Salasar Balaji

Salasar Balaji is a religious place for the devotees of Lord Hanuman. It is situated in Churu district of Rajasthan. Salasar Dham attracts innumerable Indian worshipers throughout the year. On Chaitra Purnima and Ashvin Purnima large fairs are organized every year where more than 6 to 7 lakhs of people assemble here to pay their homage to the deity. Hanuman Sewa Samiti looks after the management of the Temple and the fairs. There are many Dharamshalas to stay and restaurants to eat. The temple of Sri Hanuman is situated right in the middle of the Salasar town.

Location

Salasar town is a part of district Churu in Rajasthan and it is situated on the Jaipur - Bikaner highway. It is at a distance of 57 kilometers from Sikar, 24 kilometers from Sujangarh and 30 kilometers from Laxmangarh. Salasar town lies under the jurisdiction of the Sujangarh Panchayat Samiti and is well connected with Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner by regular bus service run by the Rajasthan State Road Transport Committee. Indian Airlines and Jet Air fly to Jaipur, from where Salasar is 3.5 hours drive via a taxi or a bus. Sujangarh, Sikar, Didwana, Jaipur and Ratangarh are the nearest railheads for Salasar Balaji. This city is about 170 kilometers from the city of Pilani that hosts the Birla Institute of Technology and Science. The road from Delhi to Pilani is very good and Balaji is often accessed via that route by people approaching from the direction of Delhi.

History

On Saturday, Shravan Shukla-Navami -Samvat 1811, a miracle happened. A Ginthala-Jat farmer of village Asota in district Nagaur of Rajasthan was ploughing his field. All of a sudden the plough was hit by some stony thing and a resonating sound was created. He dug up the soil of that place and found an idol covered with sand. His wife reached there with his lunch packet. The farmer showed the idol to his wife. She cleaned up the idol with her sari (dress). The idol was that of Balaji Lord Sri Hanuman. They bowed their heads with devotion and worshipped Lord Balaji. This news of the appearance of Lord Balaji spread in the village Asota immediately. The Thakur of Asota also heard the news. Balaji ordered him in his dream to send the idol to Salasar in the Churu district. Same night a devotee of Lord Hanuman, Mohan Dasji Maharaj of Salasar saw Lord Hanuman or Balaji in his dreams as well. Lord Balaji told him about the idol of Asota. He immediately sent a message to the Thakur of Asota. The Thakur was surprised to discover that Mohandasji knew minor details without coming to Asota. Certainly, it was all happening by the grace of the Almighty Lord Balaji. The idol was sent to Salasar and consecrated at the place known as Salasar Dham today.

Places of interest

Dhunia of Mohandas ji is the place where the holy fire lit by the great Lord Hanuman devotee Mohandas ji is still burning. Hindu devotees and pilgrims take holy ashes from here. Sri Mohan Mandir is situated very close to the Balaji temple and it is popular because the footprints of Mohandasji and Kanidadi are found there. This place is supposed to be the Samadhi-Sthal of both these holy devotees. A continuous "paath" of the Ramayan has been taking place here for the last eight years. In the temple premises of Lord Balaji, "Akhand Hari Kirtan" or the "continuous chanting of the Rama name" has been continuing for the last 20 years. Temple of Anjani Mata is situated two kilometers away from Salasar Dham towards Laxmangarh. Anjani Mata was the mother of Lord Hanuman or Balaji. Gudavadi Shyam temple is also within a kilometer of the Salasar Dham. Two bullock carts from the times of Mohan Dasji are placed here within the Balaji Mandir premises. Shayanan Mata Mandir, which is situated about 15 km from here on a unique hillock in the desert area is supposed to be about 1100 years old and is worth visiting too.

Festivals

The festival of Sri Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima every year. Lacs of devotees arrive here on the occasion of Sri Hanuman Jayanti from every corner of India. Fairs are organized on Ashvin Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima and devotees turn out in huge numbers for these fairs too. Fairs on Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima are also as attractive as the rest of the fairs. Free food, sweets and drinks are distributed on these occasions.

Stay arrangements

There are many Dharamshalas in the town around the Salasar Balaji Dham. Most of these are run by trusts but a few independent Dharamshalas are also there. Some of the Dharamshalas in the town where devotees can stay are: -

* Ramaswaroop Seva Sadan
* Malu Seva Sadan
* Dharmashala's of Bombay walas
* Dharmashala of Ganganagar Walas
* Guest House of Calcutta walas
* Agrawal Seva Sadan (under construction)
* New Dharamshala of Sirsawala
* Adampur Seva Sadan
* Fatehabad Seva Sadan
* Sri Fazilka ashram salasar sabha
* Sarda Seva Sadan
* Piti Dharmashala:
* Sri Keshavdev Sureka Bombay walon ki Dharmashala
* Jajodia Dharmashala
* Kejriwal Dharmashala
* Abohar Dharmashala
* Rajgarhia Dharmashala
* Dhanotia Dharmashala
* Sangaria Seva Sadan
* Dilliwalon ki Dharmashala
* Bhattu Seva Sadan
* Phasi walon ki Dharmashala
* Goenka guest House
* Sri Balaji Seva Mandal Dharmashala
* Hanumangarh Dharmashala
* Poddar guest house (Sujangarh)
* Vilayati Ram Guest House
* Sarada guest house
* Sureka Dharmashala
* Duggar guest house
* Hanumangarhwalon ki Dharmashala
* Ratangarh walon ki Dharmashala
* Jind Dharmashala
* Anupgarh Dharmashala
* Dalmia Seva Sadan
* Three Star Hotel for tourists
* Shri Seth Murlidhar Ji Mansingka Dharamshala.
* Sri Fazilka ashram salasar sabha (registered)

External links

* [http://www.salasarbalaji.com/ The official website of the Dham]
* [http://churu.nic.in/tour.htm Churu district website]