Rare Temples of Lord Hanuman #6

Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!
Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

PANKI HANUMAN

Sri Panki Hanuman temple is located in a place called PANKI about 15 km from Kanpur city in Uttar Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman facing east with eyes prominently appearing like a Salagrama. The massive size idol is smeared with Kesari colour and embossed with silver art work around it. Rarity of the temple is that the face of the Deity Lord Hanuman appears to change thrice in a day. During Sunrise in the morning it appears bright like that of Bala Hanuman (child), during afternoon it appears like that of a youth (brahmachari) and in the evening that of a matured adult (Gnana Hanuman).

Anecdote behind this temple dates back to more than 400 years when, a Mahant by name Sri Purushottam Dasji installed the idol of Lord Hanuman at this place. While he was travelling towards Bithoor (Brahmavarta) during his spiritual pursuit stumbled upon a rock like structure that turned out to be an idol of Lord Hanuman. Though the Mahant wanted to carry it along with him could not do so as the idol became very heavy and the cart on which it was carried could not move an inch further after reaching the present place Panki. Ultimately the idol of Lord Hanuman was installed at this place that came to be known as Panki and started worshipping the same.

The place Panki is easily accessible as it is very nearer to the historical and industrial city of Kanpur located on the Delhi – Howrah main line. Kanpur the city known for its existence since Vedic times is located on the southern banks of holy river Ganges that flows near a place called Bithoor about 25 km from Kanpur. It is said and believed that this place is in existence since the epic days of Ramayana where Sage Valmiki had his ashram and Goddess Sita Devi lived here after she was expelled by Lord Sri Rama. This place is also known as Brahmavarta where Lord Brahma is said to have performed Aswamedha yaga at this place on the banks of river Ganges.

This holy shrine Panki is one of the very famous temples of Lord Hanuman in Uttar Pradesh, attracting lots of pilgrims from across the country whoever visits Kanpur. It is said and believed that the Deity here is known to fulfill the desires of his devotees worshipping Him.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu