In Patna, Bihar, Mahavir Mandir honours Lord Hanuman (worshipped here as Sankat Mochan, with two idols facing east and west). It is also known as Mahaveer Mandir, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Patna.
One of the most active and most visited temples in India, drawing millions of devotees. It is famous for its 'Naivedyam' offering (a laddu prasad prepared in the temple kitchen) and is regarded as one of the most powerful Hanuman shrines in the country. The temple is believed to have been established by a saint named Swami Balanand in 1730 AD, who installed the idol of Sankat Mochan Hanuman.
Bihar carries a distinct temple identity of its own: From Patna's mighty Hanuman shrine to the Kaimur hills' Mundeshwari, believed to be among the oldest functioning temples in the world.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 5:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 1:00 PM - 10:30 PM |
Open daily; temple opens at 5:00 AM and closes around 10:30 PM after Shayan Aarti. Aartis at 5:30 AM (Mangal), 12:00 PM (Madhyan), 6:00 PM (Sandhya) and 10:00 PM (Shayan); Naivedyam offered three times a day with prasad distribution in between.
Poojas and daily rituals
Mangal Aarti (5:30 AM), Naivedyam (6:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 7:00 PM), Madhyan Aarti (12:00 PM), Sandhya Aarti (6:00 PM), Shayan Aarti (10:00 PM). Special offerings include Chola (offering of clothes, on Tuesdays and Saturdays) and Sindoor.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Ram Navami | March-April | Celebrated with great fervour, drawing very large crowds. |
| Hanuman Jayanti | Varies (spring) | The birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman, the temple's principal celebration. |
History and architecture
Architecture
A North Indian style temple with a towering shikhara, a spacious sanctum and marble flooring. It is unusual in housing two idols of Lord Hanuman, one facing east and the other west.
History
The temple is believed to have been established by a saint named Swami Balanand in 1730 AD, who installed the idol of Sankat Mochan Hanuman. It was later renovated and expanded, and the present structure was built in 1987. Today it is run by a temple trust and is renowned for its extensive charitable work, including running a hospital and other social services.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located right beside Patna Junction railway station in central Patna, so it is easily reachable on foot or by auto/taxi. Nearest airport is Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna.
Mahavir Mandir in photographs
3 freely-licensed photographs of this temple, from Wikimedia Commons. Each is credited to its photographer.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. History (1730 by Swami Balanand, rebuilt 1987), the two Hanuman idols, Naivedyam fame and the daily aarti/timing schedule (5:00 AM-10:30 PM) come from a detailed source; exact opening/closing can vary and should be confirmed.