SRI SANKATA MOCHAN HANUMAN MANDIR, PALACE COMPLEX GWALIOR, MADHYA PRADESH...
Sri GK Kaushik
Gwalior
During the eighth century AD Suraj Sen, the chieftain of the place was
struck by a misterious deadly disease and was cured by the saint Gwalipa. As
a tribute the chieftain had named the place after the saint, hence the place
had come to be known as Gwalior. Many dynasties had ruled the place, each one
of them leaving behind their stamp, memories and monuments of their rule.
The city is centered around the fortress, one of the most formidable in
India, built on the top of the isolated rock measuring about two and half KM
in length, about a KM in width, and with a maximum height of 100 M. The
present city could broadly be divided into three, namely Morar, Lashkar (Lashkar
in Persian leanague means army or camp) and Old city.
Morar, Lashkar & Old city
Morar, formerly a separate town, lies three miles east of the old city.
This former British military cantonment had been restored to the Sindhias
during 1886 after troops at Morar were withdrawn to Jhansi. In the Revolt of
1857 Morar was the scene of the most serious uprising in Central India.
Lashkar is derived from the Persian lashkar, meaning army, or camp, as it was
originally the camp, and later the permanent capital, of Sindhia at Gwalior.
Jivaji Chowk is the central focus of Lashkar.
The old city of Gwalior is of considerable size, lies at the eastern base of
the rock. The tomb of Mian Tansen, a great singer and one of the 'Nine
Jewels' of Akbar's court is situated here. Close to the heart of the city is
splendid Jai Vilas Palace, patterned on the French palace of Versailles.
Gwalior under the Sindhia
The Scindia Dynasty hails from Kanherkheda, near Satara, in present day
Maharashtra. Members of the family joined the Maratha forces under the
Chhatrapati Maharajas Shivaji the Great, Shambhaji and Rajaram, serving with
valour and distinction in several battles. The family reached the first ranks
of the Maratha hierarchy under Ranoji Scindia, a gifted military commander
under whose leadership Malwa was conquered. The great fortress of Gwalior,
the notorious prison of the Mughals, fell to his forces for the first time in
1738.
Ranoji Scindia established his capital at Ujjain in 1731; which remained
their capital till 1810. His successor Mahadji Rao Scindia seized Gwalior
from the Raja of Gohad in 1765. His successor Daulat Rao Scindia moved the
Sindhia capital to Lashkar in Gwalior during 1810. The Sindhia state of
Gwalior became a major regional power in the latter half of the eighteenth
century; they figured prominently in the three Anglo-Maratha Wars, held sway
over many of the Rajput states, and conquered the state of Ajmer. After the
defeat of the allied Maratha states by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha
War of 1818, the Scindia were forced to accept local autonomy as a princely
state within British India and to give up Ajmer to the British. The Scindia
family ruled Gwalior until India's independence from the United Kingdom in
1947, when the Maharaja Jiyajirao Scindia acceded to the Government of India.
Gwalior was merged with a number of other princely states to become the new
Indian state of Madhya Bharat.
The tradition of worship of Lord Maruti
The rich royal remains of this dynasty are still spreading its fregnence
in the city of Gwalior. The Scindias with Maratha background and followers of
Chhatrapati Maharajas Shivaji the Great, have also brought with them the rich
tradition of worshiping of Lord Maruti (Hanuman) as was done by the Guru
Samart Ramdas, the Guru of Chhatrapati Maharajas Shivaji the Great.
Temple for Lord Hanuman in the Gwalior Palace complex
Jai Vilas Palace is the royal seat of the Scindia family. Even now the
portion of the palace is serving as the residence of the Scindias. The
splendid Jai Vilas Palace, patterned on the French palace of Versailles, is
located at the heart of the city. No tourist to the city could afford missing
the visit this place. The palace complex has three entrances, as you move
from west to east on the road leading to moti mahal you will come across
these three gates leading to the Jai Vilas Palace. The first one which is
just opposite to Jiwaji club of badminton (which was called as 'gend-ghar'
during state period) will lead you to the museum maintained by the erstwhile
royal family. If you proceed further on the road which leads you to Moti
Mahal which houses presently many Government departments, the second
entrance to the palace known by the name 'Rani Mahal dwar' could be seen.
The present Scindia family enters to the Jai Vilas Palace using this
entrance. On further down is the 'main entrance' which was used in olden
days, but presently used only occasionally. Just opposite to this
artistically made main gate, is located the temple for Lord Maruti, adjacent
to the park, which use to be cricket ground during State period.
Maruti Mandir
The original temple for Lord Maruti had been established during Sri
Mahadji Rao Scindia's time some where near 1779 and further strengthened during
Sri Daulat Rao Scindia's period. The main deity of Lord Maruti had been
installed by His Holiness Param Braham Maha Rudhr Sat Guru Sri Sri Dev Nathji
of Devnath Mutt, Surji Anjan Goan, Amaravati District, Maharashtra. The prana
pradhista of the Lord Maruti was done by this holy saint. It is the tradition
of the Scindias to take the blessings of the Lord Maruti, before venturing
out for the days routine. Hence this Maruti mandir had been built just
opposite to the main entrance of the Jai Vilas Palace. Today though the
Scindias do not visit this temple everyday, but the tradition of visiting
this temple by the royals are still in practice. After the death of Sri
Madhav Rao Scindia his son Sri Jothiraditya Scindia had performed the
religious rites for his father and after the thirteenth day ceremony, the
first 'sub karya' he had done was to visit this temple on 12th of October
2001 and take the blessings of the Lord Sankata Mochan Hanuman.
The Temple complex
This temple for Lord Maruti had been established by the Scindia dynasty
is south facing. As you enter the temple complex on to the left (west) is the
main temple. The temple of Lord Maruti is south facing and just opposite to
this main mandir is the for Lord Ram. These two mandirs are separated by a
big 'angan', where the devotees can sit and meditate. The mandir of Lord Ram
is north facing and the sannadhi of Lord Ram, Janaki and Luxman is facing
Lord Maruti. On the two sides of the Lord Ram's sannadhi is sannadhi for Lord
Krishna, Radha and Lord Vishnu, Laxmi. There are two separate sannadhis for
Lord Ganesha and Devi Kali. All these are latter addition to the main Maruti
mandir.
Maruti Sri Sankata Mochan Hanuman
The Lord Sri Sankata Mochan Hanuman installed by His Holiness Param
Braham Maha Rudhr Sat Guru Sri Sri Dev Nathji is not a sculptured one but
curved by the nature (swayambhuhu). The Lord here is south facing and a 'yathur
muki' Hanuman blessing His devotees with 'poorna drishti'. The Lord's right
hand is seen in 'abhya mudra' and His left hand is resting in His hips. There
is Lord Shiva in linga roopa since the Lord Maruti is a 'Rudhra-avathara'.
Next time when you are around Gwalior do not miss to have dharshan of this all powerful Rudhra-avathara Sri Sankata Mochana Hanuman of the Maruti Mandir near Jai Vilas Palace and bring with you the esteem and confidence for your endeavors and life.
[Ed. July 2008]