Salangpur Hanuman (Kashtbhanjan Dev) 2026 – The Shrine That Crushes Trouble
श्री कष्टभंजन देव हनुमानजी, सारंगपुर
What is Salangpur Hanuman (Kashtbhanjan Dev) and when is it busiest?
Salangpur Hanuman, known as Kashtbhanjan Dev, is a famous Hanuman shrine at Salangpur in Botad district, Gujarat, run by the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. The name means “crusher of troubles”, and devotees come chiefly for relief from affliction and pret-badha. It is busiest on Saturdays year-round, and on the big observances of Kali Chaudas (8 November 2026), Diwali-Annakut and Hanuman Jayanti.
Salangpur Hanuman, worshipped as Kashtbhanjan Dev or “the crusher of troubles”, is one of the most visited Hanuman shrines in Gujarat. It sits at Salangpur village in Botad district and is looked after by the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. The murti was consecrated by Sadguru Gopalanand Swami in the mid-nineteenth century, and people travel here mainly for relief from hardship, ill health and spirit-affliction. Rather than one fixed festival, the shrine peaks on Saturdays every week and on days like Kali Chaudas, Diwali-Annakut and Hanuman Jayanti.
Salangpur Hanuman 2026-2027: Key Days & Calendar
Salangpur is a year-round shrine rather than a single-date festival. It is busiest on Saturdays every week, with the next major gathering on Kali Chaudas, 8 November 2026.
| Occasion | Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly darshan | Every Saturday | Shanivar | The busiest day of the week for Hanuman worship |
| Kali Chaudas 2026 | 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Next big gathering; a special night at Kashtbhanjan Dev |
| Diwali & Annakut 2026 | 8-9 November 2026 | Sun-Mon | Annakut food offering to the deity |
| Hanuman Jayanti 2027 | 20 April 2027 | Tuesday | Chaitra Purnima; birth of Hanuman, mahapuja at the shrine |
Because so many arrive on Saturdays and on Kali Chaudas, plan for long queues and early travel on these days. Hanuman Jayanti, on Chaitra Purnima, is the other great annual occasion, when a special mahapuja is performed.
Why Salangpur Kashtbhanjan Dev Is So Revered
Salangpur Hanuman is revered as Kashtbhanjan Dev, the form of Hanuman who removes suffering, and it is the rare Swaminarayan shrine where Hanuman, not Swaminarayan or Krishna, is the central deity.
Devotees come here believing that a single darshan of the powerful murti can lift affliction, mental disturbance and what is locally called pret-badha, or spirit-trouble. That reputation for healing is what draws millions each year from across Gujarat and beyond.
The name Kashtbhanjan
Kashtbhanjan means one who breaks or crushes trouble. People pray here for release from illness, debt, family strife and long-standing problems, which is why the shrine is tied so closely to relief and protection.
Consecrated by Gopalanand Swami
The murti was installed and empowered by Sadguru Gopalanand Swami, a senior saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Tradition holds that when he touched the image, it stirred with life, and this event became the charter for the healing worship that continues here.
A Swaminarayan (Vadtal) shrine
The temple belongs to the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is unusual because most Swaminarayan temples enshrine Swaminarayan or Krishna, while here Hanuman himself is the principal deity worshipped.
The Saturday tradition
Saturday, or Shanivar, is linked with Shani and with Hanuman’s power over hardship. Salangpur draws its largest weekly crowds on Saturdays, when devotees offer oil, recite the Hanuman Chalisa and pray for the easing of their difficulties.
The Deity: Hanuman as Kashtbhanjan Dev
The central deity is Hanuman in his Kashtbhanjan form, shown as a strong, moustached figure who has subdued Shani beneath his foot.
Hanuman (Kashtbhanjan Dev)
The image is a stout, powerful Hanuman with a curling moustache, standing amid sculpted foliage and small monkey attendants. He holds the posture of a protector who has mastered every trouble, which is the heart of the Kashtbhanjan idea.
Shani subdued at his feet
A distinctive feature is the figure of Shani, shown in female form, pressed beneath Hanuman’s foot. The scene recalls the legend in which Hanuman overcame Shani and then forgave him, teaching that great strength should be joined with mercy. For devotees it signals protection from planetary and Saturn-related troubles.
Main Observances, Step by Step
The heart of a Salangpur visit is darshan of Kashtbhanjan Dev, an oil offering and prayer for relief, with larger rites layered on for festival days.
- Saturday darshan. The weekly high point is Saturday, when devotees queue for darshan of the murti, offer prayers for relief from trouble and often recite the Hanuman Chalisa.
- Tel (oil) offering. Offering oil to Hanuman is a signature devotion here. Devotees present oil, sindoor and coconut, associating the oil with strength and the easing of hardship.
- Arti and prasad. Daily artis are performed at fixed times; after darshan, devotees receive prasad, traditionally sukhdi, the Gujarati jaggery-and-ghee sweet.
- Hanuman Jayanti mahapuja. On Chaitra Purnima the shrine holds a grand celebration for Hanuman’s birth, with special decoration, mahapuja and very large crowds.
