The temple of Siddha Mahavir is situated at a distance of about one Km to the north-east of the Puri Jagannath temple (Gundicha temple of Puri) in Odisha. This is a small temple dedicated to Siddha Mahavir - Hanuman. One can have darshan of seven differently adorned Hanuman on seven days of a week.
Greatness Of Siddha Mahavir Temple
Tulsidas, the author of famous Ramcharitmanas, stayed here
while performing pilgrimage at Puri.
After Bhagavan Sri Rama left earth, it is believed that Hanuman
decided to stay at the Siddha Mahavir temple. As Hanuman is a Chiranjeevi, one
without death, it is believed that his presence is there in the temple.
Siddha Mahavir is considered as one of the Ashta Mahavira (s) of Puri town.
Each day the murti of Siddha Mahavir appears in a different dress:
- Sunday - red
- Monday - black and white
- Tuesday – a mix of five colors
- Wednesday - Blue
- Thursday - Yellow
- Friday - White
- Saturday - Black
Murti Of Hanuman In Puri Siddha Mahavir Temple
The sanctum houses an imposing image of Mahavir (Hanuman) as
the principal deity of the temple, standing at a height of approximately 6
feet. In his left hand, he grasps a gada, while his right hand firmly holds a
massive rock boulder known as Gandha-Mardana Parvata. The deity is enshrined on
an adorned masonry pedestal, standing 2 feet tall. Carved into the pedestal's
slab are numerous diminutive Hanuman figures, locally recognized as the
ashta-mallas, including Sugriva, Jambubahana, Bali, Angada, Susena, and others.
These figures are traditionally considered the eight advisers of Lord Rama
during his expedition to Lanka to rescue Sita from Ravana. Additionally, a
brass image of Hanuman (Mahavira) is placed on the same pedestal as the vije
pratima for ceremonial purposes.
The temple's central deity captivates visitors with its
exquisite craftsmanship, featuring a background slab adorned with a trefoil
arch, makara heads at the base, and a Kirtimukha motif at the apex. The slab is
further embellished with scroll works, flower medallions, and various scenes
from the Ramayana.
Parsva Devatas At Siddha Mahavir Temple
The temple of Siddha Mahavira is adorned with sculptures and
scenes on its façade. The central niches on three sides of the Vimana's bada
house images of parsva devatas, including Yamaraj, Keshari, and Devi Anjana.
Yamaraja, the parsva devata of the southern side niche, is depicted as a
two-handed figure seated on the back of a buffalo, wielding a gada in his right
hand and kala phasa in his left. The background slab features a trefoil arch.
On the western side parsva devata niche, a male figure locally worshipped as Keshari is identified by archaeologist R.P. Mohapatra as an image of Hanuman. Although not entirely in the conventional form of Hanuman, the two-handed Keshari holds a gada in his left hand and an akshamala in his right, adorned with a bead garland. The pedestal is finely carved with six diminutive Mahavir (Hanuman) figures, flanked by two female figures holding fly whisk. The background slab is decorated with a trefoil arch.
Devi Anjana is the Parsvadevata of the northern side central niche of the Vimana's bada. The two-armed image of Devi Anjana cradles a child (Mahavir) in her hands, and she is installed on a double-petalled lotus pedestal. Flanking the goddess are two female figures (Sakhis) holding flywhisks, and the backside head of Devi Anjana is adorned with a trefoil arch.