Hanuman Jayanti

Lord Hanuman was born on Anjaneri mountain. His mother Anjana was an apsara born on earth due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse by giving birth to a son. The Valmiki Ramayana states that his father Kesari was the son of Brihaspati, he was the king of a place named Sumeru. Anjana prayed intensely for 12 long years in Rudra to have a child. Pleased with their devotion, Rudra granted them the son they sought. Hanuman, in another interpretation, is the embodiment or reflection of Rudra himself.

Hanuman is often called the son of the deity Vayu (God of Wind); several different traditions explain the role of the Vayu in the birth of Hanuman. A story mentioned in the Bhavartha Ramayana of Eknath (16th century CE) states that when Anjana worshiped Rudra, King Dasharatha of Ayodhya also performed the ritual of Putrakama yagna in order to have children. As a result, he was given sacred pudding (payasam) to be shared by his three wives, which led to the births of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna.

By divine ordinance, a kite tore off a fragment of this pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayu, the Hindu wind deity, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to him as a result. Another tradition says that Anjana and her husband Kesari prayed to Rudra for a child. Under Rudra's guidance, Vayu transferred his masculine energy into Anjana's womb. Accordingly, Hanuman is identified as the son of the Vayu

Another origin story of Hanuman is derived from the Vishnu Purana and the Naradeya Purana. Narada, in love with a princess, went to her lord Vishnu, to make him look like Vishnu, so that the princess would garland him in swayamvara (husband choosing ceremony). He asked for hari mukh (Hari is another name for Monkey (Vanara) and also for Vishnu, and mukh means face). Vishnu thus granted him the face of a vanara. Unaware of this, Narada went to the princess, who burst out laughing at the sight of his monkey face in front of the entire king's court.

Narada, unable to bear the humiliation, cursed Vishnu, that Vishnu would one day be dependent on a vanara. Vishnu replied that what he had done was for the good of Narada, as he would have undermined his own powers if he were to marry. Vishnu also noted that Hari has the double Sanskrit meaning of vanara. Hearing this, Narada repented of cursing Vishnu. But Vishnu told him not to repent as the curse would act as a boon, as it would lead to the birth of Hanuman, an avatar of Rudra, without whose help Rama (the avatar of Vishnu) could not kill Ravana .

On the day of Hanuman Jayanti, according to the Sastras, Swamy Hanuman should be worshiped as all Vanara chiefs pray to him in a banana garden. This form should be worshiped on this special day and not as Dasa-Anjaneya, Abhaya-Anjaneya or any other form. Worshiping this form of hanuman swamy will fulfill all desires and remove all obstacles.

Lord Hanuman is revered as a deity capable of achieving victory over evil and providing protection. On this auspicious day, devotees of Lord Hanuman celebrate him and seek his protection and blessings. They flock to temples to worship him and present religious offerings. In return, devotees are given Prasad by the temple priests in the form of sweets, flowers, coconuts, tilak, holy ashes (udi) and Ganga jal (holy water). People also celebrate it on this day by reciting various devotional hymns and prayers like Hanuman Chalisa and reading scriptures like Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Hanuman Janam-Utsav is an important Hindu festival. Hanuman Janmotsav is also the biggest festival celebrated in India. Lord Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and is widely known for his unwavering devotion to Rama. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. He is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield the gada (including many celestial weapons), move mountains, soar through the air, grab clouds, and to also rival Garuda in speed of flight.