Prayag

Prayag, also known as Allahabad, is a holy kshetra in Uttar Pradesh that existed during the Vedic period even. The city's original name, Prayaag, derives its name from a magnificent Yaga conducted in this city by Brahma with three agnis (fires)—Aahavaneeyam in the east, Gaarhapatyam in the west, and Dakshinaagni in the south—coming from its position at the sacred confluence [Sangam] of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. For this reason it is also called ‘Terthagni.’.

Later, the Prayag City on the bank of these rivers was founded as Kaushambi by the Kuru rulers of Hastinapur, who developed it as their capital as Kaushambi. The Puranas record that Yayati left Prayag and conquered the region of Saptha Sindhu. It is in this holy kshetra that Lord Rama had spent some time while in exile in the ashram of Sage Bharadwaj before proceeding to nearby Chitrakoot.

From a historical point of view, the Doaba region, including this kshetra, Prayag, was under the control of many empires and dynasties in the past. The area became a part of the Mauryan and Gupta empires of the east and the Kushan Empire of the west before becoming part of the local Kannauj Empire in the 15th century. At a later stage of the history, the Mughal emperor Akbar renamed Prayag as Allahabad.

Maha Kumba at Prayagraj

Prayag [‘Terthagni’] is also known as ‘Prayagraj’ [first among the prayags] and is a holy kshetra, and almost all Bharatvasi would like to visit once in their lifetime. The Maha Kumbh Mela, which is held at this kshetra, attracts millions of people from all over the world. It is still amazing how millions could assemble at the same venue for taking a holy bath in the sacred confluence [Sangam] of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. With each time, the number of people attending the holy Kumbh Mela is only increasing.

While there are people who come to holy baths here and go off, there is great Sri Rama Bakth, who had preferred to stay here permanently. Yes, it is Sri Hanumanji who is residing here in this holy kshetra bestowing blessings to Sri Ram devotees. It is interesting to know the legend as to how Sri Hanumanji had come to stay here.

Legend of Sri Bade Hanuman temple

Rich man of Kannauj

There lived a rich man in the city of Kannauj, which is about 300 km north of Prayag on the banks of the Ganges. He was not blessed with any child, which was a worrying factor for him. He was a great devotee of Sri Hanuman and prayed to Him for a child. He felt that if he built a temple for Sri Hanuman, he would be blessed with a child.

To realise his ambition, he got a statue made for Lord Hanuman, which was huge in measure for installation in his place. As was the practice, the statue of Lord Hanuman was sanctified by taking the statue to the river Ganga. It was opined by many that the statue should be taken to Prayag Kshetra and given a bath at Sangam. Accordingly, he took the huge statue to Prayag, and he sanctified the statue in all the kshetra coming on the way.

Lord Hanuman’s wish

On the arrival of this holy place of Prayagraj, a Lord Hanuman statue was given a holy bath at the sacred confluence [Sangam] of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and [undervahini—under current, hence unseen] Saraswati. While he was camping at this holy kshetra, Lord Sri Hanuman appeared in his dream and gave the blessing that he will soon have a child, but he should leave the statue in Prayagraj itself. The rich man was immensely pleased with the blessings of Lord Hanuman, who answered his request and quenched his anxiety.

As per the instruction of the Lord, he left for his home, leaving behind the huge statue of Lord Hanuman at the Prayagraj. Lord Hanuman remained at this kshetra for long, and in the course of time several areas on the banks of these holy rivers were inundated due to floods. And there was a change in the course of rivers also. Due to all these factors, Lord Hanuman remained immersed in water for some time and, in due course, got deeply immersed in the river sand.

Lord decides to bless

After many years, Lord Hanuman decides to bless the devotees by surfacing from the sand duct in the bank of holy Ganga. A saint by the name of Sri Balgiri used to take a bath in the union of the holy rivers in Sangam regularly. As practiced by the saint, he will make his trishul stand in the banks and take a bath in the Sangam. But on a particular day in the month of Magh, he was not able to make his trishul pierce the sand in the bank of the river. He felt that there should be some object below the sand that was preventing him from this act. Therefore, he carefully excavated and found to his surprise a huge statue of Lord Hanuman. The mahatma Sri Balgiri was thrilled and offered Pooja and Prasad to the Lord Hanuman statue, which was in a reclining position.

It is also said that efforts to put the statue in a standing position or move it to some other safe place were futile; therefore it was felt that Lord Hanuman had decided to stay there blessing His devotees. Therefore, even today we see the Lord in a reclined position at the same place where Sri Balgiri was given darshan by the Lord.

Sri Balgiriji had placed the flag post for the Mandir where Sri Bade Hanuman had established Himself. Even today people visit the temple with their wish, vow to revisit the temple after the fulfillment of the wish, and present a flag post to reestablish the faith in the Lord.

Mandir for Sri Bade Hanuman

Sri Balgiriji established a temple for the Lord at the very same site. During the year 1119 AD, the then rulers had allotted three Isra of land in the same area. He had established a mutt known as ‘Sri Bhagambari Gadhi” in the same place. His descendants, like Sri Sri Purushothamanath Giriji, Sri Sri Vicharananth Giriji, etc., had been maintaining the temple. Presently the establishment is headed by Mahant Sri Narendra Giri; the ashram run by him teaches Veda to many disciples, and they also run a goshala and are involved in all religious activity.

The Mandir on the banks of the Ganges is very close to the fort. As an annual phenomenon, every year during the rainy season, the Ganga would be flooded, and the Ganga water used to enter into the Mandir. And Sri Bade Hanuman will remain immersed in Ganga water a few days thereafter. During this period when Sri Bade Hanuman remains in Ganga water, the pooja used to be performed for the other statue of Sri Hanumanji kept at an elevated platform.

This age-old annual phenomenon, considered very auspicious by the inhabitants of the Prayagraj Sangam city, is not occurring every year. Firstly, because of the construction of the Tehri Dam, along with numerous other small dams along the Ganga, the volume of the Ganga at this kshetra had decreased. This apart, there is a drift in the flow of water of the Ganga; Sri Bade Hanuman takes a deep dip in the Ganga at least once in four years.

Sri Bade Hanuman

The idol of Sri Bade Hanuman is very huge in stature [both figure and status], hence known as Sri Bade Hanuman of Prayagraj. The very sight of the Lord inspires one’s spirituality and elevates their thought. Lord here, seems in the rescuing act of Sri Rama and Sri Lakshman from ‘patal-lok’ [nether world] from Ahi Ravan. [To know more on this episode please click here].

The lord is holding ‘gadha’ in His right hand. His alert eyes are bestowing full blessings on the devotees. Near His right foot is Ahi Ravan and Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana are seen on His left shoulder. Kamada Devi, aradhana Devi of Ahi Ravan is near His left foot.

 

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

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Ed [August 2013]
Photo courtesy:gk kaushik
Updates: [Jan 2025]

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