Lete Hanuman sits on the Sangam-bank of the Ganga at Prayagraj, just below the Allahabad Fort. The principal deity is Hanuman in his reclining (lete) form — a massive sandstone murti about 20 feet long, holding Ram and Lakshman on his chest, with the slain demons of the Ramayana around his feet. The murti is held by tradition to be self-manifest and to have arrived at this exact spot by divine volition.
The katha tells: a Vaishnava merchant once attempted to transport this large Hanuman murti to a temple elsewhere. After loading it onto a boat near the Yamuna, the boat would not move; despite all efforts, the murti pulled the boat down to the Sangam riverbank. The merchant accepted this as Hanuman's wish and installed the deity at the riverbank itself, where the temple was then built. Even today, every Prayagraj yatri visits Lete Hanuman immediately after the Sangam snan — the reclining Hanuman is held to bless the pilgrim's journey home with safety and continued bhakti.
Lete Hanuman is the principal Hanuman shrine of Prayagraj and one of the largest reclining Hanuman murtis in India. The reclining form is unusual; most Hanuman murtis show him standing or seated. Tradition gives several explanations: that the murti depicts Hanuman in cosmic rest after the long Ramayana service; that the form reflects Hanuman's acceptance of the rest his service had earned; that the reclining shape was the natural form revealed when the murti was self-manifest.
History
Lete Hanuman as a pilgrim shrine has been recorded since the medieval period. The present temple structure was rebuilt and renovated by Vaishnava patrons through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with most recent restoration during the 2025 Mahakumbh preparations. The temple is open during the Ganga flood-season when the rising river sometimes laps near the shrine — the deity is held to remain calmly at rest regardless of river level.
Architecture
The temple is a stone structure on the Ganga bank with steps descending to the river. The reclining Hanuman murti is set within a paved inner chamber, lit by oil-lamps. The murti is dressed daily in red cloth, garlanded with marigolds, and offered sindur. Side chambers hold small Ram-Sita murtis and a small Bhairon shrine.
Rituals & Practices
The temple is open from before dawn through evening with morning and evening aartis. Tuesdays and Saturdays see large crowds. Pilgrims offer bundi-laddoo, jasmine flowers, and sindur. The Sundara Kanda paath is recited continuously by groups. The traditional sequence: Sangam snan, Lete Hanuman darshan, then Bharadwaj Ashram or Patalpuri-Akshay Vat.
Festivals & Celebrations
| Festival | When | Crowd |
|---|---|---|
| Hanuman Jayanti | — | very_high |
| Tuesdays | — | high |
| Saturdays | — | high |
| Mauni Amavasya | — | very_high |
Hanuman Jayanti: Supreme Hanuman day.
Tuesdays: Tuesday tradition.
Saturdays: Saturday tradition.
Mauni Amavasya: The major Magh Mela darshan.
Prepare for Your Visit
Practical guidance to help you plan your pilgrimage
| Pilgrim Guidance | How to reachLete Hanuman is on the Ganga-Sangam bank, walking distance from Sangam-ghat (5 minutes) and below the Allahabad Fort. E-rickshaws drop pilgrims at the temple lane. PreparationModest dress. Phones permitted in the outer courtyard but not in the sanctum. The temple is small and crowded on Tuesdays-Saturdays; arrive early. Best time to visitTuesdays and Saturdays for the strongest weekly devotion. Hanuman Jayanti (Chaitra Purnima) and Diwali week are spiritual peaks. Magh Mela and Kumbh seasons see massive flow. |
Location
Prayagraj, UP
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