Standing

Kashtbhanjan Dev Hanuman Temple, Sarangpur (Salangpur)

A Hanuman temple of the Vadtal Swaminarayan diocese in the village of Sarangpur, where people come for release from afflictions. Hanuman here crushes a demoness under his foot.

Built: Murti installed by Sadguru Gopalanand Swami of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, mid-19th centuryWhere: Gujarat (Botad district)Deity: Shri Hanuman as Kashtbhanjan Dev, remover of suffering22.16° N, 71.77° E
  1. mid-19th century
  2. April 2023
Photo: Rahilarious · CC BY-SA 4.0

01Gopalanand Swami’s murti

Gopalanand Swami, one of the senior sadhus of Swaminarayan, installed the murti in the mid-19th century, and the sampradaya tells that during the installation he touched it with a stick and it trembled with life. Hanuman stands with a mace, his foot pressing down a demoness; fruit-laden monkeys play round him. Saturday is his day, and on Hanuman Jayanti and Kali Chaudas the village is packed. People suffering from what they believe are spirits or curses are brought before him, and many leave the threads tied on them at the temple.

02The King of Salangpur

In April 2023 a 54-foot bronze Hanuman, called the King of Salangpur, was unveiled in the temple grounds and can be seen from the fields around. A large BAPS mandir stands in the same village, so pilgrims often visit both. The temple runs a free kitchen for all who come, and its guest houses take in pilgrims who arrive for the Saturday darshan and the Kali Chaudas night.

The life of this place

  1. mid-19th centuryGopalanand Swami installs the murti of Kashtbhanjan Dev.
  2. April 2023The 54-foot King of Salangpur statue is unveiled.
Visiting

Sarangpur is about 150 km from Ahmedabad and 12 km from Botad, the nearest railhead.