"Sitaram Bagh Temple, Hyderabad"
The
darshan of Sitaram Bagh temple in Hyderabad on 3 March 2024 was a very special and rare darshan. This huge
ancient temple built by Seth Puranmal Ganeriwala in 1830 is spread over an area of about 25 acres and this temple has been given the status of
a rare temple. Before writing about this 194 year old temple, I would like to express my
heartfelt gratitude to my friend Mr. Ganesh Subramaniam, who, due to my
wandering nature, inspired me to become a co-traveller to visit this temple.
This temple, once located in Mangal Haat of Mehdipatnam area, which was the
outskirts of Hyderabad, is today located in the middle of Hyderabad. As soon as
we entered the dusty grounds, seeing a big entrance gate, it was not easy to
guess that inside this boundary wall would be the oldest huge Rambagh temple of
Hyderabad. After about two hundred yards of unpaved corridor, the main temple,
with a very large entrance, attracted my attention. On the right and left sides
of this entrance gate, 40-45 feet high, painted in
yellow, red and green colors, an old corridor was built, in which the rooms
might have been used as accommodation for the servants. A monitoring room was
built above the gate, on both sides of which was made the shape of a roaring
lion. Above this monitoring room, the beautiful semicircular shape of the
temples in South Indian architectural style was giving completeness to the
entrance.
In
the construction of Sitaram Bagh Temple, South Indian architectural style along
with Rajasthan, Mughal and European architectural styles are seen. As soon as
you enter the temple gate, the statue of Lord Murgan was installed in a high
tower right in the middle of a vast rectangular courtyard. After paying
obeisance to Lord Ganesha situated in this tower, as soon as we turned right,
there was another entrance which opened into a huge courtyard. There were large
halls on both the right and left sides of the temple, whose architectural style
was the roof built on white round pillars of European architecture, which was
built on the lines of Connaught Place in Delhi. Due to the top and bottom of
these pillars being painted with thin ocher color, Sanatani culture was
visible. In these halls, chariots, drums and items used in local festivals were
kept, which would have been used on special festivals. As soon as you enter
this courtyard through another entrance, a square Yagya Shala in the form of
Barhadari was built on a high platform built in South Indian architecture, on
pillars made of sixteen carved stones. In front of the Yagya Shala, two temples
of Lord Vishnu and Lord Ram, Lakshman and Mata Sita have been built, which are
the main ancient temples of this courtyard. Since we were late for the morning
Mangal Aarti, we decided to visit other religious places located in the
courtyard.
In
another courtyard, a temple built in European style dedicated to Lord Krishna
was situated. As soon as we entered the temple through the verandah built
around the courtyard, we entered the temple through some stairs. The entrance
gate of the temple and the windows above it had English style windows and doors
made of wood, indicating that this temple was built by Seth Puran Mal
Ganeriwala or his descendants. In accordance with South Indian tradition, a
brass flag pole was installed in the courtyard of the main Krishna temple. All
around the verandah and the courtyard of the temple, the floor of the courtyard
was made with square stones of black and white marble. In our childhood, we
first saw this type of floor in the Murli Manohar Temple located near our house at Jhansi, which even today is
spreading the same beauty of its beautiful appearance and smooth floor like
this temple. In another courtyard, a temple of Ram Doot, Pawan Sut Hanuman was
also established around which a corridor was built like other temples. After darshan
and circumambulation of the temple, we proceeded towards the main Vishnu
temple.
By
now the preparations for Aarti were complete. In the presence of 8-10 visitors, Mangal Aarti was organized by
Satna's (M.P.) priest Mr. Mishra and after
the Aarti, Prasad of pure, satvik and tasty salted rice prevalent in the
temples of South India was distributed among the devotees. After seeing Lord
Vishnu for some time, we proceeded to visit the outer area of the temple. When
we stepped inside a hallway to enter a haunted and desolate courtyard full of
bushes and shrubs, it seemed as if no one had ever come here for years.
Completely deserted. As soon as we moved forward to enter this scary courtyard,
the guard from behind warned in Hyderabadi Hindi, "Sir, do not go inside this!
Big snakes live here. I wished that the guard would come with us to encourage
me." Perhaps he would support me in walking inside this ghost bungalow,
but his terrified face forced me to turn back after taking a few steps.
On
coming out, we saw two beautiful water steps i.e. stepwells, whose architecture
indicated that once upon a time, huge amount of water must have enhanced the
beauty of these stepwells. But due to lack of maintenance, dirty water and
cracks at many places were clearly telling the stories of their ruined glory.
It was told that there are five such stepwells here. The path to another
stepwell outside the temple courtyard was no less than the abode of ruined
ghosts. But I and my companion Ganesh, with courage and caution, moved forward
inside. Mountains of garbage, filth and useless items were seen all around.
Ripe tamarind was scattered in thousands. After taking some photos, we turned
back from that stepwell also. After returning some distance, I met a gentleman
Shri Krishna Yadav in an ancient arena. Shri Yadav ji is the director and
master of this ancient Akhara, under whose tutelage Telangana state level
wrestlers have been given. This ancient Akhara, once patronized by the owner of
the temple, must have attracted young men towards wrestling in its glory days,
but today it is in a dilapidated condition due to lack of funds.
Many
houses have also been built outside the temple, in which the descendants of the
old sevadars are probably living and due to legal disputes, they are probably suffering
from lack of maintenance. A wedding garden was also seen at one place, which
might have been used as an additional source of income for the maintenance of
this huge courtyard. A cow shed is run by the
temple management outside the temple. Both of us also earned virtuous benefits
by feeding grass to the cows.
There
is no doubt that the descendants of Seth Puran Mal Ganeriwala are trying to
keep the heritage of their ancestors alive in this very ancient temple located
in Hyderabad, but there is a great need for the state government to provide
funds for the maintenance and renovation of this temple. Arrangements should be
made. To restore the old divinity and grandeur of this temple, there is a need
for a joint effort not only by the politicians, dignitaries and influential
persons, but also by the citizens of Hyderabad, tourists and religious
followers to further establish their life in this temple along with their
families. Attendance should be maintained so that the Brahmatva and divinity of
this temple is established again.
Vijay
Sahgal
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें