Salasar Balaji Temple – Rajasthan

Introduction to the Salasar Balaji Temple

The Salasar Dham Temple or Salasar Balaji Temple is in the small town of Salasar, Churu district, Rajasthan. It is also considered a Swayambhu and Shakti Sthal by the devotees. Salasar Balaji Temple is part of a religious circuit that includes Jeen Mata Temple, Rani Sati temple, and Khatu Shyamji temple. The temple is dedicated to Balaji, another name for Hanuman. It attracts innumerable devotees throughout the year.

Legend of the Salasar Balaji Temple

There are several legends behind the Swayambhu Salasar Balaji Temple.
According to a legend, on a Saturday of Shravan Shukla Navami in 1754 AD, a Jat farmer in a village was plowing his field. While plowing, suddenly, there was a sound as if the plow had struck a stone.

He started plowing deeper and found a sand-covered idol. He showed it to his wife. It was of a bearded and mustachioed Hanuman. The news quickly reached Thakur of Asota.

Balaji appeared in Thakur's dreams that night and demanded that the idol be sent to Salasar. Another devotee had the same dream on the same night and was asked to consecrate the idol at the place.

The Architecture of the Salasar Balaji Temple

Mohandas Maharaj built the Salasar Balaji Temple in 1754 AD. Firstly, he built the temple only with mudstone with the help of Muslim artisans Noora and Dau of Fatehpur Shekhawat.

Jagirdar Rao Devi Singh of Sikar rebuilt it with concrete. Later, the descendants of Mohandas, Kaniram, and Ishwardas developed, renovated, and gave the temple its current beautiful structure.

Constructing the Salasar Balaji Temple took two years. Bricks, cement, stones, lime mortar, and white marble were used. Artistic works of gold and silver cover the Sabha Mandap (prayer hall) and the sanctum. White marble was used to construct the circumambulatory path. White marble carvings in the main entry gates are attractive. Pooja utensils, sanctum doors, and Antarala are made of silver. The sanctum has beautiful floral decorations and mosaic works in gold and silver.

Devotees worship Hanuman in the sanctum in a different form. Here, the idol of Hanuman or Balaji has a human face. The idol of Balaji is different from all other idols of Hanuman. He has a round face, mustache, and beard. It is quite unique among Hanuman idols all over the world.

The Hanuman Sewa Samiti Trust administers and maintains the Salasar Balaji Temple. The Brahmin priests from the Dadhich clan perform Pooja everyday to Balaji.

Festivals in the Salasar Balaji Temple

The Salasar Balaji Temple celebrates Hanuman Jayanti grandly. It occurs on Chaitra Purnima in Chaitra month, on the 15th day of Shukla Paksha every year. It falls between March 15 and April 15. A huge crowd flocks to the temple from different areas to worship Balaji on his birthday.

Two fairs are conducted annually on the occasions of Chaitra Purnima and Ashwin Purnima. Devotees across the country flock to the Salasar Balaji Temple and pay their homage to the deity. They walk to the temple barefoot to prove the intensity of their devotion, while some walk barefoot to grant their wishes.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Salasar Balaji Temple

Devotees perform the coconut-tying ritual with utmost devotion. They wrap a red thread around a coconut and tie it to a tree. They believe that Balaji can grant their wishes by accepting this ritual. Rao Raja Devi Singh first performed it for a child. After performing this ritual, he was blessed with a male child within a few months. Many devotees come here to perform this ritual.

Devotees drink water from the well in the Salasar Balaji Temple. They believe that by doing so, they will be granted the blessings and grace of Salasar Hanuman