All About Today’s ‘Hanuman Jayanti’

The Hindu festival of Hanuman Janmotsav (Sanskrit: हनुमज्जयंती, romanized: Hanumajjayantī) commemorates the birth of Hanuman, a Hindu god and one of the main characters in the Ramayana. Every Indian state celebrates Hanuman Jayanti differently, depending on the period and customs. The holiday, known as Chaitra Purnima, is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Chaitra in the majority of northern states of India. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on Shukla Paksha Trayodashi in Karnataka, during the month of Margashirsha or in Vaishakha; in a few regions, including Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is held during the month of Dhanu, which is known as Margali in Tamil. The eastern state of Odisha celebrates Hanuman Jayanti on Pana Sankranti, which falls on the same day as the Odia New Year. Hanuman is considered to be a devoted follower of Rama, who is recognized as a Vishnu avatar recognized for his unwavering dedication. He is held in high regard as a powerful symbol.

Hindus commemorate the birth of Lord Hanuman on Hanuman Jayanti, an annual event. Hanuman, the monkey god, is revered for his unshakable devotion to Lord Rama and is a symbol of courage and selflessness. Invoking Lord Hanuman for inner peace, prosperity, and strength, devotees commemorate this day with prayers, fasting, and recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa. March or April are usually the springtime months when Hanuman Jayanti is observed. Hanuman Jayanti is a potent occasion for devotees to learn about Lord Hanuman’s attributes and ask for his blessings.

When Is The Birth Anniversary Of Hanuman?

The date of Hanuman Ji’s birth is Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Every year on the full moon day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra, people celebrate Hanuman Janmotsav. On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Hanuman Janmotsav will be observed this year.

The Significance Of Hanuman Jayanti:

Lord Hanuman is portrayed in the Ramayana as the epitome of a devotee, capable of doing seemingly impossible deeds because of his constant love for Rama. His deeds serve as an enduring reminder of the strength of faith and unwavering dedication to conquering obstacles. Hanuman Jayanti commemorates Hanuman’s great courage and power, but devotion is also a prominent focus. Hanuman Jayanti is significant since it is not religiously restricted. People are inspired by Hanuman’s persistent devotion, selfless service, and enormous strength, regardless of their beliefs.’Purnima Tithi’ for Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on April 23, 2024, at 03:25 AM. On April 24, 2024, at 05:18 AM, the Hanuman Jayanti ‘Purnima Tithi’ comes to a conclusion.

Adherents engage in a variety of rituals in honor of Lord Hanuman on Hanuman Jayanti. Along with chanting prayers and reciting hymns like the Hanuman Chalisa, they also offer flowers and tasty delicacies. Even observing a fast is a possibility for certain really devoted followers. There are three lucky times (muhurats) for worship on April 23rd this year: 8:14 PM to 9:35 PM, 11:53 AM to 12:46 PM, and 9:03 AM to 10:41 AM.

The festival pays homage to the divine qualities that Lord Hanuman embodies. Relatives of Hanuman seek to imitate his virtues in their own lives; hence, Hanuman Jayanti is also a time for spiritual introspection and meditation. It is meant to serve as a reminder of the ability to overcome challenges and achieve spiritual progress through dedication, humility, and selflessness.

The Advantages Of The Shri Hanuman Chalisa (ChalisaKelabh):

1. A calm and comfortable environment is provided for the mind.
2. The devotee experiences an improvement in mood and receives positive energy.
3. A person will get a release from anxiety and dread and gain confidence in themselves.
4. Your life will become more prosperous and wealthy with the grace of Shri Hanumanji.
5. This chalisa can be recited to promote physical health and offer respite from illnesses.

Key Passages From The Sri Hanuman Chalisa:

1. बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार।
2. श्री गुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि।
3. बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार।।
4. बरनउँ रघुवर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि।।

History Behind His Birth:

Kesari and Anjana gave birth to Hanuman, a vanara. Hanuman is sometimes referred to as the celestial son of the wind god Vayu. Because of a curse, his mother, Anjana, was born into the world as an apsara. When she gave birth to a boy, she was freed from this curse. According to the Valmiki Ramayana, his father Kesari was the son of Brihaspati, the ruler of a territory called Sumeru, which was situated close to the kingdom of Kishkindha in Hampi in the modern-day Karnataka district of Vijayanagara. It is reported that Anjana prayed to Shiva fervently for twelve years in order to become pregnant. Shiva bestowed upon them the boy they desired, pleased with their devotedness.

The Bhavartha Ramayana of Eknath tells us that King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, under the advice of Sage R̥śyaśr̥ṅga, performed the Putrakameshti ceremony in order to conceive offspring while Anjana was worshiping Rudra. Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna were born as a result of him receiving some payasam, an Indian pudding, to divide among his three wives. According to a heavenly decree, a kite, or bird, stole a piece of that pudding and dropped it as it flew over the woodland where Anjana was praying. Vayu brought the pudding that was falling to Anjana, who ate it with her hands outstretched. That’s how she gave birth to Hanuman.

Adoration:

Worshipped as a god who can defeat evil and offer safety, Hanuman is revered. Hanuman followers honor the god and ask for his blessings and protection on this holiday. They gather in temples to adore him and make offerings to the gods. The devotees receive prasadam in exchange. His devotees recite passages from Hindu scriptures such as the Ramayana and the Hanuman Chalisa. In temples, worshippers adorn their foreheads with a vermillion fashioned from Hanuman’s murti. There is a legend that states Hanuman, seeing Sita put sinduram on her forehead, asked her about her practice. She replied by saying that doing so would ensure a long life for her husband, Rama. In order to ensure Rama’s immortality, Hanuman proceeded to apply vermillion all over his body.

South India:

On the new moon day of the month of Margali (Dhanu), Hanuman Jayanti is observed in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This day is celebrated with great fanfare at well-known Hanuman temples in these states: Nanganallur, Namakkal, Suchindram, Thrikkaviyoor, and Alathiyoor.[Reference required] Hanuman Jayanti is observed for 41 days in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The celebration starts on Chaitra Purnima and ends on the tenth day, which falls on Vaishaka’s Krishna Paksha.

Odisha:

It is said that Lord Hanuman was born on April 13, 14, or 15 in Odisha on Pana Sankranti. People chant Hanuman Chalisha all day long, and the temples are still packed. On this day, reading the Sundarkaand is also considered a religious practice. In the conventional Odia Solar Calendar, the day also signifies the start of the New Year. The celebration takes place on the first day of the traditional solar month of Meṣa in the solar Odia calendar, which is the lunisolar Hindu calendar practiced in Odisha.

Maharashtra:

The full moon day (pūrnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra is when Maharashtra celebrates Hanuman Jayanti. One unique aspect of Hanuman Jayanti is that, in certain religious almanacs (panchāngs), the day of Hanuman’s birthday, known as Chaturdashi, occurs on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashvin. In other panchāngs, on the other hand, it falls on the full moon day of the brilliant fortnight of Chaitra. Since Hanuman is said to have been born at sunrise on this day, spiritual talks start at daybreak in Hanuman temples. The spiritual discourse is suspended at the period of birth, and everyone receives food offerings, or prasadam. On this day, the majority of the Hindu temples in the area host spiritual talks.