Taos Hanuman Temple is within the Sri Neem Karoli Baba Ashram in Taos, New Mexico. The Taos Hanuman Temple is operated by western devotees of Neem Karoli Baba. Of the many gathering places of Neem Karoli Baba satsang in America, Neem Karoli Baba Ashram in Taos is the home of Sri Taos Hanuman-ji, a most unique and loveable murti. Maharaj-ji's Taos Hanuman Temple is located at 7000-ft. elevation in the Sangre de Christo (Blood of Christ) Range of the Rocky Mountains. Taos is a small town noted as a "spiritual center". Thousands of Hindus from all over the world make pilgrimages to have the darshan of Sri Taos Hanuman-ji.
The Hanuman Temple
at this Ashram in Taos, New Mexico is the only public temple
institution of Neem Karoli Baba
western satsang and is most likely the most visited Hanuman Temple in
America. Sri Hanuman is depicted in his "Ramachudamanidayaka" form as
flying over the ocean carrying Sri Ram's ring to Sita-ji in Lanka.
there are many forms of Hanuman-ji in India, but Hanuman-ji in this
form is very rare. He was designed in America, sculpted in Jaipur,
Ragistan, India, and transported to His home in Taos. In
September 1999, the Board of Director's of Maharaj-ji's Taos
Ashram voted to build a new and appropriate mandir for Sri Taos
Hanuman-ji.
"The
new temple for Hanuman will be a beacon that-radiates the light of
Hanuman. Hanuman, in his new temple, will draw many Eastern and Western
devotees from around the country. Maharaj-ji serves as a deep pure well
that gives pure water...." - Ram Dass
Each day aarti is performed to Maharaj-ji and
Hanuman-ji from
7:00 to
7:45 each morning and 7:00 to 7:45 each night. Aarti consists of "Jaya
Jagadeesh Hare", "Guru Vandana", "Vinaya Chalisa", "Guru Stotra", "
"Hanuman Chalisa", "Hanuman Astaka," and "Jai Gurudev". These arati
practice items can be
found on this site on the "Practice"
page.
About
Sri Neem Karoli Baba Ashram:
"The Hindu tradition recognizes the ashram/temple as the guru's body.
The ashram is Maharaj-ji's body. When we gather, we bring together all
of our separate love of Maharaj-ji.
This
collective love takes form
through kirtan, making chai, serving somebody, the children's laughter,
and the preparation of food as prasad (one of the tenets of Maharai-ji
is to feed people). To make this a reality, we come together on
scheduled occasions." - Ram Dass
Hindu
Festivals celebrated at the Sri Taos
Hanumanji Temple at Sri Neem Karoli Baba Ashram in Taos, New Mexico.
 Shivaratri Shivaratri
The "Night of Shiva" is celebrated on the day before the
new moon in late February or early March, when the moon is furthest
from Earth, a time to worship God the Absolute. An all-night puja
(ceremony) begins at sunset with chanting in praise of Lord Shiva.
There are five periods of worship, each followed by prasad.
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 Hanuman Jayanti Hanuman
Jayanti
This is Hanuman's birthday, celebrated on the first full
moon of Spring. Beginning at 4 am, we sing 108 Hanuman Chalisas,
followed by a feast. The celebration concludes with a big birthday cake
at the children's party for Hanuman.
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 Guru Purnima Guru
Purnima
The Guru is honored on the full moon in July, when the
moon is closest to the Earth, the time to worship God in form. It is
celebrated with the singing of 108 Hanuman Chalisas, Aarti and a feast.
Guru Purnima begins at 4 am.
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 Ram Lila Maharajji's
Mahasamadhi Bhandara
Bhandara literally means to open up the food storage and
eat all the food. The anniversary of Neem Karoli Baba's leaving his
body
(Mahasamadhi) falls on the day of the full moon in September. We
celebrate it on the nearest Saturday to the lunar date. Beginning at 4
am, we sing 108 Hanuman Chalisas, followed by the Ramlila (the
children's reenactment of the deeds of Lord Ram, Sita, and Hanuman) and
a feast. Also during this weekend, the ashram hosts a fundraising
auction.
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 Durga Puja Durge
Puja - Navaratri
Celebrated each evening at 6 pm.
Durga Puja - Navaratri is a ten day festival, celebrated
from the
first till the tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month in
September/ October, commemorates the victory of Durga. The nine-day
puja culminates on the tenth day with a feast and a procession to the
Rio Grande into which the Goddess is lovingly immersed.
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Darshan of Sri Taos
Hanumanji
 Sri Taos Hanuman-ji
This photograph of Sri Taos Hanumanji was taken at the time of
Hanuman Jayanti 2006, and is actually one of the finest digital photos
that Hanumanji has ever allowed to be taken.
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