Trip to Varanasi aka Banaras aka Kashi: Chapter 5: Part 3: Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University and Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi Uttar Pradesh AdmirableIndia.com

Trip to Varanasi aka Banaras aka Kashi: Chapter 5: Part 3: Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University and Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi

14th January 2010, 06:24 am

Bharat Kala Bhavan, the art and archaeological museum of Banaras Hindu University, is an internationally known institution. No University in India has a museum of this dimension. Its 100,000 holdings include historically important archaeological materials, paintings, textiles and costumes, literary materials, decorative arts and India philately. The museum has twelve galleries where only 2 percent of the total collection is exhibited but the museum organizes periodical Bharat Kala Bhavan exhibitions with the materials taken out of the reserves. Research scholars and teachers of about a dozen academic disciplines visit the Museum for study and research. A Master’s Degrees course in Musicology is conducted in this Museum. The Museum is also frequented by large number of scholars in the related field from various parts of India and abroad and is visited daily by many tourists both national and international. Participation in national and international exhibitions has been one of its activities. It’s other activities include organization of memorial lectures, periodical lectures, seminars and symposia, workshop on various aspects of Indian history and culture. The museum houses a well- organized library with particular references to books on Indian art and culture. one of the major activities of this museum has been its publication program. So far it has twenty three publications. The Museum owes its origin and subsequent development to Padmavibhusan Rai Krishnadasa. Nobel Laureate Poet Ravindra Nath Tagore had been its first Honorary Chairman. Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi visited the collection. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru laid the foundation of the present building in the University in 1950 and in 1962 when the building was ready, he inaugurated it for the people. The Museum has been declared as a University Museum of National Importance.

Then, we went to see the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple. The word Sankat Mochan means deliverer from troubles. In the mundir, special offerings are sold like the special “besan ke ladoo” (sweets). Also Hanuman ji is offered with marigold flower garland. Outside the temple, there are many vendors who sell pendants, rings, incense and holy flowers to the devotees. The temple is unique in a way that both Rama and Hanuman statues face each other. Sankat Mochan Temple was founded by Tulsidas who was the author of the Ramacharitamanasa, which is the Hindi version of the Hindu epic Ramayan originally written by Valmiki. Tradition promises that regular visitors to the temple will gain special favor of Hanuman. Every Tuesday and Saturday thousands of people queue up in front of temple to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman. According to Vedic Astrology, Hanuman saves human beings from the anger of the planet Saturn, and people having an ill-placed Saturn in their horoscopes especially visit this temple for astrological remedies. This is supposed to be the most effective way for appeasing Shani. While it is suggested that Hanuman did not hesitate in engulfing in his mouth the sun, the lord of all planets, humbling all the gods and angel, making them worship him for Sun’s release. Some astrologers believe that worshiping Hanuman can neutralize the ill-effect of Mangal (Mars) and practically any planet that has ill effect on human life.