From the Sanctum to the Silence: A Divine Departure
A tale retold in hushed reverence across Odisha speaks of Lord Jagannath—the presiding deity of Puri’s sacred Shri Mandir—once assigning Hanuman the solemn duty of guarding the temple. But Hanuman, in his zealous devotion, is said to have disturbed Goddess Lakshmi with his thunderous breaths and tireless vigil. To restore peace, Jagannath requested him to watch over from a distance.

That "little distance" became a sacred stretch of 33 kilometres northeast, now known as Siruli. But Hanuman didn’t retreat; he simply repositioned—eyes forever fixed on Jagannath’s Neela Chakra, while his gaze also pierces the south toward Lanka. This is not abandonment. This is eternal vigilance, from afar.

Who Built This Sanctuary of Watchful Grace?

What quiet longing turns silence into sanctuary — where every breath feels held, not by air, but by the divine itself?

Anangabhima Deva III—a ruler guided not by power, but by profound purpose—built this sacred temple in Siruli in the 13th century. With hands led by faith, he created not a monument, but a living promise to Lord Hanuman, the eternal guardian. Here, Hanuman doesn’t merely reside; he watches—his gaze unwavering, forever fixed upon the distant temple of Jagannath. And in that silent gaze, generations have found protection, hope, and something greater than themselves.

This isn’t just architecture; it’s presence. A pulse of divine watchfulness that refuses to fade. Step into this hallowed space and you’ll feel it—not in the stone, but in the stillness. The kind of stillness that has listened to countless prayers, carried the weight of unspoken wishes, and wrapped every soul that entered with the comfort of being seen—truly seen. Siruli Mahavir is not just a temple. It is faith, made eternal.

Finding Siruli: The Stillness Between Highways

Siruli Mahavir Temple is nestled off NH-316, about 33 km from Puri and 75 km from Bhubaneswar. It lies 22 km from Puri Railway Station and 21 km from the Bus Stand, accessible yet untouched by the chaos of urban pilgrimage centres. Entry is free, but the devotion it draws is priceless.
Visitors seeking quiet reflection often arrive at dawn, when the temple awakens with soft chants and the first light graces Hanuman’s watchful eyes.

A Temple in Layers: The Fourfold Heart of Siruli
Raised on a modest 2-foot platform, the temple unfolds into four primary mandapas:

·        Vimana (Sanctum Tower): A 25-foot Pidha Deula structure with five traditional tiers at the base wall section, yet minimalist in decoration—echoing the humility of Hanuman himself.

·        Jagamohana (Assembly Hall): A 20-foot hall bearing lion motifs (parasedha simhas), crowned with kalasa and chakra—symbolising spiritual energy and protection.

·        Bhogamandapa (Offering Hall): Home to a wooden image of Jagannath and a Sun God idol, this 40×20 ft space links Vaishnav and solar traditions.

·        Natamandapa (Dance Pavilion): A later addition supported by ten stone pillars, now a space for bhajans and communal worship under the gaze of time-worn carvings.

The entire structure is encircled by a 10-foot wall, with Navagraha (nine planetary deities) above the south gate in lotus pose—a quiet nod to ancient cosmology.

From the story of Hanuman’s eternal vigil, we now turn to the temple’s very stones—a testament carved in faith and craftsmanship.

A Bridge of Offering: Prasad from Jagannath Himself
Every morning, sacred prasad from Shri Mandir is brought here. With solemn chants and simple containers of khichdi, coconut sweets and dry fruits, priests receive the food like royal offerings. Devotees gather before sunrise, knowing that in these morsels lies a spiritual thread binding Siruli to Jagannath.
During festivals like Ram Navami, Dola Purnima and Hanuman Jayanti, the temple receives Mahaprasad from Jagannath’s kitchen—including chhappan bhog items such as chenna poda, puri, dalma and kheer. Shared under open skies, this feast becomes a community prayer.

When the Village Dances with Faith
Makar Sankranti: Coconuts, jaggery, and Bela Pana (a refreshing drink from bael fruit) are offered to Hanuman as winter wanes—seeking renewal and protection.

Dola Purnima: Hanuman is placed on a palanquin beneath a centuries-old Peepal tree, swinging to the rhythm of village bhajans and conches.

Ram Navami: Aarti, mantra, and musical devotion illuminate the temple, honouring Hanuman’s fidelity to Ram.

Tuesdays are especially sacred. Devotees chant under saffron flags and stone lions as incense coils into the Odisha sky.

Craft of the Divine: Siruli as Heritage

Built with laterite and sandstone, Siruli Mahavir Temple is more than worship; it is a living archive of Odisha’s handicraft legacy. The Navagraha reliefs, the lion guardians, and the tale of a wounded Hanuman tail (allegedly trailing 7 km back from the village) enrich its folklore.
Siruli isn’t just part of Odisha’s geography—it lives in its imagination, echoed in local ballads, whispered through generations of temple lore, and etched in every fold of village storytelling.

Closing Reflection: The Temple That Never Turned Away

Siruli Mahavir Temple is not about grandeur. It is about gaze—Hanuman’s undying gaze. It is about a story that bends across 33 kilometres, across divine temperaments, across generations of hands that carved stone and hearts that believed.

For every traveller who seeks not just darshan but a dialogue with devotion, Siruli whispers: He did not leave. He watches still.