Let go! Four brothers, the God of Justice, introduce you to Mahasu. Mahasu Devta belongs to Jaunsar Bawar, a tribal area in Dehradun district, whose main temple is in Hanol. This temple of mixed architectural style is believed to have been constructed in the 9th century. It is said that the Pandavas also spent some time with Mata Kunti at this place. Come! Let's go, Hanol.
God of justice char bhai mahasu
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Dinesh Kukreti
There are many stories related to folk deities in Uttarakhand. The most interesting of these is the story of the folk god Mahasu. Mahasu, who is revered as the god of justice, belongs to Jaunsar-Bawar, a tribal area in Dehradun district. Their main temple is located in the village of Hanol near Chakrata on the eastern bank of the River Tons, which falls on the Tuni-Mori motorway. The origin of the word Hanol is believed to be the name of Huna Bhat, a Brahmin here. Earlier this place was known as Chakarpur. In Dwapar Yuga, the Pandavas came out of Lakshagriha (house of lac) safely to this place. This temple of mixed architectural style, built at an altitude of 1250 meters above sea level, is considered to be of the ninth century. However, the record of ASI (Archaeological Survey Department) mentions that the temple was built in the 11th and 12th centuries. Presently, ASI is also patronizing it. During the excavation, ASI has found ancient statues of more than two dozen deities including Shiva-Shakti, Shivalinga, Durga, Vishnu-Lakshmi, Surya, Kubera here. These are preserved in the Hanol Museum.
Connection to Rashtrapati Bhavan
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The entry of devotees into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is prohibited. Only the priest of the temple can enter there. A stream of water also erupts in the sanctum sanctorum, but no one knows where its source is and where it drains. This water is offered as a Prasad to the devotees. Apart from this, a divine light is always burning in the sanctum sanctorum. The special thing is that Mahasu Devta also has a direct connection to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Salt is sent here every year on behalf of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Temple built from deficit stone
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It is popularly believed that the Pandavas built the Hanol Temple with the help of Dev Shilpi Vishwakarma by transporting stones from the Ghata Pahar (Shivalik mountain range). The 32 corners of this non-mortar masonry temple rest from the foundation to the dome on one of the cut stones. At the top of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is installed a huge stone brought from the Bhima Chhatri i.e. Bhimsen's Ghat mountain. The unmatched carving adds to the grandeur of the temple.
Four brothers as Lord Shiva
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Mahasu is not actually a deity, but the collective name of the four deities. In the local language, the word Mahasu is a corruption of 'Mahashiva'. The names of the four Mahasu brothers are Basik Mahasu, Pabasik Mahasu, Buthia Mahasu (Botha Mahasu) and Chalda Mahasu, which are considered as the form of Lord Shiva. Basik Mahasu is the biggest among them, while Bautha Mahasu, Pabasik Mahasu and Chalada Mahasu are second, third and fourth. The temple of Botha Mahasu is in Hanol, the temple of Basik Mahasu is in Mandrath and the temple of Pabasik Mahasu is in Thadiyar and Devati-Devon of Bangan region. Whereas, Chalda Mahasu is always on stay in Jaunsar-Bawar, Bangan, Fatah-Parvat and Himachal region. Their palanquins are taken by the regional people on regular intervals from one place to another for worship. Due to the stay of the deity, the philosophy of Chalda Mahasu is destined after decades in many letters. In some areas, generations pass in the desire of seeing the deity. The Mahasu deity is worshiped as the presiding deity (clan deity) in Uttarkashi of Uttarkashi, the entire Jaunsar-Bawar region, the Rwai pargana as well as Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur, Solan, Shimla, Bishahar and Jubbal. In these areas, Mahasu Devta is recognized as the god of justice and the temple as court.
Three ways from dehradun
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There are three roadways from Dehradun to reach the temple of Mahasu Devta. The first 188 km long route goes through Dehradun, Vikasnagar, Chakrata and Tuni to Hanol. The second reaches Hanol via Dehradun, Mussoorie, Nainbag, Purola and Mori, which is 175 km in length. Whereas, the third 178 km long route is from Dehradun to Vikanagar, Chibarau Dam, Quanu, Minas, Hatal and Tuni to Hanol.
Small shells, heavy weight
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In the premises of Mahasu temple Hanol, two lead shells are present, which make the power of Pandu's son Bhima realize. It is believed that Bhima used these balls as marbles (gitiya). In spite of being small in size, even the biggest forcemen are able to sweat. The weight of one of these pills is six mana (240 kg) and the other nine mana (360 kg).
The main temple of the four Mahasu in Hanol
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The temple at Hanol is the main temple of the four Mahasu brothers. This temple mainly worships Buthia Mahasu (Botha Mahasu). Basik Mahasu is worshiped at a place called Mandrath. Phabasik Mahasu is worshiped in Thadiyar (Uttarkashi) village located in the Bangan area on the right bank of the Tons River. Thadiyar is about three km from Hanol. The youngest brother Chalada Mahasu is a touring deity, who travels in Uttarkashi for 12 years and Dehradun district for 12 years. They are worshiped at different places for a year, among which Haja, Bishoi, Koti Kanasar, Mashak, Udpalta, Mauna etc. are the main places of worship. In the Hanol temple, the main abode of Mahasu is performed in the morning and evening.
Chalda Mahasu is famous for traveling
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The people of village Ninus, Puttad and Chatra are priests in the Hanol temple of Buthia Mahasu. Whereas, the people of village Ninus, Baghi and Mandrath are worshiped in the Basik Mahasu temple at Mandrath. The priests of each village in both temples worship for a month in a sequence. Only the priests of the village of Daglu are worshiped in the temple of Pabasik Mahasu at Thadiyar. Whereas, the priests of the village of Ninus, Puttad, Chatra and Mandrath go along with the Dev-doli for the worship of the Yatraparaya Chalada Mahasu.
Four heroes of Mahasu
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The four Mahasu also have four heroes. These include Kafla Veer (Basik Mahasu), Gudaru Veer (Pabasik Mahasu), Kailu Veer (Buthia Mahasu) and Serakudiya Veer (Chalda Mahasu). Four small mythological temples are located in Jaunsar-Bawar.
Different from other temples
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The chhatra of the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple is made of Nagar style. The pavilion and the main pavilion were built later in the temple. The construction style of this temple makes it different and distinct from other temples of Uttarakhand. It consists of ornate umbrellas made of wood and metal.
Four doors of the temple
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There are four doors from the entrance of the Mahasu temple to the sanctum sanctorum. On the roof of the entrance, the Navagraha Sun, Moon, Guru, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Ketu and Rahu are made. The artefacts of various gods and goddesses are garlanded at the first and second door. At the second gate, the bazagis of the temple cooperate with the drum-drums. Local people, devotees and tourists pay obeisance at the third gate. Only the priest is allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum from the last gate and that too at the time of worship.
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