Salasar Balaji - Mohandas Maharaj

Mohandas Maharaj

Sri Mohandas Maharaj was a great devotee of Hanuman. He practiced great penance and asceticism at the present Balaji temple at Salasar. It is said that Hanuman, pleased with his devotion, often appeared in his dreams. Worried with his immense devotion, Mohandas' sister Kanibai wanted to get him married against Mohandas desires to remain single. He convinced his sister by telling her that the girl with whom he decides to marry will die on the day of the marriage and thereby accomplished his desire to remain bachelor. The temple of Salasar Balaji was constructed by him and was maintained under his surveillance thereafter. Several years later, Mohandas handed over the temple and worship responsibilities to his nephew Udayram and appointed him the first pujari of the temple. He spent the rest of his life worshiping Hanuman with great devotion before taking samadhi (act of consciously and intentionally leaving one's body at the time of enlightenment). In his honour, Sri Mohan Mandir is constructed near the Balaji temple where the footprints of himself and Kanibai are still worshiped by all the devotees visiting the Balaji temple. This is also the samadhi sthal of both the devotees. The Holy Ramayana is being continuously read here since the last eight years.