Sirulee of Orissa

As you travel from Bhuvaneswar to Puri on the national highway, after Crossing Chandanpur, you will come to a Crossing known as Sirulee crossing or Tulascholwa crossing. In case you want to visit one of the oldest Lord Hanuman temples, you have to take a left turn and move about ten km, and you will come to a small pleasant village known as Sirulee. The village is not very big, but the temple built for Lord Hanuman is. All the roads of the village will lead you to the temple. This village is twenty-two km from Puri and around seventy-two km from Bhuvaneswar.

Legend

Legend has it that after the successful mission, Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after having killed the demon king Ravana of Lanka. During Lord Ram's rule, people were happy and leading a prosperous life, and there was no dearth of food and other wealth. Lord Hanuman was on a pilgrimage and had visited Lord Jagannath of Puri and was returning to Ayodhya. On His way, when it was evening time, He saw a beautiful pond full of lotus flowers, and Hanuman then decided to offer His evening prayers. The Lord stopped near the pond, had his wash, and started His prayer. After finishing His prayer, He proceeded further towards Ayodhya. This place where the Lord Hanuman had offered the prayer is presently known as Sirulee.

Sirulee Mahavir temple

It is said that the Mahavir is 'swayambhu,' and the people were worshipping the Lord for a very long time. The temple for the Lord was expanded and rebuilt by Maharaj Cholaganga Dev during the sixth century, using granite stones for the entire building. A huge well was dug inside the temple premises for drinking purposes and puja purposes. Later by Anangabhima Deva III (1212 A.D. to 1236 A.D.), the Ganga ruler of Orissa. The total area of five acres houses the temple complex. He had renovated the tank and constructed steps for the tank with stones. The learned pundits belonging to the Sabari-narayan village near Bilaspur were invited to be the priests of the temple by the then Maharajas.

Lord Mahavir of Sirulee

The Idol of the Lord is about twenty feet tall. The Idol of the Lord is West Facing. The width of the chest of the lord is around eight feet. In His right hand, He holds the ring given by Sri Rama for Sri Sita, and He holds along with this the 'chutamani' given by Mata Sri Sita for Sri Rama. The peculiarity of the eyes of the Lord is noteworthy. Both the eyes of the Lord are not seen to be in alignment. While the left eye of the Lord is directed towards the hole in the wall, the other eye is seen southward. If you happen to be in the early morning of the temple, you will be able to see the blue chakra on the top of the Puri Jagannath temple through this hole. It is said that Lord Mahavir's (Hanuman's) eyes are fixed on the 'neel-chakra' of Lord Jagannath's temple. The other eye is seen fixed towards Lanka.

Festivals and Neivadyam

Sankaranthi of every month is celebrated in the temple. Avil neivadyam is offered every Tuesday to the Lord. One day in a year there is no puja for the Lord, and that day only Tulsi water is offered to the Lord. Nowadays, apart from Avil as neivadyam, bada bhog, kadamba, and Chudaghasa are also offered to Lord Mahavir. (Chudaghasa is made with one kg of Avil, ten coconuts [dry], half a kg of pure cow ghee, and half a kg of sugar.)

Festivals like Makara Sankranti, Dasahera, Kumar Purnima, Ramanavami, Dola, Chandana Yatra, and Gahma Purnima are regularly observed in this temple with great pomp and enthusiasm.

Many Mahavir devotees from all over Orissa visit this temple regularly. Certain families visit this temple before any wedding or other auspicious ceremony in their family.

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SRI HANUMAN THINKS DIFFERENTLY, THINKS FAST
THINKS AHEAD AND ACTS FOR SURE

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[ed 14.09.2002]
additional information by
dr. sri jaya shankar [ed. 01.12.2005, 01.06.2020]

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