Mehandipur Balaji Temple

The Mehandipur Balaji Mandir (Hindi/Rajastani: मेहंदीपुर बालाजी मंदिर) located in the Indian state of Rajasthan is a mandir dedicated to the Hindu God Hanuman. The name Balaji is applied to Sri Hanuman^[1] in several parts of India because the childhood (Bala in Hindi or Sanskrit) form of the Lord is especially celebrated in those parts. Adherents believe that the deity in the Mehandipur temple has divine powers to cure any person possessed by evil spirits. It is also believed that Shri Bala Ji Maharaj saves His devotees from unfavorable grahadashas (planetary configurations).

History

According to legend, the present-day forms of the "Divine Trinity" found in the Mehandipur Dham appeared around 1,000 years ago in a valley amidst the hills of the Aravali Range. Shri Ganesh Puri ji Maharaj, who was the 11th mahant of this pilgrimage center used to say that this area was covered by a thick and dense forest, full of wild animals, once upon a time. One of the ancestors of Shri Mahantji had dreams in which Sri Balaji Maharaj had indicated three divine deities and a magnificent temple. He had also heard a divine voice ordering him to get up and be prepared for Sri Balaji Hanuman's duty. He was unable to see anyone initially but after years of "Sadhna", Lord Sri Balaji finally appeared and showed him the place in the forest where the temple and the three divine forms were found.

That ancestor of Shri Mahantji started "puja" and "arti" regularly at the sacred spot in the forest. In the early days of the religious activities of the first mahantm some miscreants tried to dig out the deity, but they could not reach the bottom of the statue as it is a part of the hill surrounding the temple compound. There is a small pot at the feet of the presiding deity and the water in this pot never dries up due to the continuous flow of Blessed Holy Jal from the left side of the chest of Lord Shri Balaji Hanuman. The Divine Trinity in the Mehandipur Dham comprises Pawanputra Sri Balaji Hanuman, Sri Bhairava Baba and "Swayam-Bhu" Sri Pret-Raj Sarkar.

Jai Hanuman

Sri Mehandipur Balaji Temple is in Dausa, Rajasthan. Basically Shri Mehendipur Balaji Temple is Lord Hanuman Ji's Temple. Long ago the image of Lord Balaji and that of Pret Raja (the king of spirits) appeared from the Arawali hills. Now people suffering from malignant spirits and black magic or spell get their relief when they make an appeal for relief to Shri Bhairav ji and Shri Pret Raj Sarkar who holds his court and awards punishment to the malignant spirits, ghosts, goblins, ghouls, evil eyed witches, etc. Shrine of Balaji, Court of Pret Raja, Pooja griha, Bhairav ji temple and Ram Darbar are some of the spots worth seeing here.

Religious ritualistic performances; charity; feeding the poor, homeless and incapacitated people; water supply for all; and fodder for cows and stray animals are the activities of this temple.

Balaji temple at Mehandipur in Rajasthan is a very powerful place. It is believed that the deity in this temple has divine power to cure a person possessed with evil spirit. Hundreds of 'Sankatwalas', as the possessed people are referred to in local lingo, throng to the temple everyday to offer prayers and have 'darshan'. The temple has also become a home and the last respite for the victims. The 'Mahant' of the temple, Shri Kishor Puri Ji, prescribes the treatment. It can include reading holy texts, following a strict vegetarian and simple diet, and even afflicting physical pain to one's body.

One can witness people going through physical therapies like keeping heavy stones on their body, on arms, legs and chest, to ease their pain. There are others who inhale the smoke that fumes out of the sweet Patasas kept on smoldering cowpats. The ones with serious cases of spirit possession, who tend to get violent, are even shackled in chains within the temple premises.

Thousands of people are believed to have been cured in this way. Festival times (Holi, Hanuman Jayanti and Dusshera, etc.) are regarded as the most auspicious time to emancipate from the evil spirit.

Location

The temple is situated in Dausa district of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is 99 km from Jaipur and 40 km from Karauli and is quite close to the Bandikui railway station. The temple is located 3 km towards the right on the Jaipur - Agra national highway. Guest House Phone no. 09887027265 and also Hotel and Dharamsala are Available ^[2] Call to No. 09887027265

This pilgrimage center is the roughly at the following distances from these places:

City	Km
Delhi	252
Jaipur	101
Agra	140
Alwar	80
Bharatpur	80
Shri Mahaveerji	49
Dausa	40
Hindaun	37
Bandikui	27

References

1. ^ The official website of the Mehandipur Dham Legend - Shri Balaji Maharaj Ghata Mehandipur Trust, Dausa, Rajasthan
2. ^ Book Online Hotel Room in Mehandipur balaji

External links

• Official Web Site
• Accommodation and travel details
• Short details about Mehandipur Balaji
• The Indian temples portal
• Mehandipur Balaji - First Hindi website of Lord Balaji