Mahabali Temple

Introduction to the Mahabali Temple

The Mahabali Temple is a very revered shrine of Hanuman located in Imphal, Manipur. It is on the banks of the River Imphal among the groves called Mahabali forest. Mahabali Temple is also called Shri Hanuman Thakur Temple. It is the second-highest Hanuman temple in Manipur after the Thakurbai Hanuman Temple.

Legend of the Mahabali Temple

The Mahabali Temple is a symbol of the Ramandi cult of Manipur. It is also believed that the mini gold statue of Hanuman here belonged to an old monk residing at the Baruni Chingkhong. The statue was taken from him and installed in the Shree Govindajee Temple.
However, due to some controversies in the installation of the Hanuman idol and the personal agreements between the erstwhile King of Manipur, Garib Niwaz, popularly known as King Pamheiba, and Shanti Das Gosai, the idol was shifted to the present site

The Architecture of the Mahabali Temple

King Garib Niwaz built the temple in 1725. It is in a Bengali-style dome-shaped hut. The Mahabali Temple was first built using bricks. Later, it was cemented with plaster to keep it strong. A Mandapam shadows the sanctum. Priests conduct rituals and other sacred activities in the Mandapam during festivals. It remains closed and fenced with nets on ordinary days to prevent monkeys from entering. The sanctum is a dome in a hemispherical form, like a rectangular building above the main roof.

On the right side of the carved Hanuman statue is a mini gold-plated statue of Hanuman. Lotus motifs in a criss-cross pattern carved on stone are on the rooftop. A Kalash, which holds the Nil chakra, is over the crown.

The presiding deity of the Mahabali Temple is Hanuman, who is in human form and facing towards the east. His idol is carved out on a big slab of stone. There are hanging bells in the sanctum, which people ring before worshipping Hanuman. Two more hanging bells are inside the temple, built by fixing them within large, high pillars. Many devotees come to the Mahabali Temple for a darshan, mainly on Tuesdays. The Mahabali Temple stands out as archaeological and historical evidence of the Ramanandi cult of Hinduism that existed in Manipur.

A sacred pond is at the exit doors of the sanctum. Devotees consider the pond water holy and take it to their homes. Devotees can see various types of trees around the temple, which enhance its beauty. A large group of monkeys live in the surrounding forests, but surprisingly, these monkeys never cross the boundary of the forest.

Festivals in the Mahabali Temple

The Mahabali Temple grandly hosts Mahabali Jayanti, celebrating Hanuman's birth anniversary. This festive occasion includes colorful decorations, traditional music, and dance performances. Devotees from across the city visit the temple to participate in rituals, offer prayers, and seek blessings from the deity. Laddoos are distributed as Prasad on Mahabali Jayanti or Hanuman Jayanti.