- Kali Chaudas night. On Kali Chaudas, the night before Diwali, the shrine is especially busy, as this Gujarat observance is strongly linked with Hanuman and protection from negative forces.
- Diwali and Annakut. At Diwali an Annakut is arranged, when a large array of cooked dishes is offered to the deity in thanks before being shared with devotees.
- Mahaprasad bhojan. Pilgrims eat a free sattvic meal at the temple bhojanalaya, a central part of the day for most visitors.
Prasad & Food at Salangpur
Food is a big part of the Salangpur experience, from the sweet prasad handed out after darshan to the free community meal served daily.
Sukhdi prasad
The classic prasad here is sukhdi, a simple Gujarati sweet of wheat flour, jaggery and ghee. Devotees who make an offering receive it as blessed prasad to carry home.
Mahaprasad bhojan
The temple runs a large bhojanalaya that serves a free vegetarian meal to visitors each day. The food is sattvic, cooked without onion and garlic, and thousands eat here daily.
Annakut offering
During the Diwali Annakut, a great spread of cooked dishes is arranged before the deity as an offering of gratitude, then distributed among the assembled devotees.
Salangpur & How to Reach It
Salangpur sits in the Botad district of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat and is well connected by road from the state’s main cities.
Location
The shrine is at Salangpur village, in Barwala taluka of Botad district, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. It draws pilgrims from across Gujarat and the wider Swaminarayan community abroad.
From Ahmedabad
Salangpur is roughly 140-150 km from Ahmedabad by road, about two-and-a-half to three hours’ drive, with faster options opening up via the Dholera route. Buses and taxis run regularly.
From Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar is about 80-85 km away and is the nearest airport. The town is reachable from Bhavnagar by bus or car in around two hours.
Nearest railway
Botad is the nearest convenient railway station, roughly 12 km from the shrine, with onward local transport to the temple.
Salangpur Hanuman Do's and Don'ts
A few simple points keep your visit smooth and respectful, especially the temple’s dress code.
Do
- Dress modestly; the temple enforces decent, covered clothing and turns away those in shorts or very revealing dress
- Plan to arrive early on Saturdays and festival days to avoid the longest queues
- Remove footwear before entering the shrine and keep it at the designated stand
- Take the sukhdi prasad and, if you wish, eat at the free bhojanalaya
- Keep phones silent and follow the arti timings and queue instructions
Avoid
- Do not wear shorts, sleeveless tops or torn or revealing clothing inside the temple
- Do not carry or consume non-vegetarian food, alcohol or tobacco on the premises
- Do not click photographs where signs forbid it, especially close to the murti
- Do not push in the darshan line; wait your turn even when crowds are heavy
- Do not litter or waste the prasad food served to you
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Salangpur Hanuman (Kashtbhanjan Dev)?
Salangpur Hanuman, called Kashtbhanjan Dev, is a famous Hanuman shrine at Salangpur in Botad district, Gujarat. The name means “crusher of troubles”, and the temple is run by the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Devotees visit chiefly for relief from illness, hardship and spirit-affliction.
When is the next big day at Salangpur in 2026?
The next major gathering at Salangpur is Kali Chaudas, on 8 November 2026 (Sunday), followed immediately by Diwali and the Annakut offering. Beyond these, the shrine is busiest every Saturday, and the next Hanuman Jayanti falls on 20 April 2027.
Why do devotees go to Salangpur on Saturdays?
Saturday, or Shanivar, is linked with Shani and with Hanuman’s power over hardship, so it is the most important day of the week at Salangpur. On Saturdays devotees offer oil, recite the Hanuman Chalisa and pray for relief from trouble, making it the shrine’s busiest day.
Which god is worshipped at Salangpur temple?
The deity worshipped at Salangpur is Hanuman, in his Kashtbhanjan Dev form. This is unusual for a Swaminarayan temple, where Swaminarayan or Krishna is usually central, but here Hanuman himself is the principal deity, shown with Shani subdued beneath his foot.
Who installed the Salangpur Hanuman murti?
The Salangpur murti was consecrated by Sadguru Gopalanand Swami, a senior saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, in the mid-nineteenth century. Tradition holds that the image stirred with life when he empowered it, and this became the basis for the shrine’s healing worship.
What does the Shani figure under Hanuman's foot mean?
The murti shows Shani, in female form, pressed beneath Hanuman’s foot, recalling the legend in which Hanuman overcame Shani and then forgave him. For devotees it symbolises protection from Saturn-related and planetary troubles, and it teaches that strength should be paired with mercy.
How do I reach Salangpur Hanuman temple?
Salangpur is in Botad district of Gujarat, about 140-150 km from Ahmedabad and around 80-85 km from Bhavnagar, which has the nearest airport. The nearest railway station is Botad, roughly 12 km away, with local buses and taxis running to the shrine.
What prasad and food are available at Salangpur?
The traditional prasad at Salangpur is sukhdi, a Gujarati sweet made of wheat flour, jaggery and ghee. The temple also runs a large bhojanalaya that serves a free, purely vegetarian meal to thousands of visitors every day.
May Kashtbhanjan Dev lift every trouble from your path. Jai Hanuman.