Salasar Balaji

Location of villages around Sujangarh in Churu district

Salasar Balaji (सालासर बालाजी) is a place of religious importance for the devotees of Lord Hanuman in Sujangarh tahsil of Churu district in Rajasthan.

Founders

Salasar Balaji was known by the names:

• Gandas gotra Jats developed as 'Gandas ki Dhani'.
• Tetarwal Gotra Jats named the village Tetarwal ki Dhani
• Salam Singh occupied this area and changed the place name from Tetarwal ki Dhani to Salamsar which became Salasar.

Location

Balaji Temple Salasar

Salasar town is in district Churu of Rajasthan situated on Jaipur and Bikaner Highway. It is 57 kilometres from Sikar town, 24 kilometers from Sujangarh town and 30 kilometers from Laxmangarh. Salasar town lies in Sujangarh Panchayat Samity and is well connected with Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner by regular bus service.

Indian Airlines and Jet Air fly to Jaipur, from where Salasar is 3.5 hours drive in Taxi or Bus. Sujangarh, Sikar, Didwana, Jaipur and Ratangarh are the nearest railheads for Salasar Balaji.

This city is about 170 KM from the city of Pilani that hosts BITS, Pilani University. The road from Delhi to Pilani is very good. One must take a route via Rewari, Narnaul, Shinghana, Chidawa, Pilani. For Salasar, there is a direct road from Shinghana and one may not required to go to Chidawa. Balaji is a good place for tourists.

Population statistics

According to Census-2011 information: With total 959 families residing, Salasar village has the population of 5914 (of which 3038 are males while 2876 are females). Salasar village has higher literacy rate compared to Rajasthan. In 2011, literacy rate of Salasar village was 78.80 % compared to 66.11 % of Rajasthan. In Salasar, Male literacy stands at 86.35 % while female literacy rate was 70.89 %.

Salasar Dham

Salasar Balaji

Salasar Dham attracts innumerable Indian worshipers throughout the year. On Chaitra Poornima and Ashvin Purnima large fairs take place in the area when more than 6 to 7 lakhs of people assemble here to pay their homage to the deity. Hanuman Sewa Samiti looks after the management of the Temple and the fair. There are many Dharamshalas to stay and Indian restaurants to eat. Salasar Dham is situated in Salasar town.

Jat gotras

• Guleria
• Dhaka
• Saran
• Dahiya

History

Salasar Balaji Talab

About five centuries back the present Salasar area was inhabited by Gandas gotra Jats and known as 'Gandas ki Dhani'. At one time there became a severe scarcity of drinking water due to famines in the area. A saint came to the village at that time and on the request of villagers pointed out a spot to dig a well suitable for drinking water. At the same time he warned that the person who would dug the well would meet death. The villagers thought it better to leave the place and the Gandas people moved away.

Later on the area was occupied by Tetarwal Gotra Jats and named the village Tetarwal ki Dhani. They dug a well which is still used as source of water and called 'ganwai-kuan'. About three centuries back Shekhawat thakurs came from village Rewasa and started living in village Purnpura which was earlier known as Gugrana. Gugrana thakur Banwaridas came to village Naurangsar in Churu district and started living there. His eldest son thakur Salam Singh occupied this area and changed the place name from Tetarwal ki Dhani to Salamsar which became Salasar over a period of time.

सालासर बालाजी का नामकरण

सालासर बालाजी के नामकरण के बारे में सीकर के आर्कियोलॉजिस्ट और इतिहासकार गणेश बेरवाल ने शोधपूर्ण लेख के माध्यम से प्रकाश डाला है. उन्होंने लिखा है कि 1859 में तात्याटोपे अपने साथियों के साथ रेगिस्तान की राह पकड़ कर अफगानिस्तान की ओर निकल रहा था. लेकिन कर्नल जॉन ने सीकर व बीकानेर की सीमा पर गाँव नेछवा में एक किले के रूप में अपने को संगठित कर घेराबंदी कर दी. वर्तमान सालासर (तेतरवालों की ढाणी) के कांकड़ पर मेजर मांड की एक कंपनी व तात्या टोपे की सेनाओं के बीच लड़ाई हुई जिसमें 200-250 सिपाही मारे गए, 600 सिपाहियों ने बीकानेर महाराजा के सामने आत्मसमर्पण कर दिया. मुख्य कमांडरों में तुलाराव (हरियाणा) शहजादा फिरोजशाह छुपकर निकलने में सफल हो गये जिनकी समाधियां आज भी अफगानिस्तान में हैं. तात्याटोपे का मुख्य कमांडर बालाराव सालासर में शहीद हो गया जिसको स्थानीय भाषा में बालाजी के नाम से प्रसिद्धि मिली. सबूत के तौर पर सालासर में बालाजी की मूर्ति वही है जो बालाराव की शक्ल की थी तथा मोहनदास की समाधि के अंदर घुसते ही एक स्तंभ खड़ा है जो पूरी तरह बयां करता है. लेकिन नीचे की 8-10 लाइन, जो ज्यादा महत्वपूर्ण थी, काट दी गई. जिस खेजड़ी के वृक्ष के नीचे बालाराव गोली लगकर शहीद हुआ था उसको आज भी, यात्री धागा बांधकर मन्नत मांगते हैं तथा छोटे बच्चों के जडूले भी चढ़ाते हैं.

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Salasar Balaji discovered

Salasar Balaji statue discovered at Asota

The site of Salasar Balaji was discovered by one Ginthala Jat of village Asota of district Nagaur.

