Hanuman Jayanati is a Hindu festival, which is celebrated all over India to mark the birth of Lord Hanuman. This festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the Sukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra of the Hindu calendar. Lord Hanuman is known as the Vanara God, i.e. God of Monkey. On this day, devotees visit temples and shrines of Lord Hanuman to commemorate his birth day and to take blessings from him.
About Lord Hanuman
Lord Hanuman was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Ram, who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was born to the King of Monkeys Kesari and Anjana (Anjani) with the blessings bestowed on them by Lord Shiva and Vayun. He is called by various names by different devotees. As he is the beloved son of Anjana, he is called by the name of Anjanisut and Anjaneya. He is also called by the name of Pavanputra, Maruti and Marutisut, as he was born because of the blessings received by his mother from Vayun Devta. He is also denoted by the name Vajranga, which means someone who cannot be destructed.
The Hindu mythology that gives a glimpse of the pre-birth history of the Vanar God states that his mother was a damsel in Swarg (The Heaven), who was cursed by a sage named Angira, who once visited Swarga. He was invited by the King of Devtas, Indra to witness a dance recital by one of his damsels. As soon as the recital started, the sage went off for meditation and closed his eyes. After the dance performance was over, he was asked by Indra about the dance performance and he answered that he was meditating and these things do not interest him. Hearing this, the dancer, who was full of ego about her beauty, said that how can a sage value dance? This made the sage angry and cursed her saying that she will be born on earth as a female monkey. Everyone in Heaven was astonished and the damsel regretted about her mistake and pleaded before the sage for mercy. However, he felt pity for her and blessed her that she will give birth to a great devotee of the God and will serve him till eternity as his greatest devotee.
Owing to several reasons, of which this is one, Lord Hanuman was born. He is the materialization of the curse given by the sage to his mother, a result of his mother’s prayers, blessings of Lord Shiva and Vayun Devta and finally the result of Putreshti Yagna. Furthermore, according to the Shiv Puran, he is an incarnation of Lord Shiva, who wished to serve Lord Ram in his own form but that was not possible and so he stirred 1 of his Rudra as monkey i.e. Lord Hanuman. He thus became the greatest devotee of Lord Ram and this is evident from the chronicles given in the great Indian Epic Ramayana.
Significance of Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman is the icon of energy and strength and is considered to be immortal according to the Hindu mythology. He is believed to be able to take any form as he wishes to. He was blessed by all God from heaven that he will be all powerful in three places that includes Heaven, hell and land. Owing to these blessings received by him, people worship him in the form of God, who protects the mankind from all evils, danger and trouble. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated by everyone from the Hindu Community to mark the birth of this great devotee.
Celebration of Hanuman Jayanti
This is a significant Hindu religious festival that is celebrated through out the nation. However, it is celebrated differently in different parts of the nation. In the state of Maharashtra and Karnataka, it is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Chaitra of the Hindu calendar. However, in the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated in the month of Marghazi of the Hindu calendar, in Orissa, this festival is celebrated on the first day of the month of Baisakha according to the Oriya calendar and in Andhra Pradesh, it is celebrated on the 10th day of Krishna paksha in the month of Vaishaka of Hindu calendar. This difference is because of the difference in the mythology of different places and is celebrated according to their beliefs. However, the rest of the part of India celebrates it on the 15th day of the Sukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra of the Hindu calendar, which falls in the month of April of the English calendar.
About Lord Hanuman
Lord Hanuman was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Ram, who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was born to the King of Monkeys Kesari and Anjana (Anjani) with the blessings bestowed on them by Lord Shiva and Vayun. He is called by various names by different devotees. As he is the beloved son of Anjana, he is called by the name of Anjanisut and Anjaneya. He is also called by the name of Pavanputra, Maruti and Marutisut, as he was born because of the blessings received by his mother from Vayun Devta. He is also denoted by the name Vajranga, which means someone who cannot be destructed.
The Hindu mythology that gives a glimpse of the pre-birth history of the Vanar God states that his mother was a damsel in Swarg (The Heaven), who was cursed by a sage named Angira, who once visited Swarga. He was invited by the King of Devtas, Indra to witness a dance recital by one of his damsels. As soon as the recital started, the sage went off for meditation and closed his eyes. After the dance performance was over, he was asked by Indra about the dance performance and he answered that he was meditating and these things do not interest him. Hearing this, the dancer, who was full of ego about her beauty, said that how can a sage value dance? This made the sage angry and cursed her saying that she will be born on earth as a female monkey. Everyone in Heaven was astonished and the damsel regretted about her mistake and pleaded before the sage for mercy. However, he felt pity for her and blessed her that she will give birth to a great devotee of the God and will serve him till eternity as his greatest devotee.
Owing to several reasons, of which this is one, Lord Hanuman was born. He is the materialization of the curse given by the sage to his mother, a result of his mother’s prayers, blessings of Lord Shiva and Vayun Devta and finally the result of Putreshti Yagna. Furthermore, according to the Shiv Puran, he is an incarnation of Lord Shiva, who wished to serve Lord Ram in his own form but that was not possible and so he stirred 1 of his Rudra as monkey i.e. Lord Hanuman. He thus became the greatest devotee of Lord Ram and this is evident from the chronicles given in the great Indian Epic Ramayana.
Significance of Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman is the icon of energy and strength and is considered to be immortal according to the Hindu mythology. He is believed to be able to take any form as he wishes to. He was blessed by all God from heaven that he will be all powerful in three places that includes Heaven, hell and land. Owing to these blessings received by him, people worship him in the form of God, who protects the mankind from all evils, danger and trouble. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated by everyone from the Hindu Community to mark the birth of this great devotee.
Celebration of Hanuman Jayanti
This is a significant Hindu religious festival that is celebrated through out the nation. However, it is celebrated differently in different parts of the nation. In the state of Maharashtra and Karnataka, it is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Chaitra of the Hindu calendar. However, in the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated in the month of Marghazi of the Hindu calendar, in Orissa, this festival is celebrated on the first day of the month of Baisakha according to the Oriya calendar and in Andhra Pradesh, it is celebrated on the 10th day of Krishna paksha in the month of Vaishaka of Hindu calendar. This difference is because of the difference in the mythology of different places and is celebrated according to their beliefs. However, the rest of the part of India celebrates it on the 15th day of the Sukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra of the Hindu calendar, which falls in the month of April of the English calendar.
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