Bhadra Maruti Temple

Bhadra Maruti is a Hanuman temple at Khuldabad, about 4 km from the Ellora Caves in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Its image shows Hanuman lying down in Bhav Samadhi, a posture found at very few temples in India, another being at Allahabad. Saturdays in the Marathi month of Shravan bring the biggest crowds, and aarti is performed every morning and evening.

Khuldabad was once called Bhadravati, and its ruler King Bhadrasen was a devotee of Rama who sang hymns in his praise. Legend says Hanuman came to listen, settled into a reclining pose, and agreed to the king's plea to remain there for ever. Another story says a sage named Bhadra held Hanuman here while he was carrying the mountain to save Lakshmana. The idol is believed to be self-manifested and is said to have been found by Samarth Ramdas. The name joins Bhadra, meaning auspicious, with Maruti, a name of Hanuman.