Devotees Flock to Rare Black Hanuman Idol Temple in Salabathpur
Thousands of devotees from four states are thronging the Sri Maruthi Mandir in Salabathpur (Mirzapur) village, located in the Madnoor mandal of Kamareddy district, to worship a rare black idol of Lord Hanuman. Situated near the Telangana-Maharashtra border, the temple has emerged as a major cross-border pilgrimage destination, drawing massive crowds of worshippers annually, especially during the festival of Hanuman Jayanti.
Unlike the vermilion-coated Hanuman idols commonly found across the country, the deity at this temple is worshipped in its natural black form. This unique characteristic makes it one of the few such Hanuman temples in the region. Devotees reverentially refer to the deity as 'Icchapurthi Hanuman', believing that prayers offered at the shrine fulfill their wishes.
The temple regularly attracts pilgrims from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. A large number of newly married couples also visit the shrine to seek blessings. According to temple lore, the historic black idol was installed by Samarth Ramdas, the spiritual guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Local connectivity has played a significant role in the temple's rising popularity. The shrine is easily accessible via National Highway 161, which connects Sangareddy, Nanded, and Akola.
Speaking to the media, devotee Sangayappa said the temple witnesses a huge influx of pilgrims during Hanuman Jayanti. He noted that the temple's strategic location near the borders of Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, coupled with the improved connectivity of National Highway 161, has made it highly accessible to devotees travelling from Hyderabad and various other places.
To accommodate the growing crowds, the state government has sanctioned Rs 3.70 crore for the temple's development, with construction works currently underway. A Kalyana Mandapam has already been constructed within the temple premises as part of these development efforts.
Furthermore, to cater to the multi-state demographic of the visitors, the temple has deployed priests and staff members who are proficient in Telugu, Marathi, and Kannada.
