Sankat Mochan Temple, Varanasi: The Legend of How Tulsidas Met Hanuman Ji

📍 Saket Nagar, Varanasi · Updated July 2026 · 4 min read · By Admin

Tucked on the banks of the Assi river in Varanasi, the Sankat Mochan Temple is one of the city's most visited Hanuman shrines. What draws lakhs of devotees here every year isn't just the deity — it's the story behind the idol, tied directly to Goswami Tulsidas, the poet who gave the world the Hanuman Chalisa and Ramcharitmanas.

Here's the legend as it has been passed down, along with everything practical you'll need if you're planning to visit.

The Rigorous Devotion of Tulsidas

Goswami Tulsidas spent many years living in Kashi (Varanasi). His personal discipline was extraordinarily strict — he had vowed never to relieve himself or even spit within the sacred Panchakosi boundary that encircles the city.

To keep this vow, he would travel by boat several kilometres away from the Ganga each day before returning to bathe in the river again. Local tradition holds that a small boat still kept at Assi Ghat is linked to these daily journeys.

A Boon From an Unlikely Source

After his bath, Tulsidas would pour the leftover water from his kamandal onto a nearby tree — home, it's said, to a thirsty spirit. Grateful for the water over many days, the spirit offered him a boon.

Tulsidas asked for only one thing: a way to have darshan of Shri Ram. The spirit couldn't grant that directly, but revealed something valuable — that Hanuman Ji himself attended the daily Ram Katha in Kashi, disguised as a leper, always the first to arrive and the last to leave, sitting quietly at the back.

"Prabhu, I recognise you now — you must grant my request to see Shri Ram."
— Tulsidas, refusing to release Hanuman's feet

The Divine Encounter

The next day, Tulsidas attended the Katha and spotted the same figure. At the exact spot where the temple idol stands today, he caught hold of the leper's feet. The figure protested, staying in character, but Tulsidas held firm — and Hanuman Ji, moved by his devotion, revealed his true form.

He told Tulsidas that his wish to see Shri Ram would be fulfilled — not in Kashi, but later at Chitrakoot.

Hanuman's Wisdom, Recognised by Ram Himself

Hanuman Ji is described in the scriptures as gyaninam agraganyam — foremost among the wise — his knowledge said to come from Surya, the Sun God, who is regarded as the master of all learning.

When Hanuman first approached Shri Ram disguised as a mendicant, Ram was struck by the clarity and precision of his speech, remarking to Lakshman that such flawless articulation could only come from someone who had deeply studied Vyakarana (grammar) and the Vedas.

Why "Sankat Mochan"

After this encounter, Tulsidas installed the Hanuman idol at the very spot he had grasped his feet. Since then, the temple has been known as Sankat Mochan — remover of troubles — a name immortalised in the Hanuman Chalisa line:

"संकट कटे मिटे सब पीरा, जो सुमिरे हनुमत बलबीरा"
Troubles are cut and pain erased for those who remember the mighty Hanuman.

Planning Your Visit: Sankat Mochan Temple Guide

Beyond the legend, this is an active, well-loved temple with a daily rhythm of aartis, offerings and crowds. Here's what to know before you go.

Visitor Essentials

Note: Timings can shift slightly around festivals and special occasions. It's worth checking the temple's own website before you travel — link at the bottom of this page.

How to Reach

• By air: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Babatpur) is about 23–26 km away; taxis and cabs are easily available.
• By rail: Varanasi Junction (Cantt) is roughly 10 km away, and Banaras Railway Station about 6 km — autos and e-rickshaws run frequently from both.
• Getting around locally: Ola/Uber, autos, e-rickshaws, or the Kashi Darshan electric bus service that covers major ghats and temples.

A Few Practical Tips

• Dress modestly; footwear is left outside the temple.
• Carry small cash for autos, offerings, and prasad.
• The temple's resident monkeys are generally harmless but keep food items out of sight.
• Besan ke laddu is the traditional offering here and doubles as prasad.
• If you're combining this with other sightseeing, the Tulsi Manas Temple and Durga Temple are both a short distance away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa carries the same spirit of devotion described in this story.

📖 संपूर्ण हनुमान चालीसा पढ़ें  |  🛕 More Hanuman Temples