Rajapur

Rajapur is a familiar place for Sri Hanuman devotees, this happens to be the birth place of the great saint of the modern time. Saint Sri Tulsidas had given us the great epic of Sri Ramayana in Awadhi language, the language of common man of the place. While he is scholarly in the Sanskrit language, he was ordained to write the epic for common man to recite. The saint with great knowledge had retold Sri Ramayana and had the epic titled “Rama Charit Manas”. He had plotted the manas as Sri Siva rendering the story of Sri Ramachandra, thus bringing unity among the cult’s followers of Sri Siva and Sri Vishnu. It was revolutionary on his part to bring much needed unity among the sanadhana dharma followers of that time.

This great saint was born in the village Rajapur, in the present Chitrakoot district of Utter Pradesh. This beautiful village is situated on the bank of river Yamuna. It is interesting to note that the river Yamuna takes a right turn to touch this place thereby making this place holy. Sri Tusidas was born to Sri Athmaram a Saryupareen Brahmin and Hulsi. Right at the birth the boy uttered ‘Ram’ hence called Rambola.

Rambola leaves Rajapur

Since the child was born under the Abhuktamūla constellation, which according to Jyotisha (Hindu astrology) causes immediate danger to the life of the father. Due to the inauspicious events at the time of his birth, he was abandoned by his parents on the fourth night, sent away with Chuniya, a female servant of Hulsi.

Chuniya took the child to her village of Haripur and looked after him for five and a half years after which she died. Rambola was left to fend for himself as an impoverished orphan, and wandered from door to door begging for alms.

Tusi’s revisit to Rajapur

After Rambola was adopted by Narharidas, a Vaishnava ascetic of Ramananda's monastic order who is believed to be the fourth disciple of Ramananda, Rambola was given the Virakta Diksha (Vairagi initiation) with the new name of Tulsidas.

Tulsidas was then given proper education on various aspects Sanadhana Dharma. After few years he was given initiation to narration of Srimath Ramayana of Saint Valmiki by his guru. Then after Sri Tulsidas was known to many by this time as an exponent of Ramayana pravachana [discourse].

As the Rajapur village was undergoing some bad patch of time, people from Rajapur village approached Tulsidas to grace the village, without knowing that he is their Rambola. On an auspicious day he set forth to the village. The village elders welcomed him and as arranged he gave discourse on Ramayana in his village.

People of Rajapur found a quantum change in their prospects after arrival of Sri Tulsidas and his discourse of Srimath Ramayana. The rains were regular, the crops were grown in abundance. People of Rajapur grew prospers and were happy.

By this time Sri Tusidas realised that Rajapur is his village where he was born.

Sri Tulsidas and Naandhi Sri Hanuman

During his stay in Rajapur, Tulsidas one fine day set his sight on Sri Hanuman temple at NAndhi village nearby. He frequented his visit to this particular temple and meditated in the temple of Sri Hanuman. Naandhi means joy, satisfaction, delight, in general.

Once there was flood in the river which prevented Sri Tulsidas to go to the village NAndhi. He meditated upon Sri Hanuman of NAndhi sitting on the banks of the flooded river. He had a divine direction from Sri Hanuman of NAndhi that He will present Himself in Rajapur itself in the sandal wood paste prepared by him. He can initiate NAndhi Hanuman [Thantric roopa] in the sandal wood paste in Mantra roopa.

Mantra roopa Sri Hanuman at Rajapur

After returning to his village Rajapur, in accordance with the instruction of Sri Hanuman, Sri Tulsidas made a sandal wood paste performed the prana pradishta of the deity. After installing the deity in the mantra roopa, he started worshipping Sri Hanuman in this form.

After sometime he proceeded on his pilgrimage to Sangam, Varanasi etc.

Sankata Mochana Sri Hanuman of Rajapur

Today the deity installed by Sri Tulsidas in Rajapur is known by the name Sri Sankata Mochana Hanuman. In the recent past the temple had been renovated. The temple is located on the banks of River Yamuna, but away from Tulsi Ghat which is the birth place of Sri Tulsidas. One can take the main bazzar of Rajapur leading to Yamuna. After about two kilometers from the bus stand the temple of Sankata Mochana Sri Hanuman is present.

As you enter the temple complex on to the right is sannadhi of Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshman. This sannadhi is facing the main garbhagraham of Sri Sankata Mochana Hanuman.

Saint Sri Sharabhang was doing penance and waiting to have dharshan of Sri Rama who was on vanavasa. As Sri Rama had never failed His devotees He visited the saint in his ashram [the place is near chitrakoot]. Saint Sri Sharabang received Sri Rama along with his brother and Sri Sita in his ashram. After ‘aititi upachar’ of the parivar of Sri Rama he told that his wait in this world has come to end and entered agni by saying:

सीता अनुज समेत प्रभु नील जलद तनु स्याम।
मम हियँ बसहु निरंतर सगुनरूप श्री राम॥

[Hey Sri Ram whose body is in color of a dark blue cloud, reside in my heart permanently along with Sri Sita ma and younger brother (Sri Lakshman)]

Sri Ramachanderji parivar at this place is as seen by Saint Sri Sharabang. Have dharshan of Sri Rama the principle deity of Sri Hanuman, before proceeding to have dharshan of Sri Hanuman.

Sri Sankata Mochan Hanuman

One has to claim few steps to have dharshan of Sri Sankata Mochan Hanuman. Sri Hanuman of this kshetra resembles that of Naandhi Sri Hanuman. Sri Sankata Mochan Hanuman is ever seeing Sri Ramachanderji. The scene here seems He bestows the blessings He receives from Sri Rama to His devotees.

Offer your prayers in this holy place and receive the blessings of Sri Ramachanderji and Sri Hanuman.

Experience

Dharshan of Sankata Mochana Sri Hanuman of this kshetra is sure to free us from rebirth and thereby from all Sankat.

Ed [November 2014]