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| Hanuman Jayanti |
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Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara god, widely venerated throughout India especially in North India. It is celebrated during the month of Chaitra.
Hanuman is an ardent devotee of god Rama, and is worshipped for his unflinching devotion to the God. From early morning, devotees flock Hanuman temples to worship him.
Hanuman Jayanti is an important festival of Hindus. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield rocks, move mountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds and rival Garuda in swiftness of flight. He is worshipped in folk tradition as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.
The devotees will visit temples and apply tilak of sindhur to their foreheads from the Hanumans body as this is considered to be good luck. According to the legend Sita was applying sindhur to her head, Hanuman Ji questioned why and replied that this would ensure a long life for her husband. Hanuman then smeared his entire body with sindhur, in an effort to ensure Rama’s immortality.<
In Maharashtra, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day (purnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra. A special feature of Hanuman Jayanti is that according to some religious almanacs (panchangs) the birthday of Hanuman falls on the fourteenth day (chaturdashi) in the dark fortnight of the month of Ashvin while according to others it falls on the full moon day in the bright fortnight of Chaitra. On this day, in a Hanuman temple spiritual discourses are started at dawn. Hanuman was born at sunrise. At that time the spiritual discourse is stopped and the offering of food (Prasad) is distributed to everyone
Spiritual discourses are organised in most of the Hindu temples on this day.
In the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Margazhi( normally comes between December 16 to January 14). There it is believed that Hanuman or Anjaneya was born on Moola Nakshatra,on the new moon day (amavasya) in the month of Margazhi.
In Andhra, Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated on tenth day of bahula paksham in the month of Vaishaka. It is good to parayan Hanuman Chalisa on this auspicious day. |
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This holy day starts with rituals mainly performed in Hanuman Temples all over India. As people visit temples to perform rituals and there they attend bhajans, satsangas and read out aloud ‘Hanuman Chalisa’. They also spend the entire day reciting certain ‘Japa’ of RAM-NAM, SRI HANUMAN.
Hanuman's birth is an auspicious day for the entire Hindu community as they mark their gratitude for Lord Hanuman and regard him as the god of strength and numerous people along with their families visit temples to mark homage to Lord Hanuman on this very festival.
The celebrations are held at the world famous Salasar Temple which is situated at the Salasar town in Churu District of Rajasthan which is 55 kms from Sikar town where lakhs of devotees come from all over to offer their prayers to Lord Hanuman. A similar festival is also celebrated at the Mehndipur Temple which is situated near the Jaipur - Agra Highway at about 110 kms from Jaipur.
A specially prepared Bhoga or Prasad which is known as Churma is offered to Lord Hanuman on this day. At many places special made chariots are taken out in procession by Bhajans chanting groups. |
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Historical perspective
Lord Hanuman's mother, Anjani had observed penance like the queens of king Dasharath (father of Lord Rama) and had received payas (rice boiled in milk with sugar, distributed as sacrament from sacrificial fires or yadnya prasad). It was through the blessing of this holy sacrament that the queens conceived. Hence, Lord Hanuman is also considered as a brother of Lord Rama.
Special features of Lord Hanuman
Omnipotence: Lord Hanuman is the only deity that cannot be troubled by negative energies. He was born of the absolute air element (vayutattva). The well-known story that the baby Hanuman leaped to devour the sun at birth, implies that the absolute air element (signified by Lord Hanuman in the story) is subtler and therefore, more powerful than the absolute fire element (tejtattva) (signified by the sun in the story).
Supreme devotion (bhakti): Hanuman's devotion and service unto Lord Rama is the best example of devotion of a servitor (dasyabhakti) unto The Lord. He was ever ready to sacrifice even His life for the sake of His Lord. Before the service of His Lord even the attainment of Liberation (Moksha) was worthless to Him. Hanuman is an ideal combination of a servitor and a warrior!
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Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Hanuman, who is worshiped by Hindus. In Hinduism, Hanuman symbolizes strength and unfathomable devotion.
For those people alien to Hindu culture, Hanuman is the ‘monkey god’ and a mythical character in Ramayana.
But for Hindus, Hanuman is yet another path to reach the ‘Brahman.’ The fruitful association of Lord Rama with Hanuman and his ‘monkey clan’ symbolizes the need for the coexistence of humans and animals. And it extols that humans and animals and all living and non-living are nothing but the product of one Supreme Being Brahman.
Think about Hanuman and what comes to mind is his unparalleled devotion for Lord Ram and unrivaled physical strength. Perhaps this is one season why Hanuman is quite often associated with celibates, wrestlers and bodybuilders. Hanuman is also noted for his spirit of self service, which was rewarded by Lord Ram by stating that ‘whenever I am remembered, people will remember you too.
Hanuman Jayanti falls on the full moon day in the month of Chaithra (March – April). He is an incarnation of Lord Shiva and was born of Vayu (wind-god) and Anjani Devi. Hanuman is a Chiranjivi (immortal).
Hanuman Jayanti falls on the full moon day in the month of Chaithra (March – April). He is an incarnation of Lord Shiva and was born of Vayu (wind-god) and Anjani Devi. Hanuman is a Chiranjivi (immortal). With global warming on the rise and nature’s order going topsy-turvy and affecting the lives of living beings, Hanuman Jayanti should remind us about the need for peaceful coexistence with nature.
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