Bade Hanuman Ji Temple

Some 500 meters north of Prayagraj Fort, there lies a renowned religious site - Bade Hanuman Ji Temple. Also called Lete Hanuman Mandir, the shrine is an underground pit that houses an enormous image of Lord Hanuman in a lying position. This is the only Lord Hanuman temple in the world with the idol in the reclining position. Another interesting thing to know about this popular Hindu temple in Prayagraj is that one side of Lord Hanuman’s statue is half immersed in the water of the River Ganges. In the monsoon season when the water level rises, it is believed that the water of the river rises to touch the feet of the deity. During this time, a lot of devotees come to visit this sacred sight. Inside the temple, there is a sanctum that houses the idol of Lord Hanuman which lies 8.1 feet below the shrine.

History of Bade Hanuman Ji Temple

The legend has it, there was a rich trader in the city of Kannauj. With great wealth, the trader was living his life without any issues, however, he wanted a son. And for that, he went towards the Vidhyanchal hills to construct a temple of Lord Hanuman. As he desired, he built a temple in the hills and also erected a huge stone idol of Lord Hanuman which he decided to bathe in many sacred places. After cleansing the statue from various sacred places, he arrived at Sangam in Prayagraj. The night when he was asleep, he dreamt that if he leaves the statue at this place then all his unfulfilled wishes will ultimately come true. As a result of that, he left the statue at Prayagraj and returned to Kannauj. After some time, he was blessed with a son and all his wishes also came true. Over time, the statue got stuck under the sand and remained submerged in the water.