Pavitra Balaji Temple / l Hanuman Statue Nandura, Nandura, Buldana

The city of Nandura in Buldhana district was once renowned for its painting industry and the exquisite craftsmanship of its woven sarees. Today, however, this city is known as Hanuman Nagari. This new identity has been bestowed upon Nandura due to the hundred and five-foot-tall murti of Pawanputra Hanuman, which seems to touch the very sky. The trust board of the Balaji Mandir, built in the South Indian style, undertook the construction of this magnificent murti. Presently, this is considered the tallest Hanuman murti in Maharashtra. The resplendent golden crown on Shri Hanuman’s head, the elegant ornaments adorning His form, and the intricate artistry on the murti make this a truly captivating sight.

Approximately twenty-five years ago, an onion merchant named Shivram Mohanrao from Andhra Pradesh visited the market in Nagpur. An onion producer from Nandura had brought onions from his farm there for sale. Shri Mohanrao was impressed by the quality of these onions. He inquired of the producer, “From where have these onions been brought?” Upon learning that the onions were from Nandura, Shri Mohanrao visited the city and subsequently decided to settle there for trade. Being a devout bhakta of Balaji, Shri Mohanrao resolved to establish a Balaji Mandir and a grand murti of Hanuman in Nandura. For this purpose, he founded the Balaji Trust in nineteen ninety-nine. At that time, the construction of the hundred and five-foot-tall magnificent murti of Hanuman cost approximately sixty lakh rupees. Many artisans, led by the sculptor John Babu from Peddapuram in Andhra Pradesh, brought this murti to life. The construction of this murti began in December nineteen ninety-nine, and it was completed after two hundred and ten days of tireless effort. On the eighth of November, two thousand and one, the prana-pratishtha of this murti was performed in the presence of Jagannathpuri’s Shankaracharya Nishchalanand Saraswati.

Below this grand murti is a small mandir. This mandir houses the main murtis of Shri Ram, Sita, and Lakshman, and beside them is a small murti of Hanuman. To the left, behind this mandir, on a large platform, stands the magnificent murti of Hanuman. This south-facing murti is thirty-two point ninety-two meters (one hundred and five feet) tall. In its left hand, this murti holds a gada, and its right hand is in the Abhaya Mudra. The sacred symbol ‘Om’ is carved on the palm of this hand. The creation of this murti required marble, iron, and approximately one hundred trucks of cement. The murti is adorned with a silver tilak weighing approximately three kilograms, which has been polished with three hundred grams of gold. About one thousand precious stones, ranging from seven to twelve inches in diameter, have been embedded in the murti. The eyes of the murti are approximately sixty to seventy centimeters in diameter. The murti has been designed to withstand an earthquake of four point five on the Richter scale and a storm with winds blowing at approximately three hundred and fifty kilometers per hour. Arrangements have been made for performing jalabhishek on this murti with the help of a remote control.

In two thousand two-two thousand three, this murti was recorded in the ‘Limca Book of Records’ as the tallest murti of Hanuman. At that time, this hundred and five-foot-tall murti was considered the tallest Hanuman murti in Bharat. However, currently, even taller murtis of Hanuman have been erected in Bharat. The approximately one hundred and eighty-seven-foot-tall Hanuman murti in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, is presently considered one of the tallest in the country. This murti has been constructed using RCC technology in an earthquake-prone area. In the same vein, the one hundred and seventy-six-foot-tall murti in Madapam, Andhra Pradesh, stands on the banks of the Vamsadhara River. In Bidhanagere, Karnataka, there is the country’s tallest Panchamukhi Hanuman murti, standing one hundred and sixty-one feet tall. The one hundred and thirty-five-foot ‘Veera Abhaya Anjaneya’ murti in Paritala is historically significant. The one hundred and eight-foot-tall murtis on Jakhu Hill in Shimla and in Karol Bagh, Delhi, are also on this list. Following these is the one hundred and five-foot-tall murti in Nandura, Maharashtra. In the future, there is a resolve to construct a seven hundred and five-foot-tall murti in Hampi, Karnataka, which will become a global benchmark for Bharatiya architecture.

Stainless steel railings have been installed on all four sides of this murti in Nandura. To the right of this murti are stairs for entering the Balaji Mandir. The main entrance of the mandir features murtis of many deities. After ascending the stairs, one enters the large sabhamandap of the mandir. The pillars in this sabhamandap are intricately carved, and some murtis are also sculpted on them. In the center is the garbhagriha of Balaji. To the left is the garbhagriha of Lakshmi-Narasimha, and to the right is that of Mahalakshmi. This complex includes the Padmavati (Godadevi) Mata Mandir, Garudalaya, a Manokamna Stambh approximately seven feet tall, a Panchadhatu Utsav Murti Mandir, and a depiction of Bhagavan Krishna in His childhood form. On both sides of the mandir are eight murtis depicting Krishnalila. All the mandirs in the complex have beautiful South Indian-style shikhars. The devakoshthakas on these mandirs contain murtis of various deities. In one part of this complex are murtis of Brahma Dev and Veena-holding Saraswati. Nearby are murtis of Shiv Shankar, Parvati, Ganesha, Mushak, and Kartikeya. Additionally, the mandir houses murtis of Sheshashayi Vishnu, Devi Lakshmi, Narada Muni, and Garuda Dev. Every Thursday and Saturday, arrangements are made for annadaan for the devotees who visit here. Festivals such as Ram Navami, Gokulashtami, and Ganesh Chaturthi are celebrated here. Hanuman Jayanti and the Brahmotsav held in the month of Ashwin are the main festivals here. On Hanuman Jayanti, a jalabhishek is performed on the murti in the morning using a remote control. Thereafter, a floral garland weighing approximately one hundred and fifty kilograms is offered to the murti. On this day, various religious programs are organized in the mandir throughout the day.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery