Puri Bedi Hanuman Temple- Odisha

Address

Puri Bedi Hanuman Temple- Chakra Tirtha Rd, Puri, Odisha 752002

Diety

Bedi Hanuman

Introduction

Bedi Hanuman Temple in Puri, Odisha, India. The Bedi Hanuman Temple, also known as Daria Hanuman Temple, is dedicated to Lord Anjaneya (Hanuman). It is considered one of the Ashta Mahavira Temples of Puri.The temple is situated in Puri, a famous pilgrimage town in the state of Odisha. It is located on the left side of the Chakra Tirtha road leading from Subash Bose Chowk to Penthakota.The temple is approximately 1.5 kilometers from Puri Railway Station, 3 kilometers from Puri Bus Stand, and 4 kilometers from the Puri Jagannatha Temple.

Puranic Significance

The temple was built in the 15th century CE by the Suryavamsi Gajapati Kings.
According to legend, Lord Jagannatha assigned Lord Hanuman the duty of protecting Puri Dham from his father-in-law, the Ocean, who was frequently intruding into Puri to meet his daughter, Lakshmi. This intrusion caused suffering to the people of Puri.
Lord Hanuman initially left his post to visit Ayodhya without informing Lord Jagannatha. During his absence, the ocean entered Puri, causing hardship to the residents.
When Lord Hanuman returned from Ayodhya, Lord Jagannatha bound him with a rope or “Bedi” and ordered him never to leave the place again. Thus, Lord Hanuman came to be known as Bedi Hanuman.
Lord Hanuman is also called Daria Hanuman because the temple is situated very close to the ocean.

Worship and Offerings:

Lord Hanuman is offered special Laddus as part of the daily worship.
The temple’s location close to the ocean emphasizes Hanuman’s role in protecting Puri from the intrusion of ocean waves.

Special Features

Architecture:

The temple faces east and features a pidha vimana (main tower) and a modern rectangular Jagamohana (assembly hall) of Kalingan order.
The vimana is square in plan, and the temple is Panchangabada in elevation.
The presiding deity is called Bedi Hanuman or Daria Hanuman, a two-armed Hanuman holding a Laddu in his left hand and a gada (mace) in his right hand.
The western raha (central niche) houses the images of Anjana holding a baby in her lap, and the deity is seated in Lalitasana over a lotus pedestal.
The deity is crowned with a karandamukuta (a type of crown).
The northern niche houses female divinities over a decorated pedestal, and the southern niche houses the image of Ganesha.