Salasar Balaji or Salasar Dham in India is a place of
religious importance for the devotees of Hanuman. It is located in the town of
Salasar, on National Highway 65 near Sujangarh in Churu district, Rajasthan.
The temple of Balaji, another name of Hanuman, is situated in the middle of
Salasar and attracts innumerable worshippers throughout the year. On Chaitra
Purnima and Ashvin Purnima large fairs are organized which millions of devotees
visit as they pay homage to the deity.
Salasar Balaji is in the religious circuit that includes
the pilgrim centers of Rani Sati Temple and Khatushyamji, which are both
located close to it. Initially a small construction, the temple of Salasar
Balaji is now considered to be a Shakti Sthal (a place of power) and Swayambhu
(self creation) by faith, belief, miracles and wish fulfillments of the devotees
There are several theories concerning the origins of
Salasar Balaji.
One claims the discovery of the site by Ginthala Jat of
Asota village in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. On one Saturday of Shraavana
shukla Navami samvat 1811 (1754 AD), a miracle happened. A Ginthala Jat farmer
of Asota village was ploughing his field when all of sudden the plough was hit
by a 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. The farmer showed the idol to his wife. She cleaned up the idol with her
saree. The idol was that of Balaji i.e. Hanuman. They bowed their heads with
devotion and worshipped Balaji. The news of appearance of Balaji soon spread in
the Asota village and reached the Thakur of Asota. That night Balaji appeared
in Thakur's dream and ordered him to send the idol to Salasar in the Churu
district. Same night a devotee of Hanuman, Mohandas Maharaj of Salasar saw
Hanuman or Balaji in his dream too. 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 Mohandas knew even minor details without coming to Asota.
Certainly it was due to the divine powers of Balaji. The idol was sent to
Salasar and was consecrated at the place presently known as Salasar Dham.
A slightly modified version to the same story indicates
that upon seeing the dream of appearance of the Hanuman, the Thakur of that
village ordered the idol to be shifted to Salasar and placed at the temple for
the religious rituals to be performed. He brought two bulls, placed the idol on
its cart and left them in the open courts believing to build the temple at the
place where the bulls would stop. The place where the bulls stopped was given
the present name of Salasar. Many of the villagers, shopkeepers and traders
shifted their living to Salasar and thus a new village was formed.
Deity
The principal deity of the temple is Hanuman who
receives veneration of millions of devotees here along with other deities. The
idol of Balaji here is different from all other idols of Hanuman. Unlike other
projections and idols of Hanuman, Balaji possess round face with moustache and
beard making it the most unique idol among the other idols of Hanuman all over
the world. It is believed that drinking water of the wells of the Salasar is
due to the blessings of the Balaji.
Construction
The Temple was constructed on the 9th day the bright
half of Shraavana in the samvat 1811 (1754 AD). Inspired by the strange dream
and the unusual appearance of Balaji in the dream, the founder of the temple
Mohandas Maharaj, got constructed a mud-stone temple initially with the help of
Muslim craftsmen Noora and Dau of Fatehpur Shekhawati. The place was later
developed into a concrete temple with the help of the successor of Sikar
Jagirdar Rao Devi Singh who contributed in the construction of the temple as he
was once saved from the loot by Dungji-Jawaharji by the blessings of Balaji.
Later, inspired by Mohandas' devotion towards Balaji, his descendants Kaniram
and Ishwardas developed and renovated the temple which took the present form of
a large temple complex. A patta of the land was made in the name of Balaji in
the presence of Shobhasar Thakur Dhiraj Singh, Salasar Thakur Salim Singh and
elders of Tetarwal Jats.
Architecture
The temple was constructed over a period of about 2
years while using bricks, stones, cement, lime mortar, and marble. While white
marble stone has been extensively used throughout the construction of the
temple, the entire circulatory path, the Sabha Mandap (prayer hall) and the
Sanctum Sanctorum is covered with artistic works of Gold and Silver. The vestibule,
the doors and the utensils used in worshiping are made of silver. The main gate
is made up of carving works of white marble. The temple shrine and the sanctum
sanctorum are decorated with floral patterns and other kinds of mosaic works
done in Gold and Silver to give the temple a rich look. The idols placed were
built of a high quality sculpture.
Administration
While the worship of the deity is managed by the
Brahmins priests from the Dadhich clan, the temple is managed and maintained by
the trust Hanuman Sewa Samiti. They also look after the management of the
fairs, social works, public and private facilities such as the maintenance of
road, water supply, charitable hospitals, in the village. Over the years, there
have been many Dharamshalas and restaurants constructed here to stay and eat
comfortably.
Timings
The temple is open to devotees from early morning 4:00
AM till 10:00 PM in the night. However, the temple is not closed at all on some
special occasions such as Hanuman Jayanti, as the number of pilgrims visiting
the place reaches millions on one single day
Rituals
Coconut Tying
Of many rituals and traditions performed at the temple,
the most widely followed is the tying of coconuts with moli (sacred red
threads) in the temple premises by a large number of devotees. It is widely
believed that such practice helps them to fulfill their wishes, if done with
sincere faith. The practice was originated by the Jagirdar of Sikar, Rao Raja
Devi Singh. Devi Singh did not have a son. He heard about Balaji and came to
this place and tied a coconut on a tree to fulfill his wish of having a son. He
was later blessed with a handicapped son Rao Raja Laxman Singh after ten
months. Thus the custom of tying coconuts to fulfill wishes continues at the
temple from that time on wards.
Savamani
The other widely followed practice is the offering of
food (weighing up to 50 kg) by the devotees to their deity, referred to as
Savamani. The term "Savamani" is derived from the word
"Sava" meaning one and a quarter in Hindi and the word
"Mun" or "Maund", a mass unit weighing about 40 kg; thus
adding the total up to 50 kg. Though the food is mostly prepared by the cooks
of the temple kitchens, the process is now being outsourced to several
independent shopkeepers & food-caterers due to the increasing number of
offerings everyday. Several delicacies like Dal, Baati, Churma, Boondi, Peda
& Laddu is chosen for Savamani. The food after first being offered to the
deity, is later used as part of family celebrations, distributed over to family
and relatives or donated to the needy.
Festivals and fairs
Sri Hanuman Jayanti / Chaitra shukla Chaturdashi and
Purnima: The major festival is witnessed by millions of devotees from every
part of the country.
Ashvin Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima: The fair is also
witnessed by millions of devotees.
Bhaadra Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima: This fair is as
attractive as the rest fairs. Free food and sweet drinks are distributed to
all.
