In the quiet neighborhood of Priyagarh, an ordinary house has become a center of religious attraction for many people. Despite the absence of a grand temple, a large statue, or any external decoration, people begin gathering near this house in the evening. The reason for its popularity is that Nim Karoli Baba stayed here.
Following the release of the film 'Hanuman Ansh,' the story of Nim Karoli Baba was presented on the big screen, which generated increased interest in the old places associated with his life. Pilgrims visit this house, located at 18/4 Church Lane in Priyagarh.
From the outside, the house looks like any other residential building in the area. However, inside, one room has been preserved as it is believed Nim Karoli Baba stayed and meditated. This house originally belonged to Professor Sudhir Mukherji, an economics specialist at Indian University. It is recounted that Baba visited him here once or twice a year.
Currently, Satya Pandey and her husband Indresh Prasad take care of the house. Visitors can come for worship from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. It is important to note that donations are not accepted here; devotees are given laddu prasad after visiting.
The most significant part of the house is the room where, according to claims, Baba stayed. His cot and pillow are still revered with deep respect. Flowers are brought there daily, and the bedding is changed every Wednesday. It is said that Baba liked pumpkin vegetables, moong lentils, and bread made from legume flour, so these dishes are offered today. These are not film props, but a house that carefully preserves old memories associated with Baba.
It should be emphasized that the filming of 'Hanuman Ansh' did not take place inside this house. The film presented Baba's life story and spiritual journey in narrative form, which only amplified people's curiosity about the places connected to him. Vishal Chaturvedi is the author and director of the film, and the plot is based on his book 'Divine Detour: That Changed My Life.' The film depicts the story of Lakshminarayan, immersed in grief, who, in search of answers about life, death, and suffering after his mother's passing, eventually becomes known as Nim Karoli Baba. Shobhinav Satya, Vikhan Shedge, Chandan Ke Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi, Gulshan Pandey, and Bhagavandas also acted in the film.
The history of this house is not limited to a few decades. The connection between Baba and Professor Sudhir Mukherji is estimated to be about a century. Their first meeting took place at the Sadhneshwar temple in Kolkata in 1935. They met again at Indian University in 1950. At that time, Professor Mukherji was teaching at the university. Impressed by Baba, the professor built this house on Church Lane in 1956. According to Satya, over time, the relationship between Baba and the Mukherji family became very close. Since the couple had no children, they adopted Satya into their family as a daughter.
According to Satya, Baba was considered devoted to Lord Hanuman, and according to some beliefs, he is an incarnation of Hanuman. Satya also reports that Baba once appeared to Professor Mukherji in the form of Hanuman. Satya also clarifies that Baba did not believe in promoting his miracles, believing that everything happens naturally. Professor Mukherji passed away in 1997, and his wife Kamala died a few years later. According to family records, Baba once told the professor that this house belonged to him and that he would always live there.
Even today, the family believes that Baba's presence is connected to this house. Perhaps this is why an ordinary house, without any temple decorations or pomp, has become a place of worship for people.
The film, which introduced a new generation to the story of Nim Karoli Baba, is also successful at the box office. 'Hanuman Ansh' was released on August 7th. The film, shot on a budget of less than 20 million rupees, started slowly, collecting about 10 million rupees in the first two weeks. After that, the film gained momentum and surpassed the 100 million rupee mark in domestic collections. According to Sakalilk, on the 40th day, the film collected 8.25 crore rupees from 9175 screenings. Thus, the total gross collection of the film in India reached 272.90 crore, and the net collection was 231.13 crore. Abroad, the film earned 2 crore on the 40th day, increasing the foreign gross collection to 18.50 crore. As a result, the worldwide gross collection of the film reached 291.40 crore. The film attracted the attention of Bollywood, and stars like Kangana Ranaut and Varun Dhawan highly praised it. The creators also confirmed the shooting of a sequel. However, against the backdrop of these large figures, this small house in Priyagarh may have become the most interesting story of this film, where the memory of the saint shown on screen lives on to this day.
