SRI HANUMAN BADI (OLD), ALIGANJ, LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH...
sri d r tripati, delhi and sri sivananth, lucknow
TWIN TEMPLES FOR HANUMAN IN ALIGANJ OF LUCKNOW
OLD HANUMAN MANDIR
Lucknow
Lucknow, capital of India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh. The city
spread on both sides of the river Gomti, a tributary of the Ganga. The old
lifestyle is well known for the elegance, hospitality and rich culture, but
that evocative lifestyle is long gone by. Only its what's left is still found
in the people's mannerisms and habits. Lucknow was abode of the Nawabs of
Avadh, and their regal pastimes and pleasures were legendary. They refined
their formal speech, were fond of song and dance, and nurtured Urdu verse as
well as the Kathak school of courtly dances.
Their monuments excelled in the use of arches, pavilions & domes. Lucknow is
also associated with its legendary hospitality, leisurely moods of life,
fabled edifices steeped in history. Tremors of time have not effaced Lucknow
of its cultural heritage and traditions, which once contributed in creating
the city incomparable in its times.
Lucknow the Lakshmanpuri
Long before the Nawabs of Avadh, the city was known by the name
Lakshmanpuri, the name it derived from Lakshman brother of Lord Sri Rama of
Ayodhya.
This great city has a brilliant small temple built by the Nawabs for Lord
Hanuman. Even today here people from both faith come to offer their prayer.
This temple is situated in Aliganj in the out skirts of the city. In fact
there are two temples for Hanuman in Aliganj, both attracting many devotees
especially for the Bada Mangal.
LEGEND
Sri Ram Sevaks' ordeal.
It was a painful decision for Lord Ram to take. A decision that the Lord
Ram had taken because of one single citizen had expressed doubt. But as per
the rajdharma followed by the Lord Ram it was decided to send Mata Sita to
forest. Sri Ram calls his brother Sri Laxmana and also Sri Hanumanji and
tells them about his decision. He places the ordeal of leaving Sita mata in
the forest to these two. Both of them felt as if the heaven had fallen, but
their faith on the Lord Rama was so that they could not disobey the wishes of
their Lord.
Sri Sita Mata and Lord Hanuman
Sri Lakshman and Sri Hanuman escorted Sita mata to the forest. All the
three left the capital city of Ayodhya started moving towards the forest.
Rishi Madvya was having his ashram on the banks of the river Gomti. There
were lots of ponds with lotus flowering in them near by the ashram, making
the atmosphere even more serine. When all these three were near the Rishi
Madvya's ashram, the sun was about to set. Sri Lakshman was of the opinion
that they could stay in the ashram for the night and proceed further the next
day. But Sita mata wished it the other way.
As per the tradition it was felt that crossing a river means that the
territory had been crossed. Therefore Sita mata wished that they crossed the
nearby river Gomti, there by they will be fulfilling the wishes of Lord Rama
of having left the territory of Ayodhya. It was then decided that Lakshman
would perform his evening ritual in the ashram and join Sri Hanuman and Sita
mata on the other side of the Gomti. Sri Hanuman had escorted Sita mata
safely to the other bank of the river Gomti. Sita mata was requested by Sri
Hanuman to be comfortable and Sri Hanuman stayed awake protecting Sita mataji.
Sri Lakshman could not make it to the other side of the river Gomti and had
to stay back on the Ayodhya side of the river for the night. Therefore Sri
Hanuman had to stay awake throughout the night protecting Sita mata on the
banks of river Gomti.
Hanuman Badi
The
place where Sita mata had rested for the night on the banks of river Gomti
under the protection of Sri Hanuman had got the recognition and was known by
the name Hanuman Badi. Time to come the bhakthas of Lord Hanuman built a
small temple on the spot for the Lord. This is the popular Old Hanuman temple
of present Aliganj. During the fourteenth century this place 'Hanuman badi'
was renamed as 'Islam Badi', by the then rulers.
During the reign of the Nawabs the administration of the Old Hanuman temple
was taken over the rulers. During this time this temple had built a relation
with the Badi Chawni of Ayodhya. Begam Aliya who is married to chatrakuwar
family was a strong follower and devotee of the Lord Hanuman of this temple.
She uses to visit the temple very regularly and was instrumental in the
renovation of the temple during that time. She had a big tank built when the
temple was renovated.
Grace of Hanuman of this Badi
During the year 1783 a Marwari trader had come with lot of kesar and
kasturi to Lakshmanpuri for trading. He visited many places in and around
Lakshmanpuri, to sell his commodities. Normally the kesar and kasturi are
used in puja, therefore he also visited many places of worship to sell his
goods. After two-three long days of trail he could not sell any of his
material. He was tired and also astonished that such materials could not be
sold in such a wealthy place like Lakshmanpuri. It was nearing the sunset and
the trader had a wash and visited the nearby temple.
He had a peaceful dharshan of Hanuman and offered his prayers to Him. The
trader pleaded with the Lord to do some thing so that he will be able to sell
his goods and go back to meet his family in Marwar. He retired to the near by
dharmsala for the night. The pleasant winds started blowing and the fragrance
of the kesar and kasturi stored by him in dharmsala traveled along the mild
wind for long distance. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and his Begam were on their
evening stroll, found the fragrance of the kasturi is irresistible.
Immediately the deputy was summoned and asked to find out from where the
fragrance is coming. It was traced to the Marwari trader who was resting in
the dharmasala. He was produced before the Nawab and Begam. The Begam had
bought all the kesar and kasturi the trader had for a good price.
The trader was so happy about the transaction and he was so grateful to the
Lord for ending his woe so quickly. He again went to the Lord and offered his
prayers. Later he had donated many things to the temple. Should we have to
say that Lord is none other then Lord Hanuman and the temple is Old Hanuman
temple of Aliganj?
The crescent and star seen on the temple tower is documented to have been
installed after the 'purar uddharan' of the temple done during the time of
the Begam. Begam Aliya was so devoted to the Lord Hanuman that her son
Sahadad Ali Khan was named as Mangulu.
The temple is small and the Hanuman murthi is small, but it is seen to be believed that how Sri Hanumanji of Hanuman Badi the protector and rakshak, protects the devotees from any all evils hovering around them.
[ed. 29.01.03]