Sankat Mochan Temple

Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi is devoted to Hanuman as the remover of troubles and was founded by Goswami Tulsidas, the poet-saint who wrote the Ramcharitmanas. Tradition says Tulsidas saw a vision of Hanuman at this spot, and that at his request Hanuman shaped a clay image of himself; this self-manifested idol is the one enshrined today. Unusually, Hanuman is placed so that he faces Rama, the god he served.

Devotees offer besan laddoos as prasad, and the temple fills up on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days sacred to Hanuman, when thousands come to pray. The aarti brings together lamps, bells and the singing of the Hanuman Chalisa, and the carved interior houses an old image of Hanuman that has been worshipped here for centuries.