Mehandipur Balaji Temple

Mehandipur Balaji Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Dausa district of Rajasthan. Lord Hanuman is worshiped as Balaji at many places in India. Bala in Hindi or Sanskrit refers to childhood and Lord Hanuman is celebrated in his childhood form by many Hindus. Its reputation for ritualistic healing and exorcism of evil spirits attracts many pilgrims from Rajasthan and elsewhere.

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Dedicated to Lord Balaji, an incarnation of Hanuman, the Mehandipur Balaji Temple in Dausa is one of the most popular pilgrim sites in Rajasthan, apart from Salasarji Temple in Sikar and KhatuShyam Ji Temple in Khatu Village. Balaji is the childhood form of Hanuman. It is said that an image of Hanuman appeared at this sport. The Lord appeared in the dreams of local priest and asked him to consecrate a temple in his name here. The temple is especially known to get rid of evil spirits. Hundreds of pilgrims bring the ‘possessed’ and the local priests perform the exorcism. The treatment ranges from mild (reading holy texts and consuming strictly vegetarian diet) to more intense one (violent patients are chained and shackled before the exorcism). Festive occasions like Holi, Hanuman Jayanti, are thought to be the most effective times to get rid of such spirits.

The temple also organizes regular charities, food for the poor and stray animals, accommodation for the homeless, etc.

Long ago the image of Lord Balaji and that of Pret Raja (the King of spirits) appeared from the Arawali hills. Now people suffering from malignant spirits and black magic or spell get their relief when they make an appeal for relief to Shri Bhairavji and Shri Pret Raj Sarkar who holds his court and awards punishment to the malignant spirits, ghosts, goblins, ghouls, evil eyed witches etc.Shrine of Balaji, Court of Pret Raja, Pooja griha, Bhairavji temple and Ram Darbar are some of the spots worth seeing here.

Balaji temple at Mehandipur in Rajasthan is very powerful place. It is believed that the deity in this temple has divine power to cure a person possessed with evil spirit.Hundreds of ‘Sankatwalas’, as the possessed people are referred to in local lingo, throng to the temple everyday to offer prayers and have ‘darshan’. The temple has also become a home and the last respite for the victims.The ‘Mahant’ of the temple, Shri KishorPuri Ji, prescribes the treatment. It can include reading holy texts, following a strict vegetarian and simple diet, and even afflicts physical pain to one’s body.

One can witness people going through various physical therapies like keeping heavy stones on their body, on arms, legs and chest, to ease their pain. There are others who inhale the smoke that fumes out of the sweet Patasa’s kept on smoldering cowpats. The ones with serious case of spirit possession, who tends to get violent, are even shackled in chains within the temple premises.

This may appear a bit anachronistic at the first glance, but thousands of people are believed to have been cured in this way. Festival time (Holi, Hanuman Jayanti and Dussheraetc) are regarded as the most auspicious time to emancipate from the evil spirit. Medical science may discard such approach to the ailment as self-deceptions based on blind faith, but for the believers, the power of Balaji is something supernatural, something beyond metaphysics.

It has small pillared balconies in the tradition of Rajput architecture. In fact it is an amazing masterpiece. The superb architectural style and beauty of this temple attracts thousands of tourists all through the year. It displays the uniqueness, richness, royalty, culture as well as heritage of Rajasthan. Thousands of devotees visit the temple to get cured of evil spirits by the divine power. Devotees have faith that they will get saved from unfavorable configurations of the planets on visiting the temple.

In summer the temple is open up to 9:00 PM where as in winter up to 8:00 PM. During this period major part of the Balaji rituals are performed.

The following are the important festivals celebrated at the Mehandipur Balaji Temple: Shri Hanuman Jayanti, Krishna Janamashtami, Jal Jhoolani Ekadashi, Holi, Winter Navaratras, Vijaya Dashami or Dusshera, SharadPoornima, Deepawali, Annakuta, Makar Sankranti, Shiva Ratri, Holi, Spring Navaratras, and Rama Navami.

Holi, Hanuman Jayanti and Dusshera are regarded as the most auspicious time to emancipate from the evil spirit

Mehandipur Balaji Temple By Road

Mehandipur Balaji temple is situated in Todabhim, Karauli district of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is 66 km from Jaipur, 44 km from Hindaun City and 3.4 km from Dausa and is quite close to the Bandikui railway station. The temple is located at 3 km from the Jaipur – Agra national highway from Balaji Mod.

Mehandipur Balaji Temple By Rail

Mehandipur Balaji Temple is well connected through nearest Bandikui railway station(40 kms),to major cities railway stations like Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Chennai, Ajmer, Pali, Jaipur, Ahmedabad.

Mehandipur Balaji Temple By Air

Mehandipur Balaji Temple can be reached through nearest Jaipur Airport (160 Km) which is well connected with regular domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai.

Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Dausa, Rajasthan

Other places which are worth visiting in Karauli district:

KedarNath Cave and Temple:This is the original temple of Kaila Devi. This place was declared unsafe due to threat from the animals in jungle of the Ranthambore. This is situated 3 km from the town. Devotees can walk there for the pray.
Ranthambore Sanctuary:Kaila devi is connected to one side of the century. which has an entrance from this town.
Shri Mahavirji Temple:This is a Famous Jain Temple which is around 45 km from the town.
Barbasin Temple:This is a Barbasin Devi Temple which is situated at a distance of 13 km at the banks of Kalisil River.