History of Mahavir Mandir
This Hanuman Mandir in Patna is one of the holiest Hindu temples in the country. In 1948, the Patna High Court declared the existence of the temple to be from time immemorial and made it public. However, historical evidence points to its establishment carried out by Swami Balanand, a Ramanandi sect ascetic in 1730 A.D. It is argued that the temple belonged to this sect but was under possession by the Gosain Sanyasis from 1900 till 1948. Mahavir Mandir gained popularity at the time of partition in 1947. Following the increase in refugee count in Bihar, the temple was rebuilt in concrete at the same time. In 1987, it was broken and rebuilt yet again as a large marble temple.
Architecture of Mahavir Mandir
Including ground floor, the temple has three levels in total. The ground floor houses the idols of Lord Hanuman. It is different from other Hanuman temples in ways of the purposes served by each of the idols. One idol, a sculpted rectangle fulfils desires of noble souls, and the other icon is said to purify evil done by anyone.
The ground floor also opens up to a courtyard and has sweet and bookshops. The central area here is called Garbhagriha which is the sanctorum of Lord Hanuman. There is also a place on the ground floor which houses Lord Shiva. Here devotees gather to perform the holy rituals.
The first floor houses life-size idols of various Gods and Goddesses. There are idols of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati and Nandi. It also houses 'Ramsetu Shila', a stone that is believed to be a part of the floating stone bridge built by the monkey army or the vanar sena in Ramayana. The precious stone weighs around 15 kgs.
The second floor is meant for religious ceremonies and rituals, therefore, does not contain idols. There is a Sanskar Mandap where all the mantras and chants are performed. Moreover, the floor also has pictographic representation from Ramayana.
Major Festivals at Mahavir Mandir
The Temple is a host to many festivals. It is during the festive time of the year that more than thousands of devotees throng to the holy shrine to find solace under the blessings of Lord Hanuman. Below are the essential festivals that witness grand celebrations at the Mandir.
1. Ramnavami
It is the most significant festival to be celebrated here. The temple witnesses footfall of more than four lakh devotees on a single day. People leave themselves in the arms of Lord Hanuman and cherish the blessings received in the form of Prasad.
2. Hanuman Jayanti
The festival is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm and devotion. The celebrations take place on the 14th dark fortnight of Kartika month. Decorations are at their best and temple is drenched in the chants of Lord Hanuman.
How to Reach Mahavir Mandir
The temple is easily accessible from any part of the city as it is located right outside Patna Junction. It is at a distance of 6 km from the Airport and 5 km from Mithapur Bus Stand. One can either hire a cab or take a bus if living afar otherwise rickshaw would serve the purpose of reaching the temple.
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Tips
1. Avoid Tuesday and Saturday due to huge crowd.
2. Parking can be a problem owing to numerous visitors per day.
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