Hanuman Janmotsav, known as Hanuman Jayanti, is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Hanuman (a Hindu deity and one of the protagonists of the Ramayana). Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated at different times and festivals in each state in India. In most northern states, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of Chaitra (Chaitra Purnima). Hanuman is believed to be one of the most worshipped and powerful deities of Hinduism, and is considered the patron God in wrestling. This time usually corresponds with March or April in the English calendar. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, it is on the Margashirsha Amavasya, or new moon day of Margashirsha month, while in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it is celebrated on the 10th, in Krishna Paksha of Vaihakha. Karnataka celebrates this occasion on the Shukla Paksha Trayodashi 13th of Margashirsha month and Odisha, the eastern state of India, celebrates Hanuman Jayanti on the first of the month Vaishaka which typically falls in April. In mythology, Lord Hanuman is viewed as an incarnation of Lord Shiva 11th Rudra and the most powerful being that exists in all universes. Lord Hanuman is one of the main heroes and the central character of the Hindu super epic Ramayana. In the epic, He is a Vanara and took birth to help Lord Ram. Lord Hanuman is a mass worshipped God that can defeat all evils and protect all devotees. On this purifying day of Hanuma Jayanti devotees go to Hanuman Temples to pray.
According to mythology, Hanuman appeared at sunrise so on this holy day, the devotees worship and conduct many rituals after taking a holy bath, but ultimately before dawn. The devotees apply a red tilak, vermillion, or powder on the forehead of the Lord Hanuman Idol, chant different hymns and mantras, read the Hanuman Chalisa, offer Diya, offer prasada sweets, coconuts, complete Aarti, pradhakshina or walking around the idol. The devotees, either recite Hanuman chalisa or lines from Ramayana Sunderkand. Once the Puja has come to an end, devotees place red sindoor on their forehead and given away prasada. In the storyline as well, Lord Hanuman is one of the attributes of the 11th Rudra of Lord Shiva and as a representation of strength, knowledge, and devotion is acknowledged.
Devotees hold fast to the belief that Lord Hanuman is immortal and immensely capable of removing any negativity or temptation. He is a devoted follower; he does not display any strength and valor without reason. Today is regarded as a sacred day to pray and recite different mantras to cultivate this disposition and virtue of prayer and worship of Lord Hanuman. As the Hindu mythological story teaches, if you genuinely want Lord Rama to fulfill all your wishes, you can only reach Him through Lord Hanuman and Hanuman Jayanti is the most auspicious day for this worship. Lord Hanuman is both a pure servant of Lord Rama, and a God of mercy, who takes care of His devotee. Devotees believe firmly that it is possible to overcome all sorrow and difficulty by continuously chanting the divine hymn Hanuman Chalisa.
As a famous story goes, Lord Hanuman was born on a full moon day. His father, Kesari was the son of lord Brihaspati. His mother, Anjana was a celestial apsara from a celestial body. She was born of a curse from a sage; she was to be born of a creature on earth. She was redeemed 12 years later due to her worship of Lord Shiva, which led to her giving birth to Lord Hanuman.As a result Hanuman is known as an incarnation, or reflection of Lord Shiva. The holy epic, Ram Charita Manas written by Goswami Tulsi Das, vividly describes the role of Vayu, the divine wind god in Hanuman's being born. The epic describes how the Vayu God came forward to convey the energy of Lord Shiva immediately into Anjana's womb. Consequently, Lord Hanuman is known as Vayuputram or Pawan Putra which means the son of Vayu. On a holiday like Hanuman Jayanti, devotees love to recall Hanuman's mischievous self as a child.
One of the best legends explains that He flew across many mountains and heights to eat sun, which he thought was ripe fruit. However, a demonic planet Rahu which was there to create eclipsed of sun came in path of young Hanuman and stopped him half way. Indra initiated and threw his thunderbolt weapon Vajra and striked young Hanuman and knocked him unconscious. Following this event, God Vayu found his son on earth in an unconscious state and out of anger his winds never blew easy for all living beings on Earth. In the end, Lord Indra and all the other demigods recognized their serious mistake and revived young Hanuman and conferred many boons upon him.
On the day of Hanuman Jayanti, devotees gather in large numbers at Hanuman temples to pray early in the morning. This festival is considered one of the most important festival of Sanatan Dharma. People chant mantra, Hanuman chalisa, offer aarti with a belief that He is the live embodiment of Ram Naam. He is undoubtedly an ideal selfless disciple as he is a true Karamyogi. He was a great devotee and served Lord Rama with pure love and devotion. Every year on the auspicious day, devoted pilgrims worship Hanuman Ji with a pure heart, some fast in his honour to invoke the blessings of Hanuman Ji for a prosperous , successful and meaningful life. This year Hanuman Jayanti is on 12 th April Saturday and the harish people will celebrate the festival and will of course pray to Hanuman Ji with full vibrance and show to gain his blessings of strength, courage, knowledge, power along with other attributes. Let us celebrate the glorious festival of Hanuman Jayanti with purity of heart and devotion so that lord Hanuman blesses us with willman, health, wealth, wisdom to guide us on our journey in this life and meaningful life. Jai Hanuman, may HE bless all of us on this Hanuman Jayanti day. Hanuman is Mahashaktishali and is Monkey God and as we believe is Avataar of Lord Shiva.
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