Shree Kashtabhanjan Dev Hanumanji Temple, Salangpur

Hanuman Temple is a Hindu temple located in Sarangpur, Gujarat. It belongs to the Vadtal Garhi (Lakshmi Narayan Dev Garhi) of the Swaminarayan sect. It is one of the two Swaminarayan temples that do not have idols of Swaminarayan or Krishna as the primary deity of worship, the other being located at Kamiyala. It is dedicated to Hanumanji in the form of Kashtabhanjana (crusher of sorrows).

History and description

This temple is basically the most prominent in the Swaminarayan sect. Gopalananda Swami had installed the idol of Hanuman. According to author Raymond Williams, it is reported that when Sadhguru Gopalananda Swami installed the Hanuman idol, he touched it with a stick and the idol came alive and moved. This story has become a manifesto for the healing rituals performed at this temple.There is a strong sculpture of Hanuman, who is crushing a demon under his foot and baring his teeth. In 1899 Kothari Govardhan Das of Vadtal appointed Sri Gopalananda Swami to manage the affairs of the temple; During his tenure, Shastri Yajnapurushadas renovated the site, built bungalows adjacent to the complex and acquired more land to bring the complex to its present state. Yagyapurushdas then separated from it in 1907 and formed the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. Govardhandas then appointed a new Mahant of the temple of Sarangpur. Since then Vadtal Garhi has undertaken additional improvements and construction of buildings on the temple.