The day Hanuman rested at Jakhoo

 The day Hanuman rested at Jakhoo

This is far from the truth, but this story has been adapted around the Jakhoo shrine in Shimla and is fascinating. Two years back, I was up there by the new ropeway and enjoyed the view. Prior to that, about thirty years back, everyone and I had to climb that 60-degree slope on foot. It was a dirt road, very well compacted because the high nobility of the British era lived in Kothis and bungalows built by them. In about an hour or so huffing and puffing you reached the top from the Ridge. Upon arriving at the summit, the temple priest welcomed you with fresh and clean water and offered you benches for rest. Then you can go inside the temple and pray. You are praying in front of Lord Hanuman and hoping for his blessings. The temple is at the summit of this hill. Today the temple has a grand statue of Lord Hanuman for tourists to admire.

The temple did not present a good picture six decades back. It was in a rundown state with very little income (offerings) hence repairs and renovation could not be done. The temple depended on the charity of the rich people for its renovation. Yes, it was renovated recently and done well enough to attract tourists, both the temple and the great big Lord Hanuman statue. Moreover ropeway has made it easier to reach.

Monkeys greet you first as you arrive. They look for food in your picnic bags and would steal the bag itself, if they sense the food in it, so you have to keep it close to you. How did the monkeys arrive here; and when was the temple built. The priest at that time was delighted to tell you that it had its origin during Dawapar Yug when Lord Ram was in Lanka battling the demon king Ravan. But I believe in its much later beginning. It was the British surveyors Lt. Alexander and Patrick Gerard of the 27th Native Infantry who climbed the hilltop looking beyond the highest mountain of yet to be named town of Simla in 1817. It was the highest point of the 7 hill spurs of Simla and offered a better view of the hills beyond. This perspective would assist them with their survey work. The Gurkhas had just lost the battle against the British and evacuated all areas up to Kotgarh, which they had occupied only 10 years earlier. The Gérard brothers said nothing about the temple on the crest of Jakhoo Hill. My guess (I might be wrong) that the temple at this place came into existence later. Nonetheless, this is a religious site dedicated to Lord Hanuman and the monkeys are his wards, so I would respect that.

For the tourists the priest at that time had a very fascinating story to relate - that Lord Hanuman rested here either heading towards the Himalayas or returning back to Lanka with Sanjivini Boothi mountain in his hand. That in 1985 was my ‘n th’ trip to the temple, so I had heard that story before. In my school days in the fifties, It was easier to climb, then, but much harder now, but I was determined to make it to the top with my young son to visit the temple shrine. The old priest was my father’s client for food stuff and other bulk merchandise. No other wholesaler will take up the difficult task of delivering to the temple of Jakhoo. The old priest on my bit of prodding managed to connect me to my father and gave a big ‘Tilak’ on my and my son’s forehead. We returned the favor with a big donation. There were other tourists too at the temple. 

Now back to the story...... the old priest explained to a small group of tourists that on his journey Lord Hanuman rested on the crest. My son looked perplexed, but really enjoyed gestures which the priest was making. He was familiar with the Hanuman but did not understand the Hindi language the priest spoke. I translated it for him afterwards.

One set of tourists were gone and another set came in and the priest repeated the same story that Lord Hanuman rested here on the crest. 

Now I could not keep my sniggering back and I asked jovially “Did Hanuman lose his way going to Lanka”. The priest startled and answered me by saying that the almighty Hanuman and true Bakt of Lord Ram could not lose his way. 

Well, I said to Pundit Ji; ‘the Sanjivani Bhooti as per the Holy book of Ramayan, was to be found in Uttarakhand about 400 miles northeast in the middle of Himalayas’. Hence ‘Why would Lord Hanuman take a detour to Jakhoo for a rest when the urgently needed Bhooti could be flown in directly in a straight line from Uttarakhand mountains to Lanka’. The priest glared at me and continued.

My question entertained all the tourists who were listening to the priest. But he continued in his lecture. He was continuously eyeing me with distaste for bringing up an unwanted subject. But I was enjoying asking the question which had been bothering me since my boyhood days. 

On our return my son, at that time only 9 years old, the first thing he told his mother was the silly question I asked the priest. She was definitely annoyed for brining up science and history into the religion. Now in 2017, I have returned to the temple after three decades, I wished to see the huge statue, which overlooks the city. This statue is another marvel on the hilltop. Also the temple is fully renovated. The monkeys are still there, but there are locker where you could use for your stuff. The old temple priest is gone. The new one does not relate that story. 

There is a constant stream of visitors now. Thanks to the ropeway. When I returned back to Canada, my son who was with me in 1985 remembered the temple visit. When I showed him the pictures of Lord Hanuman overlooking the city taken from the Ridge, he wished to revisit the temple and see for himself the city’s protector. Some day he with his own son will visit Jakhoo.......  Cheers