Marghat Hanuman Temple, New Delhi

Address

Marghat Hanuman Temple , New Delhi

Kashmere Gate, New Delhi,

Delhi 110006.

Moolavar

Hanuman

Introduction

Marghat Hanuman temple is one of the famous temples of Delhi. It is also known as Jamna Bazaar Hanuman temple. Marghat Hanuman temple is located in Kashmiri Gate area of Delhi. The temple is near to Old delhi railway station. The temple is one of the oldest temples of Delhi. It is still not clear who built this temple but there exist many stories related to its creation.

This is a famous Lord Hanuman Temple in a dilapidated building on the main road behind Red Fort in New Delhi, on the way to Satara village. The appearance of the temple itself indicates that it must have been a very old temple. There are conflicting versions on the period of this temple. While some say that it is 100 to 200 years old few others claim it to be 1000 years old. However as per the researchers, from the appearance of the idol and the building, it could have been one of the five temples built by Pandavas during Mahabharata era.

Puranic Significance

It is believed that Marghat Hanuman temple is one of the five temples built by Pandavas during Mahabharat era. In this temple, the statue of Lord Hanuman is about 7-8 feet below the ground. Earlier this temple was located on the banks of the river Yamuna. With the passage of time, the water level of river Yamuna receded and the temple went away from the banks.

According to legend, Hanuman rested here for sometime while he was going to bring Sanjeevani for Lakshamana. There used to be a cemetery at this place at that time and the the river Yamuna used to pass from here. That why this temple is called ‘Marghat Temple’.

It is also believed that this temple has Swayam-bhu of Lord Hanuman which means that Hanuman himself had appeared here. It is also said that the whenever the water level of river Yamuna increases, then the water comes into this temple and the idol of Hanuman gets submerged in the water to shoulder level. There is a temple of Peepaleshwar Shani dev near to this temple which was built in 2002.

Since the temple was near the cemetery, it was called Markhatwala Baba temple, markhat meaning cemetery. According to a legend, Lord Hanuman rested here for sometime while he was going to bring Sanjeevani Mountain to wake up Lord Lakshman who fell unconscious during the war with Ravan. While returning back Lord Hanuman saw the river Yamuna overflowing and hence he wanted to take rest for a while on her bank. When he landed down, he saw that he had landed in a cemetery. The moment he landed there all the souls wandering there requested them to grant them salvation which he gave and freed them from sins. Hence he was called Lord Markhatwala Hanuman. Instantly Lord Hanuman had the darshan of Goddess Yamuna who pronounced that in future Lord Hanuman would be seated there in a temple to be built for him and she would visit him every year to see him.

Though the age of this temple remains unknown, it is said that the statue of the Lord was found inside river Yamuna which was flowing through this area once upon a time. In fact it was not a mere statue but the image of the Lord has been chiseled on a rock which is worshiped. It is stated that once upon a Time River Yamuna was flowing through this area and in course of time it itself relocated its flow by 10 kilometers away from this temple. On the space vacated by the river, several buildings have come up besides bridges connecting highways. When the river got relocated, this statue was found buried twenty feet below ground level and it was worshiped in the same open space for some time. Later someone has reportedly constructed the building to house the deity.

Beliefs

They believe has been that one’s demands would be fulfilled by worshiping Lord Hanuman in this temple. It is also believed that all sorts of doshas- ill effects due to evil eyes would get removed by visiting this temple. There is a large hall with no lighting arrangement in one corner of which is steps to go below the ground, where the statue of Lord Hanuman has been consecrated and worshiped.

Special Features

The Lord is considered to be the guardian and savior of the city. There is another legend on this temple. Whenever river Yamuna was in spate, the water enters into this temple submerging the statue up to the nose portion of Lord Hanuman. No matter how severe would be the water level of the river in spate, the water inside the temple had never gone up beyond the nose level of the Lord even as his body remained submerged. It is believed that the day when the water level inside the temple raise above the nose level of Lord Hanuman, the city would get destroyed. The pundits say that this information is found in some puranic texts, but they were unable to tell the exact name of the Puranic text where it is mentioned.

True to this belief it is stated that inspire of river Yamuna in spate which raised its level beyond the danger mark inundating the city on many occasions, the water level inside the temple had never gone above the nose level of the Lord. At the same time on normal days one would not find even a small wet spot inside the temple even on rainy days.

The general belief has been that in order to drive away evil spirits and ill effects arising out of sorcery and black magic, Lord Hanuman is worshiped and one would get relief from their effects. Such temples are found in Rajasthan.