BALAJI TEMPLE, RAJASTHAN

 The land of desert-Rajasthan is a vibrant land of colours valor and royalty. The entire territory of this desert land resound the pure and beautiful melodies of hymns, sung with love and devotion. The religious places in Rajasthan are not only places of worship, but also monuments of great artistic beauty.

Religious places in Rajasthan evoke a pure feeling of harmony and dignity. A number of tourists across the globe visit these places and get mesmerized by its charm and aura. The grand architectural edifices make one feel that eternity has been preserved by mortal men, who have built stunning architectural wonders to act as places of worship. There are many religious places in Rajasthan which should not be missed while you are touring Rajasthan. It will give you an insight to the rich culture and heritage of India.

Balaji Temple is one such place; the Mehandipur Balaji Temple is situated in the Dausa district of Rajasthan. According to legend, the present day form of the “Divine Trinity” found in the Mehandipur Dham appeared around 1,000 years ago in a valley admist the hills of the
Aravali range.

Shri Ganesh Puriji Maharaj who was the 11^th 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 Shri 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 Shri Balaji - Hanuman’s duty. He was unable to see initially but, after years of “Sadhna”, Lord Balaji finally appeared and showed him the place in the forest where the Temple and the three divine forms were found.

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 spirits. Hundreds of “Sankatwalas”, as the possessed people are refered to in local lingo, throng to the Temple everyday to offer prayers and have “Darshan.” 

The Temple is made up of gold and silver. The Temple is pretty big and has complete security. There are few things to notice inside the Temple. One is the big Havan Kund where Yagya is performed every day. It is said that if, you take few of that ashes inside your mouth, it heals your body. Yagya is a ritual performed to give offerings and thanks to Gods into a scared fire which is lit in the Haven Kund.                                

 The victims with serious cases of spirit possession, who tends to get violent, are even shackled in chains within the Temple premises. Thus, within the Temple premises one can see the ailed placing heavy stones on their body for reducing their pain.

This may appear a bit anachronistic at the first glance but, thousands of people are believed to have been cured in this way. Festival time (Holi, Hanuman Jayanti and Dusshera) are regarded as the most auspicious time to emancipate from the evil spirits.

The Temple has also become a home and the last respite for the victims. The Mahant of the Temple prescribes the treatment. It includes the reading of holy texts, following a strict vegetarian and simple diet.

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, Puja Griha, Bhairar Ji Temple and Ram Darbar are some of the spots worth seeing.

Two fairs are organized in the month of April in the Mehandipur Temple. Lakhs of devotees came here on Hanuman Jayanti as well as fair. 

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.

This Temple of Balaji is well connected with having a frequent service of buses on Agra-Jaipur highway, either via Alwar-Manwa or Mathura-Bharatpur-Mahwah. And the nearest Railway Station at Bandikui which is also an option to reach this shrine.

Though, medical science may discard such approach to the ailment as self-deceptions based on blind faith, but for the believers the power of Balaji is something super-natural, something beyond metaphysics. 

Rajasthan culture opens up a whole new world of luxury, ancient traditions and rituals and numerous performing and visual art forms. The impact of the brilliant hues of the land as well as its topographical and religious diversity is clearly visible in all aspects of culture of Rajasthan.

The religious diversity of Rajasthan is reflected in the importance and beauty of the several places of Hindu, that are flourishing here and Balaji Temple is among them, one of the major pilgrimage centre of Rajasthan which makes this place an extraordinary site to visit, for thousands of his devotees.