The Story of Salangpur/Sarangpur Hanuman

Hanuman is a deity who is known to remove the sufferings and sorrows of his devotees. For this reason, devotees refer to him as Kashtabhanjan, which means ‘one who crushes sorrows.’. When people face difficult situations, they pray to Hanuman, and he responds. On Hanuman Jayanthi, his birthday, Hindus visit his temples to offer prayers and receive his darshan. One of the well-known Hanuman temples in India is the Salangpur/Sarangpur Hanuman temple in Gujarat.

This temple is quite famous among Hanuman devotees. Its fame rests on the belief that it can remove the problems of devotees and those who are facing problems due to ghosts and other evil energies. The temple lies in Salangpur village in Barwala taluka of Botad district. Many people who suffer from mental disorders and illness also come here seeking relief.

 

On the day of Kali Chaudas, especially, believers visit Ghodapur to get the blessings of Hanuman. Locals believe that this temple has the power to repel ghosts. When people who are possessed by ghosts visit the temple, the premises of the temple supposedly begin to shake. It is said that the possessed devotee only has to look at the Hanuman idol here for the evil spirits to flee from their bodies; such is the power of this temple. Also, when they inhale the smoke in the temple and chant Mantras here, the ghosts are said to leave their bodies permanently.

Salangpur temple is said to be over 150 years old. It is one of the important temples in the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is the only Swaminarayan Temple that does not have the idols of either Swaminarayan or Krishna as the main deity. The idol of Hanuman in this temple was installed by Sadguru Gopalanand Swami. Author Raymond Williams cites a report that when the Sadguru installed the idol, he touched it with a rod, and the idol came to life and moved.

 

History of the Temple’s Statue

Sadguru Gopalanand Swami was visiting the village of Botad (about 11.3 km away from Sarangpur). A devotee from Sarangpur called Darbar Shree Wagakhachar came to see him.

Gopalanand Swami asked him if everything was ok. Wagakhachar replied that the people of Sarangpur were very upset, as there had been no rain for the past 3 years, and hence, the villagers were not even able to call sants for Satsang. Gopalanand Swami told him not to worry and told him that he would get a Kashtbhanjan murti installed in a temple to remove all the worries of the people. He also summoned an idol-maker called Kanji Mistry and gave him a design for the murti/idol which he had to create.

 

Swamiji took the idol to Salangpur. On the 19th day of Aso Vad Pancham of Vikram Sawant 1905 (AD 1850), Gopalananda Swami invited many saints, Brahmins, and devotees to Salangpur village. The idol of Kastabhanjan Hanuman was installed in their presence in a grand ceremony. It was Gopalananda’s chief disciple, Shukamuni who performed the Aarti. At this time, Gopalananda Swami was standing in front of the idol with a stick. He decided that Hanuman should manifest in the idol.

 

After the fifth stage of Aarti, it is said that the idol began to move. Gopal Swami requested Hanuman to alleviate the suffering of all human beings. The idol continued shaking. Since then, the deity here began to alleviate the sufferings of devotees.

 

Temple Construction

When the construction of the temple began, it was a small space. It started in Vikram Samvat 1956 (AD 1900). To enable more devotees to visit the temple, further construction was initiated in 1956 AD. By 2011, it had become a huge temple. Near the temple is the Dharamshala, with 50 rooms. Devotees can stay here for free. There is a cowshed, too, near the temple.

 

The temple has a 25-foot-wide assembly hall inlaid with marble stone. Hanuman’s idol is installed there. The room has silver doors, and only celibate Brahmins worship the idol. Acharya or Kothari are not allowed entry into the sanctum sanctorum. Around the temple, there is an open space. The darshan starts with the morning Mangala Aarti. The temple will be open till twelve in the afternoon, after which it closes. The temple reopens at 4 pm and closes again after evening Aarti.

 

Significance of the Temple

People of all castes and religions visit the temple. Devotees from different parts of the country come here to fulfill their heart’s desires. Many come here to get rid of evil spirits and ghosts. When the victim enters the temple premises, the temple begins to shake. As soon as the person comes in front of the Hanuman idol, inhales the smoke of the incense, and recites the Mantras of Hanuman, the ghost supposedly leaves their body forever.