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The chief priest of the famous Hanuman Garhi temple is visiting Ayodhya's Ram Mandir on Wednesday on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya, breaking a 300-year-old tradition. How? Once appointed the head priest of the Hanuman Garhi temple, the person has to confine himself within the 52 bighas of the temple premises for his entire life. The chief priest of the temple cannot step out of the premises, reports added.
The tradition began with the establishment of the temple in the 18th century, and is believed to be so strict that the chief priest was barred from even going to the local courts in lawsuits. According to a TOI report, there have been times when the court questioned the temple for the chief priest's absence in instances when the statement was required.
However, on April 30, the Hanuman Garhi chief priest decided to break the centuries-old tradition to visit Ram Lalla. Chief priest of Hanuman Garhi Mahant, Prem Das had expressed his wish to visit the Ram Temple in his lifetime. The Panch (members) of Nirvani Akhara (the apex body of Hanuman Garhi) unanimously granted permission for the visit, the report added.
On April 30, the day of Akshay Tritiya, Mahant Das will leave Hanuman Garhi in a procession that will include elephants, camels and horses. There will be a huge gathering of Naga Sadhus, disciples, devotees, and local traders in the procession that will first reach the banks of the Saryu at daybreak. Here, the Mahant and Naga Sadhu will perform a ritual bath before the procession leaves for the Ram Temple, said Mahant Ramkumar Das, the head of Nirvani Akhara.
Priest Prem Das has left the premises of the Hanuman Garhi temple for the first time in 70 years.
Speaking on the arrangements, SP Madhuban Singh said, "A grand religious procession (Shobha Yatra) is being taken out today from Hanuman Garhi. The Gaddinashin (chief priest) is leading the procession, accompanied by saints and seers from various sects..."
Hanuman Garhi is believed to be the temple of the custodian of Ayodhya and it is located at Ayodhya's highest point. It is said that Lord Hanuman, a devoted servant of Lord Ram, guards the city. The temple deity is revered as the ‘Kotwal' or guardian of the city, and it is believed that seeking Hanuman's blessings is a must before worshipping Lord Ram.
