Hanuman Temple: Where faith becomes the first court of justice | Fusion - WeRIndia

In many Indian villages, tradition often guides justice, and Katrol is a striking example.

Here, people trust Lord Hanuman more than any formal system, and they bring disputes to the 250-year-old Tekram Hanuman Temple before going anywhere else.

Located about 45 kilometres from Bhind district headquarters, the temple functions as an unofficial court known as the Hanuman Panchayat.

On Tuesdays, crowds gather for worship; however, when conflicts arise, the shrine turns into a courtroom where family quarrels, land fights, and theft accusations are heard.

Villagers believe no one dares to lie under Hanuman’s gaze.

According to elderly residents, a false oath here can punish an entire family.

Therefore, people avoid deception and accept the temple’s verdict without argument. This belief has shaped the local justice culture for generations.

Mahant Ramdas Maharaj, who has served the temple since childhood, explains how each session unfolds.

Both parties sit before the idol and narrate their claims in front of villagers and relatives.

Elders question them and cross-check details. Finally, the accused must swear by Hanuman.

If they speak truthfully, they expect relief; if they lie, consequences soon follow.

One such case involved a missing purse during a Ramayan recital at Sarnam Singh’s home. The bag contained cash and gold jewellery.

When the accused woman refused to swear before Hanuman, she immediately confessed and returned the purse. Consequently, the matter ended without police action.

Another dispute between brothers Ram Babu and Vijay Singh shows how broken vows bring fear.

Both men took an oath at the temple to end their land feud. Yet Vijay’s son Ramesh later attacked Ram Babu.

Within two days, Ramesh required costly treatment, and Vijay had to sell the disputed land. The Mahant believes this was divine justice.

However, the temple’s influence does not rest only on fear. Sarpanch Munna Singh recalls Ramdas Maharaj’s childhood illness.

When no remedy worked, he prayed at the temple and vowed lifelong service.

Soon, he recovered and has served Hanuman ever since.

Today, he performs rituals, settles disputes, and witnesses how faith continues to guide justice in Katrol.

Image Credit: C1MM, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madhya_Pradesh_location_map.svg