When local myths power Hanuman

RAJESH SAHAY comes across a shrine in Rajasthan where the Ramcharitmanas is being continuously recited

Every place in India has a temple dedicated to Hanuman. These shrines also have localized mythological stories associated with them. These unique legacies reflect the immense faith people repose in the Hanuman of their locality. Everyone considers Hanuman to be a sidha, the proven one.

Recently, I went to a small village called Avikanagar, located in Tonk, 80 kilometres from Jaipur. The village is known for its Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI). ‘Avika’ in Sanskrit means sheep. But more than the wonderful research institute that CSWRI is, people there strongly recommended that I visit the local Hanuman temple. I was told that this was a sidha Hanuman temple, and since it is located in a ghati, valley, adjacent to the village, the deity here is known as Ghatiwale Balaji; Balaji is one of the several names by which Hanuman is endearingly called by his devotees.

It was a Saturday evening and the congregation at the temple was larger than usual. Local people visit the Ghati Darbar — as the temple is popularly known — to seek Hanuman’s blessings.

It is believed that no one returns empty-handed from the Ghati Darbar, and one’s wish is sure to get fulfilled by the ‘local’ Hanuman.

Inside the temple, I saw a priest reciting the Ramcharitmanas. I was told that whenever a wish of any devotee gets fulfilled, he is expected to revert to the temple authorities by volunteering to arrange for the recitation of the Ramcharitmanas. This may be a single or multiple recitations depending on the gravity of the wish that gets fulfilled. A friend from CSWRI, who accompanied me said that since his posting at the institute five years ago, the epic poem has been recited continuously. Local people confirmed that the recitation has been going on for as long as they remember. That the recitation has continued for years together is proof enough of the fact that wishes do get fulfilled at this temple, the priest pointed out. Faith does move mountains!

When I enquired about the methodology adopted for keeping track of a devotee, the temple priest said that all that a devotee has to do is to enter his name in the register maintained for the purpose and pay a nominal amount to the priest for reciting the Ramcharitmanas. As and when his turn comes, the temple authority will inform him beforehand. The devotee may or may not visit at the time to initiate the recital, but the recitation starts in his name, culminating in a small puja that is performed every evening. In the register, I found names of devotees who have come from far-off places, both from India and abroad.

All temple activities are managed on a no-profit, no-loss basis by a small group of locals engaged in the business of wool. The only source of income for the temple is the small contributions made by devotees, which is meticulously accounted for and used for the development of the temple precinct. Sometimes, devotees even arrange for community feasts.

My friend said that retirement is a big day for the local government staff, and colleagues of a retiring person arrange for community feasts in the temple. On the day of retirement, the entire office gathers at this temple for a warm send off to the retiring colleague in a huge procession with pomp and show with devotional music blaring all around.

As I left the temple after offering my puja, I was overwhelmed by the belief that people repose in Ghatiwale Balaji, strengthening my faith in local faith and myths.