Maruti Temple in Panaji

Maruti Temple in Panaji

The Maruti temple is situated on top of of the Altinho hillock overlooking the Fontainhas district in Panaji, the capital of Goa. It is dedicated to lord Hanuman, the monkey god and enshrines Lord Hanuman as the presiding deity.The Maruti temple is also beautifully lit up at night and as it is brightly lit the temple is visible from a distance. One can approach the Maruti Hanuman temple by following the old Margao road that runs parallel to the Qurem creek.

Hanuman, is a Hindu deity who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the struggle against the demon king Ravana.

Hanuman was born to Anjana, a female vanara, and Kesari, a male vanara, in Anjana Giri mountain. His mother was an apsara who was born on Earth as a female vanara due to a curse. She would be redeemed from this curse on her giving birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva, who is also known as Rudra, and endowed with the Supreme Power of exalted devotion to Bhagwan Hari. Hanuman is endowed with 28 transcendental divine opulences, with perfection in each. Anjana, along with her husband Kesari, performed intense prayers to Lord Shiva to beget Him as her Child. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva granted them the boon they sought. Hence, Hanuman is also known as “Maharudra” because he was born of the boon given to Anjana by Shiva. The Valmiki Ramayana states that Kesari is the son of Brihaspati and that Kesari also fought on Rama’s side in the war against Ravana.