Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman Jayanti

चैत्र पूर्णिमा

Hanuman Jayanthi is an important festival of Hindus. It is celebrated to celebrate the birth of Lord Hanuman. It is celebrated during the month of Chaitra.Sri Hanuman is worshipped all over India either alone or together with Sri Rama. 

Every temple of Sri Rama has the idol of Sri Hanuman. Hanuman is the Avatara of Lord Shiva. He was born of the Wind-God and Anjani Devi. His other names are Pavanasuta, Marutsuta, Pavankumar, Bajrangabali and Mahavira. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is said to be able to assume any form at will, move mountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds and rival Garuda in swiftness of flight. He is worshipped  as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.  He is the living embodiment of Ram-Nam. He was an ideal selfless worker, a true Karma Yogi who worked desirelessly and dynamically. He was a great devotee and an exceptional Brahmachari or celibate. He served Sri Rama with pure love and devotion, without expecting any fruit in return. He lived to serve Sri Rama. He was humble, brave and wise. He possessed all the divine virtues. He did what others could not do-crossing the ocean simply by uttering Ram-Nam, burning the city of Lanka and bringing the sanjeevini herb and restoring Lakshmana to life again.

On Hanuman Jayanti  people read the Hanuman Chalisa, fast and spend the whole day chanting Ram-Nam. The devotees visit temples and apply tilak of sindoor to their foreheads from  Hanumans body as this is considered to be good luck. Lord Hanuman is a Brahmachari thats why in many temples women are not allowed to touch his idol, they can worship him but their touch is prohibited.

The sacred thread (Janeu) on Hanuman’s left shoulder is a sign of Brahmatej. Since Lord Maruti is an incarnation of Lord Shiva He has destructive powers too. Yet, because of His devotion to Lord Rama, Vishnu-tatva developed in Him. Since Maruti adorns Brahmatej and Kshatratej during wars, He can use both as required. During the war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, Lord Krishna seated Maruti on Arjun’s chariot (He can be seen on the flag at the top of Arjun’s chariot). Hanuman destroyed the weapons, directed at Arjun and his chariot, in mid-air itself. Lord Hanuman or Maruti in seated posture depicts the unmanifest form of power. Maruti in a warrior posture depicts the manifest form of power. To obtain benefit of the gross, manifest and destroyer element we should avoid installing a seated idol of Maruti in a temple. Maruti in seated position implies He is in deep meditation, wherein His motor organs are in dormant, inactive state. Thus, a common man will be able to derive very little benefit from this posture of Maruti.

ANACDOTES FROM HANUMAN'S LIFE

According to the legend Sita was applying sindoor to her head. Hanuman Ji saw it and asked the reason behind her act. Sita mata replied that this would ensure a long life for her husband Lord Rama and also he will be happy. Hanumanji then smeared his entire body with sindhoor, in an effort to ensure Rama’s immortality and to make him happy. When Lord Rama saw this he was touched by this gesture and blessed Hanumanji that he will be worshiped for his Bhakti. That is how the tradition of offering Sindoor to Hanuman idol started. It is believed that through this not only Hanuman but Lord Rama also blesses the person who offers sindoor to Hanumanji.

When Hanuman was a child he was very naughty. One day when he was playing he felt hungry. He saw sun and thought it as some fruit and swallowed it. The whole world was in dark. All the Devtas came and requested Hanuman to leave sun for the sake of humanity. Hanuman then threw out sun. So powerful he was.