ORAL HISTORY ASSIGNMENT

MEHANDIPUR BALAJI: MYSTERY OF THE

RELIGIOUS DEITY

Name- Suhani Pandey

Enrollment number-L22BALU0045
Batch- A
 Index
 Introduction
 Architecture
 Story of Mehandipur Balaji
 Tempe Rituals
 Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION
“Oral History” is a maddeningly imprecise term: it is used to refer to formal, rehearsed accounts of the
past presented by culturally sanctioned tradition-bearers; to informal conversations about “the old days”
among family members, neighbors, or coworkers; to printed compilations of stories told about past times
and present experiences; and to recorded interviews with individuals deemed to have an important story
to tell. Oral history helps us understand how individuals and communities experienced the forces of
history.
India is a roller coaster ride with scenic locations, mountains, beaches, adventurous spots and rich flora
and fauna. Apart from this, India is an extravagance of culture, beliefs and mysteries. In this Land of
Wonders, every place either has a History or a Mystery. One such place well known for Mysteries is the
Mehandipur Balaji Temple in Rajasthan.
Mehandipur Balaji Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Dausa district of the state of Rajasthan,
dedicated to Lord Hanuman (the god of strength). The mighty Hindu God is also famously known as
Balaji, hence the name of the temple.It is believed that the place has magical powers, making it a
pilgrimage site for devotees to come and pay their respects.
 ARCHITECTURE
Constructed somewhere in the 11th Century, the area of the temple was a forest, which eventually turned into a
small village. The idol of Lord Hanuman or Balaji is self-constructed with stones of a hill and the remaining
temple is constructed accordingly. The Mehandipur Balaji Temple in Rajasthan has extraordinarily amazing
architecture, with its small pillared balconies boasting of the Rajput style design. The beauty of this place is
pretty unique.
The deities residing inside the temple are approximately 1000 years old. Like said before, the idol of Lord
Hanuman is believed to have appeared on its own, amidst the Aravalli Hills. The area of the temple used to be a
dense forest where Shri Mahant Ji’s ancestors started worshipping Balaji.Along with worshipping Lord
Hanuman, the Mehandipur Balaji Temple also has shrines for Pret Raj Sarkar and Kotwal Bhairav Ji.
 STORY OF MEHANDIPUR BALAJI
Once there was a true man in Mehandipur in Rajasthan province aged around 30 years. He was a pious
soul and a great devout. He had not got married for some reason. Wherever there used to be the
recitation of the story of God or a Satsang was held, he used to reach that place. Everyone says that
salvation cannot be attained without a Guru. He also made a guru. He used to read and narrate
Ramayana. If any ‘Path’ is to be done, then the flame of ‘desi ghee’ (clarified butter) of cow or buffalo is
lit, which serves as a ritual where prayers are offered to God in front of ritualistic fire called ‘Hawan’.
He had also built a temple of Sri Rama in which the idols of Ramchandra, Sita, Lakshman, and
Hanuman were also installed. In front of those idols, they used to lit an unbroken burning flame. If there
was a Phantom obstruction in someone then the flame that was awakened in that temple Ashram, that
ghost/phantom would start shouting seeing the idol of Hanuman, Shri Rama, Lakshmana, Sita that ‘leave
me Baba; I would never come’.
Once his Guru Ji fell ill and went to a distant city for treatment. He had to stay there for about 6 months
but later he died. That devotee Mehandipur used to lit an unbroken burning flame in front of the stone
idol of Hanuman Ji (that was found by him at a high place in the rainy season when the soil was cut and
swept which was not in very good condition, that is, was not clean, but it seemed that it is of Hanuman Ji.
He picked it considering it to be the grace of Hanuman Ji) and installed that idol in one place and lit an
unbroken flame. Within 6 months he became famous all around at that time. Those who used to go to the
Guru or all the new ones started going to Mehandipur. The Phantom barrier issue started curing. In that
innocent devotee developed the illusion that you too have powers like Guru Ji. He became a Mahant. The
Phantom entered in that devotee
 TEMPLE RITUALS
The timings of Mehandipur Balaji Temple are 6 AM to 11:30 AM and then, 12 PM to 9 PM. The regular
activities that are performed in the temple include holy rituals and offering food to the needy. Some
specific rituals are to be performed by the devotees visiting the temple; keeping the darshan time of
Mehandipur Balaji temple in mind, the rituals are to be done in the following sequence –

Durkhasta:Take Durkhasta Laddoos from any of the shops outside the temple. The laddoos will be
provided in two plates, once you reach the temple, hand over the plates to the priests standing in front of
the shrine door. They will pick the laddoos (no specific numbers) and add them to the fire that is burning
in front of the deity. It is said that the first plate is to inform Lord Balaji that you are there to seek his
blessings and the second plate is to request him to guide you towards your goals. Durkhasta is offered
after the prayer in the morning and before the evening prayer. You have to repeat the same for Pret Raj
Sarkar and Kotwal Bhairav Ji. Once you are done with the Durkhasta ritual, you have to eat two laddoos
out of the leftover ones. The container that has more bhog left in them is encircled by people around their
head 7 times in an anticlockwise direction. It is then thrown away without looking backwards.
Arzi:Once you are done with Durkhasta, the next ritual is Arzi. You have to order Arzi from any of the
shops outside the temple, having a fixed price of INR 270. Arzi includes 2.25 kg Urad Dal, 1.25 kg
Laddoos, and 4. 25 kg Boiled Rice. You have to offer this to Pret Raj Sarkar and Kotwal Bhairav Ji in
two separate containers.
Savamani:Before you leave the temple, if you ask for any wish, you have to tell Balaji that you will come
back again to offer Savamani to him. This ritual is done on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Conclusion