Priyanshi Pareek
Mahavir Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Hanuman, located in Patna, Bihar, India. Millions of pilgrims visit the temple every year. Acharya Kishore Kunal is the secretary of the Mahavir Mandir Temple Trust, Patna.
It is one of the leading Hanuman temples in the country. Thousands of devotees worshipped Shri Hanumanji and visited the temple. It is a wish-fulfilling temple, where every wish of the devotees is fulfilled, and this is the reason for the increasing number of devotees in the temple.
History
In 1948 AD, the Patna High Court declared it a public temple. The new grand temple was constructed between 1983 AD and 1985 AD with the contribution of Honorable Acharya Kishore Kunal and his devotees, and currently it is one of the world famous temples of the country.
There are two pairs of statues of Shri Hanuman ji together in the temple, the first is Paritranaya Sadhunam which means for the protection of good people and the second is Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam which means to remove the evil of evil people.
Architect
Nestled in the heart of Patna, Bihar, the Mahavir Mandir stands as a testament to devotion and spirituality. Spread across three levels, this revered temple is a hub of religious fervor and diverse offerings for its pilgrims.
On the temple’s ground floor, two distinctive Hanuman idols symbolize noble desires fulfilled and purification of evil deeds. The area extends to a peaceful courtyard with sweet and bookshops, combining spiritual and earthly elements. The central sanctum, Garbhagriha, honors Lord Hanuman and accommodates a shrine for Lord Shiva, drawing devotees for sacred rituals and blessings.
Ascending to the first floor unveils a breathtaking display of life-size idols depicting various Gods and Goddesses. The gallery boasts idols of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Nandi. Among these divine manifestations rests the revered ‘Ramsetu Shila,’ a sacred stone believed to be a fragment of the mythical floating bridge, weighing a substantial 15 kgs, constructed by the vanar sena in the epic Ramayana.
The second floor focuses on religious rituals, featuring the Sanskar Mandap resonating with mantras. It lacks idols but showcases visual narratives from the Ramayana, enhancing the spiritual journey for visitors. The Mahavir Mandir in Patna isn’t just a religious centre; it’s also a cultural treasure, blending architectural grandeur with sacred narratives, symbolizing divinity and spiritual importance.
Festivals Celebrated There
The Mahavir Mandir is a vibrant hub for numerous festivals, drawing thousands seeking solace and blessings from Lord Hanuman. Among the prominent celebrations are:
1. Ramnavami
This festival holds paramount importance, attracting over four lakh devotees in a single day. Devotees immerse themselves in the embrace of Lord Hanuman, receiving divine blessings in the form of Prasad.
2. Hanuman Jayanti
Celebrated with fervent enthusiasm, this festival occurs on the 14th dark fortnight of the Kartika month. The temple radiates with vibrant decorations, enveloped in the resonating chants devoted to Lord Hanuman.
Dalit Priest
Since 13 June 1993, Suryavanshi Das, a person from the Dalit caste, has been priest of the temple, the decision received support from three well known priests, Ramchandra Paramahans, Mahant Avaidyanath of Baba Gorakhnath Dham and Mahant Avadh Kishore Das.
Ram Rasoi
Initiated by Acharya Kishore Kunal, the Shri Mahavir Sthan Nyas Samiti launched a charitable effort on December 1, 2019, at the Amawa Mandir Complex in Ayodhya. Operating daily from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, this initiative provides free food outside the Ramlala temple. Utilizing 60 quintals of Govind Bhog shear rice from Mokri village in Kaimur (Bihar), it aims to feed a thousand devotees daily initially, with plans for expansion to accommodate more visitors in the future.