On Saturday, Shravan Shukla-Navami -Samvat 1811 (1754 AD), a miracle happened. A Ginthala Jat farmer of village Asota in district Nagaur of Rajasthan was ploughing his field. All of sudden the plough was hit by some stony thing and the sound - thlikk ... was created. He dug up the soil of that place and found an idol covered with sand. His wife reached there with his lunch packet. The farmer showed the idol to his wife. She cleaned up the idol with her sari (dress). The idol was that of Balaji i.e. Lord Hanuman. They bowed their heads with devotion and worshipped Lord Balaji. The news of appearance of Lord Balaji spread in the village Asota immediately. The Thakur of Asota also heard the news. Balaji ordered him in the dream to send the idol to Salasar in the Churu district. Same night a devotee of Lord Hanuman, Mohan Dasji Maharaj of Salasar saw Lord Hanuman or Balaji in dream. Lord Balaji told him about the idol of Asota. He immediately sent a massage to Thakur of Asota. The thakur was surprised to know - How Mohandasji knew minor details without coming to Asota? Certainly it was a kindness of Lord Balaji. The idol was sent to Salasar and was fixed at the place known as Salasar Dham.

Mohandas got constructed a temple mud-stone temple here in samvat 1815 (1758 AD) with the help of Noora and Dau muslim karigars of Fatehpur Shekhawati. The cashier of Sikar Jagirdar Rao Devi Singh got constructed temple as he was once saved from loot by Dungji-Jawaharji by the blessings of Balaji. Sikar Jagirdar Devi Singh did not have a son. He heard about Balaji and came to this place and tied a coconut on the jal-tree to fulfill his wish of a son. Devi Singh got a handicapped son Laxman Singh after ten months. The custom of tying coconut to fulfill wish continues from that time onward.

Later on, Mohandas handed over the work of worshipping of Balaji to his bhanja (nephew), Udayram and appointed him the first pujari (priest) of the temple. A patta of the land was made in the name of Balaji in the presence of Shobhasar thakur Dhiraj Singh, Salasar thakur Salam Singh and elders of Tetarwal Jats.

Places around Dham

Balaji Mandir at Salasar

Dhunia of Mohandas ji is the place where the holy fire lit by great devotee Mohandas ji is still burning. The devotees take holy ashes from here. It's in the Balaji temple jai hanuman

Sri Mohan Mandir is situated near Balaji temple. The footprints of Mohandasji and Kanidadi are found there. This place is the samadhi sthal of both holy devotees. The continuous Ramayan reading has been taking place here from last eight years. In the temple premises of Lord Balaji, Akhand Hari Kirtan (Chanting of the name of Rama) is continuing for last 20 years.

Temple of Anjani Mata is situated two kilometers away from Salasar Dham toward Laxmangarh. Anjani Mata was mother of Lord Hanuman or Balaji. Gudavadi Shyam temple is one kilometer away from Salasar.

Two Bullock Carts of the age of Mohan Dasji are placed here in the Balaji Mandir premises.

Shayanan Mata Mandir situated about 15 km from here on a unique hillock in the desert area & about 1100 years old is worth visiting.

Festivals

Sri Hanuman Jayanti festivals are celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima. Lacs of devotees arrive here on Sri Hanuman Jayanti from every corner of the country. Fairs are organized on Ashvin Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima. Lacs of devotees use to come in these fairs too. Fairs on Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturdashi and Purnima are also as attractive as the rest of the fairs. Free food, sweets and drinks are distributed on these fairs.

Stay arrangements

There are 50-60 Dharamshalas in Salasar Balaji Dham. Most of these are run by trusts. Some independent Dharamshalas are also there. Some of the Dharamshalas to mention are: -

• Shri Mdhar ji Mansingka Dharamshala-situated opp the temple
• SPG Kayakalp Health Research Centre-situated at dhanani village about 10 minutes from Salsar
• Ramaswaroop Seva Sadan
• Malu Seva Sadan
• Dharmashala's of Bombay walas
• Dharmashala of Ganganagar Walas
• Guest House of Calcutta walas
• Agrawal Seva Sadan (under construction)
• New Dharamshala of Sirsawala
• Adampur Seva Sadan
• Fatehabad Seva Sadan
• Sri Fazilka ashram salasar sabha
• Sarda Seva Sadan
• Piti Dharmashala:
• Sri Keshavdev Sureka Bombay walon ki Dharmashala
• Jajodia Dharmashala
• Kejriwal Dharmashala
• Abohar Dharmashala
• Rajgarhia Dharmashala
• Dhanotia Dharmashala
• Sangaria Seva Sadan
• Dilliwalon ki Dharmashala
• Bhattu Seva Sadan
• Phasi walon ki Dharmashala
• Goenka guest House
• Sri Balaji Seva Mandal Dharmashala
• Hanumangarh Dharmashala
• Poddar guest house (Sujangarh)
• Vilayati Ram Guest House
• Sarada guest house
• Sureka Dharmashala
• Duggar guest house
• Hanumangarhwalon ki Dharmashala
• Ratangarh walon ki Dharmashala
• Jind Dharmashala
• Anupgarh Dharmashala
• Dalmia Seva Sadan
• Three Star Hotel for tourists
• Sri Fazilka ashram salasar sabha (registered)
• Shri Seth Murlidhar Ji Mansingka Dharamshala.

External links

• Information about Salasar village - villageinfo.in website
• [1]
• [2]

Notable persons

सालासर निवासी स्वतंत्रता सेनानी, जिन्होंने प्रजा परिषद की गतिविधियों में सक्रिय भाग लिया.: परतू राम गुलेरिया, नाथूराम भामू, गुमाना राम ढाका, गोविन्दराम ढाका, फूसाराम ढ़ाका, सुंडाराम ढाका, आसूराम प्रजापत, बन्ना राम प्रजापत

Gallery

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References

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