Hanuman Garhi head priest breaks 300-year-old tradition, visits Ram Mandir
Ayodhya: Breaking a 300-year-old tradition,
Mahant Prem Das
on Wednesday became the first head priest of Ayodhya's
Hanuman Garhi
temple to step outside the revered temple's premises, as he led a procession to the Ram Mandir on the occasion of
Akshaya Tritiya festival
.
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Mahant Das visited the Ram Mandir in a "Shahi Juloos" (royal procession), in a historic departure from centuries-old tradition that forbade the head priest from ever leaving the 52-bigha premises of Hanuman Garhi during his lifetime.
Thousands of Naga Sadhus, devotees, and disciples joined the procession, which featured elephants, horses, camels, and musical performance by local troupes. The spiritual journey began on the banks of the Saryu river, where Mahant Das and others performed a ritual bath, before proceeding to offer prayers to Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir."
This tradition has been followed for 288 years, since 1737," Mahant Sanjay Das, a senior seer of Hanuman Garhi, said. "The Mahant's role is to devote himself entirely to Lord Hanuman. Once he is anointed on the seat, he lives and dies within the temple premises. His body can only leave the premises after his death," he said.
The tradition, which began with the establishment of the temple in the 18th century, was so strict that the chief priest was even barred from appearing before local courts in lawsuits.
There are occasions in recorded history when the court came down to the temple for the chief priest to depose and record his statement.
The tradition was set aside for once, with the consent of all religious bodies, at the request of Mahant Prem Das to visit the Ram Mandir in his lifetime. The "Panch" (five members) of Nirvani Akhara (the apex body of Hanuman Garhi) unanimously granted the permission to him.
Hanuman Garhi is revered as the custodian of Ayodhya due to its historical significance, its location at Ayodhya's highest point, and the belief that Hanuman, a devoted servant of Lord Ram, guards the city.
The temple deity is considered the "Kotwal" or guardian of the city, and it's believed that seeking Hanuman's blessings before worshipping Lord Ram is a tradition.
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NDTV
30-04-2025
- NDTV
Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi's Head Seer Breaks Tradition To Visit Ram Temple
Ayodhya: Mahant Prem Das became the first head seer of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi to step outside the revered temple's premises in over 300 years as he led a procession to the Ram temple on Akshaya Tritiya festival. Das visited the newly consecrated Ram Temple in a grand 'Shahi Juloos' (royal procession) in a historic and emotional departure from a centuries-old religious tradition that forbade the head priest from ever leaving the 52-bigha premises of Hanuman Garhi during his lifetime. Thousands of Naga Sadhus, devotees and disciples joined the procession, which featured elephants, horses, camels and musical performances by local troupes. The spiritual journey began at the banks of the Saryu River, where Mahant Prem Das and others performed a ritual bath, before proceeding to offer prayers at the Ram Temple. "This tradition has been followed for 288 years, since 1737," said Mahant Sanjay Das, a senior seer of Hanuman Garhi. "The Mahant's role is to devote himself entirely to Lord Hanuman. Once he is anointed to the seat, he lives and dies within the temple premises. His body can only leave after death." Mahant Ramkumar Das, chief of the Nirvani Akhara, told PTI that due to the presiding seer's deep desire to visit the Ram Temple, he was granted this "once-in-a-lifetime permission". According to the constitution of Hanuman Garhi, formalised in 1925, these traditions were recognised and enforced by the Naga Sadhus. "Even in civil matters, the courts have respected this tradition," said Sanjay Das. "If needed, a representative of the Akhara appears in court. In fact, in the 1980s, the court itself held sessions inside Hanuman Garhi to record statements from the Mahant," he said. However, the recent decision was not taken lightly. It came only after the 'Panch' (governing members) of the Nirvani Akhara -- the esteemed religious body that oversees HanumanGarhi -- unanimously permitted the Mahant's wish to visit Ram Lalla's temple. Mahant Ramkumar Das, chief of the Nirvani Akhara, said, "The presiding seer's deep desire to visit the Ram Temple was heartfelt. After ritual discussions and overwhelming spiritual consensus, the Akhara granted this once-in-a-lifetime permission." The procession carried the Akhara's 'Nishaan' (insignia) with immense reverence and symbolism. Alongside the Mahant were large groups of temple disciples, local shopkeepers and worshippers who saw the event as a powerful expression of religious unity and devotion.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Time of India
Hanuman Garhi head priest breaks 300-year-old tradition, visits Ram Mandir
