Hanuman Temple is famous as Bade Hanuman Ji Mandir near the banks of Ganga and Yamuna in Prayagraj near Sangam and Fort. In Sangam city, he is known as Bade Hanuman Ji, Kila Wale Hanuman Ji, Lete Hanuman Ji and Bandh Wale Hanuman Ji. Here, the idol of Hanuman Ji is in a lying down position below the ground and Hanuman Ji is in a position holding Ahiravan with one of his arms and another demon with the other arm. This is the only temple in which Hanuman Ji is in a lying down posture. The idol of Hanuman Ji installed here is 20 feet tall.This temple is a center of great reverence and worth seeing for Hindus. Huge crowds gather here on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Devotees who take bath in Sangam do not forget to visit here. It is said that the water of Ganga touches Lord Hanuman Ji and after that the water of Ganga recedes. When the water level in Ganga and Yamuna increases, people come here from far and wide to see this sight. The idol of Hanumanji is installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, which is 8.10 feet below the temple.
- This happened in 1582, when Akbar was looking for a place to strengthen his hold on the rebellion going on in eastern India including Magadh, Awadh and Bengal. Emperor Akbar's experts had tried their best. But the statue of Hanuman ji was not moving even a bit. After this struggle, everyone accepted defeat. Emperor Akbar was also surprised to see the glory of Hanuman ji and bowed down. After which Emperor Akbar built the wall of his fort behind the temple. Akbar dedicated land of many places to Hanuman ji.
What is the reason that Hanumanji is in a lying position here
It is believed that this strange statue of Hanumanji is facing south and is 20 feet long. It is believed that it is at least 6-7 feet below the ground level. In Sangam city, he is known as Badi Hanumanji, Qila Wale Hanumanji, Lathe Hanumanji and Bandh Wale Hanumanji. It is believed that Kamada Devi is pressed under his left foot and Ahiravan is pressed under his right foot. He has Ram-Laxman in his right hand and a mace in his left hand. Bajrangbali fulfills the wishes of all the devotees who come here.
It is said about this place that when Hanumanji was returning after conquering Lanka, he started feeling tired on the way. So on the request of Mother Sita, he lay down on the banks of Sangam. Keeping this in mind, a temple of Hanumanji lying down was built here.
This temple is believed to be at least 600-700 years old. It is said that the king of Kannauj had no children. His guru suggested a solution, ‘Get a statue of Hanumanji made in which Rama went to the netherworld to free Lakshmana from the snake trap. This idol of Hanumanji should be made and brought from Vindhyachal mountain.’ When the king of Kannauj did the same and brought the statue of Hanumanji from Vindhyachal by boat, suddenly the boat broke and the statue got submerged in water. The king was very sad to see this and he returned to his kingdom. Many years after this incident, when the water level of the Ganges decreased, Ram devotee Baba Balgiri Maharaj, who was trying to light a fire there, found this statue. Then after that the temple was built by the king there.
In ancient times, the process of destroying Hindu temples was going on on the orders of Mughal rulers, but here the Mughal soldiers could not even move the statue of Hanumanji. The more they tried to lift the statue, the more the statue was sinking into the ground. This is the reason why this statue is built so low from the ground level.
