There might be many Hanuman temples in the City but this one is truly special. After all, its presence is essential in almost every film when it comes to represent Delhi. Be it Band Baaja Baaraat or Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania, the temple finds its place on the screen even if it is just for a second.
Making this place important for directors is not the inside of the temple but the massively huge statue of Lord Hanuman that stands tall at Karol Bagh.
The statue is 108 feet tall which gives the temple its name – 108 Foot Shri Sankat Mochan Dham. Every Tuesday and Saturday thousand of devotees throng the temple to get their wishes granted as it is considered to be a pious place. “There is a very interesting history behind this temple and the statue,” says Om Prakash Giri, secretary of the temple.
“It was established by Mahant Nagababa Sevagirji Maharaj. As heard from his disciples, he used to tell them that when he was looking for a place to worship he found this place which had a small vessel of sacred ash of Lord Shiva along with a small idol of Lord Hanuman. He did tapasya (penance) for years until one days Lord Hanuman appeared in Maharajji’s dreams and asked him to construct a tall statue,”
he explains.
So, the construction started in 1994. But in the last 13 years, the temple has not only attracted people for the huge statute but it is also considered as a place where all wishes are being fulfilled. “People come here because they believe that all their wishes are granted,” says Giri.
The most interesting part of the temple is its entrance. Between the legs of Hanumanji, there is a face of a demon name Sursha. Her mouth is open mouth and devotees take an entry inside the temple through it. To give a feel of it, instead of normal marble some kind of red stones are being placed at
the entrance giving the look of a tongue.
Enter inside and statues of all the deities are present. Interestingly, there is a cave inside the temple which is identical to Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir. If you are claustrophobic it can give you trouble.
