Salangpur Hanuman Temple, Gujarat

Address

P.O.Salangpur Hanuman Tal: Barwala, Dist, Sarangpur, Gujarat 382450

Moolavar

Kashtabhanjan Dev (Hanuman)

Introduction

The Hanuman temple, Sarangpur is located in Sarangpur, Gujarat and is part of the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. It is one of the most prominent temples of Hanuman in the form of Kashtabhanjan Dev who was the Rudra avatar of Shiv and took avatar in Treta Yug for helping God Ram. It is dedicated to Hanuman in the form of Kashtabhanjan (crusher of sorrows)

Puranic Significance

This temple is among the more prominent ones in the Sanatan dharma. The idol of Hanuman was installed by Gopalanand Swami (one of the primary disciple of Swaminarayan). According to author Raymond Williams, it is reported that when Gopalanand Swami installed the idol of Hanuman, he touched it with a rod and the idol came alive and moved. This story has become a charter for the healing ritual performed at this temple. The idol of Hanuman here is a stout figure with a handlebar moustache, with Shani Dev in his feminine form under his foot and baring his teeth, standing among sculpted foliage full of fruit bearing monkey attendants. The overall temple renovations were done many times by Hindu societies and organizations, later were considered under Swaminarayan Sampraday. In 1899, Kothari Gordhandas of Vadtal appointed Gopalanand Swami to manage the affairs of the temple; during his tenure, Shastri Yagnapurushdas renovated the site, built the adjacent bungalow, and acquired more land for the complex to bring it to its current state. Govardhandas then appointed a new mahant of the temple of Sarangpur. Since, then the Vadtal Gadi has constructed additional improvements and buildings to the temple. Hariprakash Swami is an incumbent trustee. The temple is said to be more than 1000 years old.

Special Features

The image of this temple is said to be so powerful that a mere look at it will drive the evil spirits out of the people affected by them. Saturday is the designated day for a special ritual for those affected by mental illnesses and other disorders. The temple administration has hired a brahmin householder for puja and vidhi at the temple and conduct this ritual. After this, the person affected is instructed to circumambulate the shrine and repeat this after doing darshan a number of times.