Prasanna Shree Siddha pe Hanuman Temple Balapur, Balapur, Acola

Hanuman, one of the seven immortals (Saptachiranjivi), is considered the embodiment of strength and devotion. Worshipped by many names such as Maruti, Bajrang, Balbhim, Ramdoot, Kesarinandan, Anjaneya, Vayuputra, Pavansut, Vajrang, Sankatmochan, Mahavir, Maharudra, and Hanumant, Hanuman is the beloved deity of countless devotees. Hanuman is considered the original deity of the non-Aryan people. There is not a single village in Maharashtra where there is no idol of Hanuman. There is an ancient site of Hanuman in Balapur, situated at the confluence of the Man and Mhais rivers. The Hanuman here is known by the name Shri Siddha Tape.

Balapur, situated at the confluence of the Man and Mhais rivers, has a grand history. The Balapur Fort here is considered the strongest fort in Vidarbha. Aurangzeb’s son, Azam Shah, began the construction of this fort in 1721. Records indicate that the work on this fort was completed by the then Nawab of Ellichpur (present-day Achalpur in Amravati), Ismail Khan. To the south of this fort is the famous temple of Baladevi. It is said that the city of Balapur derives its name from this Goddess. There are many ancient temples in Balapur taluka. The Siddha Tape Hanuman Temple is one of them. Situated in a scenic environment spread over three hectares, this temple also features shrines dedicated to Shivshankar, Radhakrishna, Ambika Mata, and the Ram Darbar.

The legend of this temple is that about 500 years ago, a commander from the Thakur tribe in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh was passing through on an expedition with his army. During that time, he camped in the Balapur area for a while. Finding the area pleasing, he decided to build a temple for his beloved deity, Hanuman, here. Initially, the temple was small in size, standing on a simple platform. Over time, a monk arrived here and performed penance for 24 years. Because of this, he came to be known as Tapi Maharaj, and the Hanuman here began to be addressed by his name. This is considered a unique example of a deity being addressed by the name of a devotee.
The spires of this temple, located near the Balapur bypass on the Khamgaon-Akola road, are visible from a distance. In the courtyard in front of the temple, there is a tin shed and a cowshed (Goshala) on the left. In this same courtyard, there is an ancient Shiva Linga and Nandi. In front of it is a beautiful idol of Shiva. There is a sacrificial pavilion (Yajna Mandap) here. In a small temple in front of this pavilion, there are three idols of Hanuman. Next to the main temple is the Saint’s Hall (Sant Bhavan). The temple structure consists of an assembly hall (Sabha Mandap) and three sanctum sanctorums (Garbhagriha). One enters the assembly hall through an arched gateway. In this assembly hall, there is a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as well as an idol of Sai Baba. To the right of the assembly hall is the sanctum of Ambika Mata, where a beautiful idol of the Goddess is enshrined. In front of the nearby Shiva sanctum is an idol of Nandi. Inside the sanctum, there is a Shiva Linga with a serpent hood canopy over it. In a niche in the back wall, there is an idol of Goddess Parvati.

In the center of the assembly hall is the main sanctum of Hanuman. On one wall of this sanctum, there is a painting of footprints (Paduka). Inside the sanctum, the vermilion-smeared idol of Hanuman, placed on a diamond pedestal (Vajrapitha), wears a mask. In front of this sanctum is the Ram Darbar, which contains marble idols of Shri Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. Additionally, there are metal idols of Shri Ram, Lakshman, and Sita here, which are placed in a palanquin during festivals. There is also a temple of Radha-Krishna in the temple complex. In the vicinity of this temple, there are also idols of Mounibaba Maharaj, Suryanand Puri Maharaj, and others who performed penance here. There are a total of five spires on the roof of this temple. Near the kitchen in the temple premises, there is an old hand-mill (Jate). This hand-mill is still used to grind grain today, which is then used to prepare offerings (Naivedya) in the temple.

Major festivals like Hanuman Jayanti and Ram Janmotsav are celebrated in this temple with great devotion and enthusiasm. Similarly, festivals like Mahashivratri and Krishna Janmashtami are also celebrated here. On the occasion of festivals, a community feast (Bhandara) is organized. There is a large crowd of devotees here on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and on the day of the full moon (Purnima).

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