Ayodhya: Breaking a 300-year-old tradition, Mahant Prem Das on Wednesday became the first head priest of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi temple to step outside the revered temple's premises, as he led a procession to the Ram Mandir on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya festival . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Mahant Das visited the Ram Mandir in a "Shahi Juloos" (royal procession), in a historic departure from centuries-old tradition that forbade the head priest from ever leaving the 52-bigha premises of Hanuman Garhi during his lifetime. Thousands of Naga Sadhus, devotees, and disciples joined the procession, which featured elephants, horses, camels, and musical performance by local troupes. The spiritual journey began on the banks of the Saryu river, where Mahant Das and others performed a ritual bath, before proceeding to offer prayers to Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir." This tradition has been followed for 288 years, since 1737," Mahant Sanjay Das, a senior seer of Hanuman Garhi, said. "The Mahant's role is to devote himself entirely to Lord Hanuman. Once he is anointed on the seat, he lives and dies within the temple premises. His body can only leave the premises after his death," he said. The tradition, which began with the establishment of the temple in the 18th century, was so strict that the chief priest was even barred from appearing before local courts in lawsuits. There are occasions in recorded history when the court came down to the temple for the chief priest to depose and record his statement. The tradition was set aside for once, with the consent of all religious bodies, at the request of Mahant Prem Das to visit the Ram Mandir in his lifetime. The "Panch" (five members) of Nirvani Akhara (the apex body of Hanuman Garhi) unanimously granted the permission to him. Hanuman Garhi is revered as the custodian of Ayodhya due to its historical significance, its location at Ayodhya's highest point, and the belief that Hanuman, a devoted servant of Lord Ram, guards the city. The temple deity is considered the "Kotwal" or guardian of the city, and it's believed that seeking Hanuman's blessings before worshipping Lord Ram is a tradition.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chief priest steps out of Hanuman Garhi, visits Ram temple in ‘Shahi Juloos'
letters@ : A nearly 300-year-old tradition was broken at Ayodhya's famous Hanuman Garhi temple for the first time in nearly 300 years when the chief priest (Gaddi Nasheen) Mahant Prem Das stepped out of the premises on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Wednesday and visited the Ram temple in a procession after taking a ritual bath in the Saryu river. According to the centuries' old tradition of the Hanuman Garhi temple, it is mandatory for the presiding Mahant (chief priest) to never leave the premises, which is defined as an area of 52 bighas, for the rest of his life after being ordained to the position of Gaddi Nasheen. But on Wednesday, riding on elephants, horses and camels, hundreds of Naga sadhus took part in the 'Shahi Juloos' (procession) led by Mahant Prem Das with the Nirvani Akhara's 'Nishaan' (insignia) to the accompaniment of music and dances by local performers who followed. The departure from tradition came after the Panch (members) of Nirvani Akhara, which manages the Hanuman Garhi temple, were moved by the desire of the chief priest to visit the Ram temple and they unanimously granted him permission to do so. Mahant Sanjay Das, a senior mahant (priest) of Hanuman Garhi temple, said: 'The tradition (of the chief priest not stepping out of the premises) has been going on for 288 years (since 1737). This is because the head priest is dedicated solely to serving Lord Hanuman. The constitution of Hanuman Garhi was documented in 1925, where the traditions that had been followed since the beginning were formally recognised by the Naga Sadhus. After assuming the position, the head priest resides within the Hanuman Garhi complex. They serve Lord Hanuman there, and their only their body can leave the premises (after death).' Sanjay Das, a senior mahant (priest) of Hanuman Garhi said, 'The civil court also respects this rule of Hanuman Garhi. In any civil lawsuit, the representative of the Akhara appears in court instead of the presiding Mahant. If necessary, the court itself comes to Hanuman Garhi to record the statement of the presiding Mahant.' Though the distance between Hanuman Garhi temple and Ram temple is just about 1 km, the entire Wednesday's event lasted about seven hours with the procession covering a distance of about 6 km. The procession first reached the banks of the Saryu River (2 km from Hanuman Garhi). Thereafter, the chief priest and Naga Sadhus took a ritual bath in the river. Next, the procession moved towards the Ram temple, said Mahant Ramkumar Das, the chief of Nirvani Akhara. The procession returned to Hanuman Garhi from Ram Temple at around 1 pm.
