Chiranjeevi and an eternal follower of Vishnu, accompanying him throughout his avatars whenever needed. The belief that Hanuman is omnipresent and active during Kaliyuga is strengthened by his presence across Indian epics.
But beyond the texts, his powers and presence are best felt in the millions of temples located all over India. These shrines, big and small, are the most visible symbol of people’s belief that no matter what the obstacle maybe, it is nothing in front of Anjaniputra Hanuman.
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