Mehandipur Balaji Temple is a Hindu Temple located in the Dausa District in the State of Rajasthan. The Temple is located on the Jaipur-Agra Highway at a distance of 103 kilometers from Jaipur. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, who is also known as Balaji.
Mehandipur Balaji is an Extraordinary Pilgrimage Site as it is believed that the Shrine is bestowed with Miraculous Powers that can Heal A Person possessed by Evil Spirits.
Mehandipur Balaji is One of The Most Visited Temples in Rajasthan which sees thousands of Devotees all around the year especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are said to be the days of Lord Balaji. The Devotees also visit the Temple to get exorcised from Ghosts or Evil Spirits. They have immense faith in the Supernatural Powers of the Deity of the Temple and this belief has been proved correct in most cases.
The Legend of Mehandipur Balaji Temple
The Temple though named after Lord Hanuman also enshrines 2 other Deities - Shri Pretraj Sarkar and Shri Bhairav Dev. All these Deities are believed to be associated with Spirits and Ghosts.
Also, it is believed that once you leave the Temple, you should never look back because an Evil Spirit might capture you. It is said that you should leave the Village just after visiting the Temple. This place is not for the Weak-Hearted as the sights and sounds here might haunt you for a long time.
There are certain Rituals to be performed at this Temple that must be carried out by each visitor in the proper sequence. These Rituals are divided into 3 parts-
Darkhwast : This is the very 1st step where you have to buy Darkhwast Laddoos available in the Shops outside the Temple. You will get 2 Plates with 4-5 Laddoos in each Plate, the 1st Plate is to inform God about your presence in the Temple and the 2nd Plate to request guidance and support in solving your problems.
Arzi : Arzi is an offering for Pretraj Sarkar and Kotwal Bhairav Ji. This offering consists of 1.25 kilograms of Laddoos, 2.25 kilograms of Urad Dal and 4.25 kilograms of Boiled Rice. The Arzi is available in all the Shops located just outside the Temple and is to be offered to both the Deities in separate containers.
Savamani : After doing the Rituals and seeking Blessings, if you ask for any wish from Balaji, you must promise that once the wish is completed, you will offer Savamani to the God. Savamani is a special offering that is specifically done on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
This Temple with a strange aura and rituals has a fascinating history associated with it.
According to popular belief, the images of Lord Hanuman or Balaji and Pret Raj were self-manifesting and appeared amidst the Aravali Hills. The area around the Temple was once a Dense Forest with numerous Wild Animals. These images appeared at exactly the same place where the Temple is currently situated.
As per another folk tale, it is believed that a renowned Mahant saw Lord Shri Balaji, Shri Pretraj Sarkar, who is the King of Evil Spirits and Shri Bhairav Dev in his dreams. When he opened his eyes, he saw Lord Hanuman in front of him who ordered the Mahant to be ready to serve his duty. After this incident, they started worshipping Lord Hanuman here and this eventually led to the construction of the Temple.