Hindu Temple in Karachi: Lack of funds for renovation

Chaitra Shuddha Chaturdashi

This is the pitiable condition of Hindu Temples in Pakistan & Bangladesh. Will Congress Government help Hindus in Karachi to renovate this temple, who is always busy in giving money of Hindus to Madarsas & Haj Pilgrims? In fact, Congress have started to loot money of Hindu Temples & give it to Moaques & Churches- Editor

Ancient Hindu Temple in Karachi which is need of renovation

Karachi: One of Karachi’s most revered Hindu temples, the ancient Shri Punch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir located in Soldier Bazar, is expected to be renovated in what is seen as a step being taken after possibly several hundred years. The aesthetically designed temple is a heritage landmark of Karachi, where the statue of Lord “Punch Mukhi” Hanuman appears naturally in a stone surface. This statue is believed to be much older, claim worshippers.

While this is a significant event, there are not enough funds to make it happen. The government is not helping and this puts the burden on the small middle and lower income Hindu community in the city to chip in money for a project that has international significance.

Work on the temple is expected to start soon, informed a member of the temple committee. “Over the past few years the number of devotees has increased so we need to expand the temple.

Moreover, the structure of the temple is now becoming weaker so the present Maharaj (Priest), Shri Ram Nath, decided to take the initiative,” informed Pawan Kumar Perchani, Advisor to the Maharaj. A few years back, only the renovation of the dome cost the community Rs1.8 million. It is expected that the community will have to raise much more money this time.

The money is hard to come by. “We don’t receive enough donations. Most of money we collect everyday is utilized for the day-to-day upkeep of the temple. We hope the Pakistan Hindu Council, formed recently, is able to raise funds now,” said a caretaker at the temple. This temple is also refered to as the ‘Soldier Bazar Temple.’

The temple is of special significance to the Hindu community as it is one of a kind in the world where the statue of Lord Punch Mukhi Hanuman appears naturally. Devotees say that that Lord Ram visited the sacred place as well.

“The murti (statue) first appeared in 1882 (according to the Hindu lunar calendar). This entire land was surrounded by water back then,” stated Shri Ram Nath Maharaj, the priest of the temple, while talking to The News.

One can see the huge stone statue of Lord Punch Mukhi Hanuman in its natural form to date in the main temple along with another statue of Hanuman in a separate area of the temple. Unlike some temples in the city that have fallen victim to vandalism, the priests at this temple have managed to preserve it well.

The tile work of the Mandir floor is still intact and in good shape, a testimony to its glorious past and the resourcefulness of its caretakers.

“When this temple was first constructed, the first Maharaj, Shri Guru Mahant Pancham Dasji, decided to preserve the temple in its natural form and we have been following his footsteps,” adds the Shri Ram Nath Maharaj, who is sixth in line as Maharaj. His predecessor, Shri Guru Mahant Baldev Das Mahraj, passed away in 2001.

Citing the historic significance of the temple from the Hindu epic Ramayana, Shri Ram Nath said that according to Hindu belief Lord Hanuman evolved a syncretic form with five heads and ten arms to combat the powerful evil forces of Ahi and Mahi Ravan (devils) and rescue Lord Ram and Lord Laxman from their clutches. “During the Ramayana war, Lord Ram and Laxman were held captive and the only way to kill them was by extinguishing five lamps burning in different directions at the same time so Lord Hanuman took this form to accomplish his task,” the Maharaj said.

Since then he was known to be the powerful protector. Shri Ram Nath said that centuries later, when the world was surrounded by evil forces, Guru Mahant Pancham Das Mahraj, a pious man, constantly prayed and meditated for 11 days for the reappearance of the Punch Mukhi (Five faced) Hanuman. The local belief is that following this prayer session, a statue of Hanuman was discovered from this location on what was then called Mukhi Chohitram Road (now called the Soldier Bazar Road). This temple was later constructed in honour of the Punch Mukhi Hanuman.

“This fact is also mentioned in Kitab al-Hind (the Book of India) by renowned Islamic scholar Al-Biruni,” asserts the Maharaj.

Although the temple is largely dedicated to Lord Hanuman, statues of other Hindu dieties are in residence as well. To commemorate the birth of Lord Hanuman, Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated by the community at the temple on Sunday (April 20) this year. Hundreds of visitors from across the province are expected to attend the event and celebration will start from Saturday night.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk

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