A Visit to the Mysterious Mehandipur Balaji Temple

Mehandipur Balaji Temple is a Hindu temple located in the Dausa district in the state of Rajasthan. The temple is located on the Jaipur-Agra highway at a distance of 103 kilometers from Jaipur. The temple is dedicated to lord hanuman, who is also known as Balaji. Mehandipur Balaji is an extraordinary pilgrimage site as it is believed that the shrine is bestowed with miraculous powers that can heal a person possessed by evil spirits.

Mehandipur Balaji is one of the most visited temples in Rajasthan which sees thousands of devotees all around the year especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are said to be the days of Lord Balaji. The devotees also visit the temple to get exorcised from ghosts or evil spirits. They have immense faith in the supernatural powers of the deity of the temple and this belief has been proved correct in most cases.

The Legend of Mehandipur Balaji Temple

The temple though named after Lord Hanuman also enshrines two other deities, Shri Pretraj Sarkar and Shri Bhairav dev. All these deities are believed to be associated with spirits and ghosts. According to legend, the temple has a divine power that can cure physical pain and can cure the people under the influence of black spells or spirits. It is believed that the idol that is worshipped here has manifested on its own. A visit to this temple will make you believe in black magic, spirits, and ghosts. The devotees visiting the temple have to follow strict rules and rituals to seek blessings. Thousands of people under the influence of some evil black magic or spirit gather at the temple to offer regular prayers and seek relief from their condition. 

Mehandipur Balaji temple is filled with rituals that are quite different and strange from all the other temples. Unlike any other temple, the place does not echo with the sound of bells but the screams of possessed people. This is also one of those temples which does not offer Prasad. The devotees have to buy some black balls from outside the temple which are then thrown in the fire in front of the deities.

The locals here also advise tourists not to consume anything or take any food item or water from here. Talking or touching anybody is prohibited inside the temple as the person might be possessed and you might get affected. Also, it is believed that once you leave the temple, you should never look back because an evil spirit might capture you. It is said that you should leave the village just after visiting the temple. This place is not for the weak-hearted as the sights and sounds here might haunt you for a long time.

The Rituals of the Mehandipur Balaji Temple

There are certain rituals to be performed at this temple that must be carried out by each visitor in the proper sequence. These rituals are divided into three parts-

Durkhasta: This is the very first step where you have to buy Durkhasta laddoos available in the shops outside the temple. You will get two plates with 4-5 ladoos in each plate, the first plate is to inform God about your presence in the temple, and the second to request guidance and support in solving your problems.

The process of Durkhasta starts right after the Morning Prayer and lasts until the evening prayer. The devotees have to offer the plates to the priests standing in front of the idols, these priests pick up the ladoos and add them to the fire in front of the idol. The same ritual is to be repeated in front of the idols of Pretraj Sarkar and Kotwal Bhairav Ji. After all the offerings, the leftover ladoos in the plates are rotated anticlockwise over the person’s head 7 times and thrown away without looking back.

Arzi: Arzi is an offering for Pretraj Sarkar and Kotwal Bhairav Ji. This offering consists of 1.25 kilograms of laddoos, 2.25 kilograms of urad dal, and 4.25 kilograms of boiled rice. The Arzi is available in all the shops located just outside the temple and is to be offered to both the deities in separate containers.

Savamani: After doing the rituals and seeking blessings, if you ask for any wish from Balaji, you must promise that once the wish is completed, you will offer Savamani to the god. Savamani is a special offering that is specifically done on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The History of the Temple

 This temple with a strange aura and rituals has a fascinating history associated with it.

According to popular belief, the images of Lord Hanuman or Balaji and Pret Raja were self-manifesting and appeared amidst the Aravali hills. The area around the temple was once a dense forest with numerous wild animals. These images appeared at exactly the same place where the temple is currently situated.

As per another folk tale, it is believed that a renowned mahant saw Lord Shri Balaji, Shri Pretraj Sarkar, who is the king of evil spirits, and Shri Bhairav dev in his dreams. When he opened his eyes, he saw lord hanuman in front of him who ordered the mahant to be ready to serve his duty. After this incident, they started worshipping Lord Hanuman here and this eventually led to the construction of the temple.

The Architecture of the Temple

The architecture of the Mehandipur Balaji temple is inspired by the traditional Rajput architectural style. There are four chambers or sections in the temple, out of which two chambers have idols of Lord Hanuman and Lord Bhairav. The third and fourth chambers are the courts of Pret Raj, king of the spirits. These are where possessed people are treated by the priests. These people are chained and beaten as a part of the treatment. This section will leave you with an uncanny experience. You will see the people possessed by evil spirits banging their heads, harming themselves, and shouting and crying to the top of their voices. You are going to feel a strong presence of negative energy as soon as you reach the temple.

Other Must-Visit Places Near Mehandipur Balaji Temple

Apart from the Mehndipur Balaji Temple, the town of Dausa is also renowned for its ancient forts and heritage sites. So, after your visit to the temple, make sure to visit these tourist attractions located nearby to make the most of your trip.

Chand Baori

Chand Baori is a massive stepwell with around 3500 steps and 13 stories situated in Abhaneri Village. It is believed that this architectural marvel with symmetric triangular steps leading to the water at the bottom was built in just one night. This stepwell is around 1200-1300 years old making it the oldest surviving stepwell in Rajasthan. Chand Baori is one of the most important tourist attractions in Dausa which is visited by thousands of tourists throughout the year.

Harshat Mata Temple

To the west of Chand Baori is located the famous Harshat Mata temple. The temple is dedicated to goddess Harshat, who is considered the goddess of happiness and joy. What we see today are just the ruins of the temples as they once were. The stunning sculptures and carvings on the walls will enchant you. The surroundings and aura of this place are truly amazing.

Bhandarej

This peaceful yet fascinating village situated in the Dausa district is full of surprises. The tourists visiting this village can explore ancient monuments and temples that showcase the history of the village with perfection. This village also offers a plethora of activities including horseback riding, camel rides, and jeep safaris. If you visit this alluring place, make sure you buy carpets and pottery items manufactured by the locals.

How to Reach Mehandipur Balaji Temple

The Mehnadipur Balaji temple is situated in Todabhim village situated at the border of two districts- Karauli and Dausa in the state of Rajasthan. The town of Dausa is well-connected to all the major cities of the country. You can easily approach the town either by boarding a flight or a train. You can also reach here via roadways.

By Air: Dausa is easily accessible from Jaipur International Airport located at a distance of about 62 kilometers. From here, you can easily get a cab to Mehandipur Balaji Temple. Another convenient airport to reach the town is the Kheria Airport in Agra located 133 kilometers away from the town.

 

By Rail: Another feasible option to reach the town is via railways. Dausa is well-connected to most of the towns and cities of India through rail routes. Dausa Railway Station is the closest railway head to the Mehnadipur Balaji temple. Apart from this, Bandikui Junction is another railway station located at a distance of around 38 kilometers from Dausa.

By Road: Dausa has great connectivity to all the major cities located nearby. The town is located at a distance of about 55 kilometers from Jaipur and can be accessed easily via road. If you wish to reach via roadways, the best option is to go for Rajasthan state transport or private buses running regularly from the cities like Delhi, Agra, and other nearby districts and cities to Dausa. 

Mehandipur Balaji temple is a significant site for the devotees of lord hanuman. This is the only temple in India known for curing people under the influence of black magic or an evil spirit. A visit to the temple can be a disturbing experience for some people. But, the devotees have great belief in the methods used here to treat these people. Lakhs of devotees visit the temple, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays.