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Rajasthan Salasar Balaji Temple
Location | Salasar, Churu, Rajasthan, India |
Built by | |
Also known as | |
Primary deity | Lord Balaji |
Important Festivals | |
Attraction |
Salasar Balaji Temple is an ancient old Hindu Temple which houses the idol of Lord Balaji who is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Hanuman. All throughout the year the visitors visit this temple while pay homage to the principal deity of this temple and offer their puja and offerings. The idol of Lord Hanuman in Salasar temple is also considered as Swayambhu. Connected by the national highway, this temple is 165 kms away from Jaipur while is nearly 2 and half hours away, with assortment of refreshments en route.
Apart from this, the temple is also acknowledged for being in close proximity to Sikar, Sujangarh, Lakshmangarh. The other two attractions which attract the people to visit this temple are Simode Fort resort and Mandwa, which are actually luxury tourist destinations.
History
Though there are numerous legends attached to the origin of Salasar Balaji yet as per legends it is said that this temple was discovered by Ginthala Jat who belonged to Asota village, Rajasthan. In the year 1811, a miracle took place one Saturday of Shraavana Shukla. While ploughing his field, he felt that his plough was hit by a stone thing while a resonating sound was heard. He started digging more and found an idol that was covered with sand. He showed this idol to his wife who then cleaned the idol with her saree. The idol was of Hanumanji i.e. Balaji.
Ginthala then dreamt that Lord Balaji asked him to send the idol to Salasar Churu. The idol was then sent to Salasar while it was consecrated there at a place which is now called the Salasar Dham.
How To Reach
By Air
The nearby domestic airport that is located in Jaipur is approximately 189 kms from the stranded town. The Jaipur airport is also well connected to different cities of the country. For the foreign tourists, Indra Gandhi International Airport is the best. You can hire a taxi and reach Churu, Salasar.
By Rail
Salasar can be reached by train also. Bikaner and Jaipur are the nearby railway stations from where you can take an auto or cab and reach this place. There are numerous auto and cabs that help you in reaching Salasar.
By Road
Churu is easily accessible by road as it is well connected through highways and a meter gauge line which runs throughout the town. Further you can take state or local transport buses and reach the temple.
Important Shrines
The important shrines near the temple include – Temple of Anjani Mata, Sri Mohan Mandir, Dhunia of Mohandas, Shayanan Mata Mandir and Gudavadi Shyam Temple.
Significance Of The Temple
The Salasar Balaji Temple is well known for its fair and festival that it hosts. Shri Hanuman Jayanti is the main festival which is witnessed by many devotees that come from different parts of the country. The other fairs include – Bhaadra Chukla Chaturdashi and Purnima, Ashvin Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima. The temple is acknowledged for its aim which is to propagate the devotion of Lord Hanuman and hence Lord Rama. Many visitors choose to come on feet however there are some prostrated movements which show the intense devotion of people towards lord Balaji.
The temple was built over a time period of 2 years by using marble, lime mortar, cement, stones, and bricks. The white marble has been used extensively during the construction of the temple. The shrine of the temple is adorned with floral patterns together with some other kinds of mosaic work which is done in Silver and Gold which gives the temple an elegant look.
Weather And Time To Visit
The place experiences extreme dry and harsh climate desert conditions which makes it difficult for the tourists to visit this temple. The summer months are unbearable. Rainfall is little in this area while the winters are extremely cold. If you are travelling during the summer season, you must carry light cotton clothes while in winters carry some warm clothes. The winter temperature can reach below the freezing temperatures. The ideal time to visit Salasar Balaji Temple in Salasar is from June to October.
Accomodation
The region Salasar has excellent accommodation facilities. Main accommodation facilities which are economical can be located near the transportation hubs, while the luxury hotels and resorts can be found in the main heart of the city. These hotels can be from 5 stars to 1 star.
Tips For Devotees
Since the temple remains open from 4am to 10 pm, it is advised to visit during these hours only. The temple also remains open 24*7 on some special occasions like the Hanuman Jayanti when pilgrims visit the place in great numbers. Winters are ideal to visit the temple as the climate is pleasant and perfect for visiting. Devotees must not carry any alcohol or meat product inside the premises of the temple.
Rules And Rituals Of The Temple
- Of the different traditions which are performed at the temple, coconut tying is the main ritual. Coconut together with moli which is a sacred thread is tied in the premises of the temple by the devotees. The custom of tying coconut with moli is considered to be sacred.
- The other ritual followed by the devotees of this temple is the practice of offering food that weighs up to 50 kg. This offering is called Swamani. This food offering is prepared by the cooks of the temple while includes Dal Bati and Churma.
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