Hanuman Jayanti 2024

Hanuman Jayanti 2024: Foremost Things You Need To Know & Date, Significance, History

Hanuman Jayanti, a significant Hindu festival, commemorates the birth of Lord Hanuman, the epitome of devotion, strength and loyalty. Celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm across India and in various parts of the world, this auspicious day falls on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra. Lord Hanuman, the divine monkey god, is revered for his unwavering dedication to Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Known for his extraordinary valor, intelligence, and humility, Hanuman is adored by millions for his selfless service and boundless devotion. Join us in exploring the significance, legends, and rituals associated with Hanuman Jayanti as we delve deeper into the divine saga of Lord Hanuman's birth and his enduring legacy of faith and devotion.

Date and significance of Hanuman’s birth

One unique aspect of Hanuman Jayanti is that, in certain religious almanacs (panchāngs), the day of Hanuman's birth, known as Chaturdashi, occurs on the fourteenth day in the dark fortnight of Ashvin. In other panchāngs, on the other hand, it falls on the full moon day in the brilliant fortnight of Chaitra. Worshiping Lord Hanuman is said to enhance life power since he is regarded as the ‘God of life’ and having more life force within us offers us the ability to overcome any fear, mistrust, or uncertainty.

Legends about Hanuman’s mother

Once when Sage Durvasa visited Indra Lok to have a serious discussion with Indra and the other Devas, an Apsara named Punjikasthala moved in and out of the sabha causing distraction. An enraged Durvasa cursed her to become a monkey and then become a mother to free herself from the curse when she begged pardon.

The furious Durvasa however prophesied that she would marry a monkey king and a mighty son who would later be a devoted follower of Lord Rama, would be born to her. Punjikasthala was born to a monkey king and took the form of a human dressed in silk clothing and was a blend of beauty and nobility. At the same time when Dasaratha performed yagna to get a son, Vayu offered a portion of the divine offering to Anjana.

Legends about Hanuman’s life and birth

Anjana received the payasam from Vayu, ate it, and expressed gratitude to the gods. After Anjana consumed this spoonful of pudding, she gave birth to a child named Hanuman. Because Vayu believed the tiny child to be his son, Hanuman, who shared the same shape as his mother Anjana, is revered as a god. In the Anjanadri Hills, Lord Hanuman was born. The modern-day Hampi, Kishkindha, serves as evidence.

Although there have been some contentious claims that Hanuman was born somewhere else, this was Hanuman's original birthplace. In addition to his physical prowess, determination, and strong will, Lord Hanuman was also reported to possess the ability to change into any form. Hanuman first appeared approximately 2.59 million years ago (during the Treta Yug). Thus, that might be the age of Lord Hanuman.

Rituals and celebrations of Hanuman’s birth

There are several customs and celebrations associated with Hanuman Jayanti, like processions, special prayers, and bhajans (devotional songs). Lord Hanuman's temples are frequented by devotees who come to ask for his blessings on courage, strength, and protection from bad powers and receive prasadam in exchange. They also recite passages from Hindu scriptures such as the Ramayana and the Hanuman Chalisa.

When in temples, devotees put a vermillion made from Hanuman's murti on their foreheads. Legend has it that Hanuman inquired about the habit of Sita applying sindhuram to her forehead when he witnessed her doing so. In response, she said that doing so would guarantee her husband Rama a long life. Hanuman then went ahead and applied vermillion all over his body, guaranteeing Rama's immortality.

Symbolism and Iconography of Hanuman’s appearance

The Hanuman figure known as "Panchamukhi Sri Hanuman" is associated with numerous Hindu deities. It is a picture of Hanuman with five faces, which illustrates both his might as a godlike deity and a story from one of Hanuman's tales. When he was assisting Rama in one of his ventures, he had to blow out five lamps at the same moment to kill the demon Ahiravana, who was Ravana's brother. He needed five heads at once, each pointing in a different direction toward the lamps, to accomplish this. This picture of Hanuman narrates that tale.

In this picture of Hanuman, he is seen opening his chest and revealing that Rama, a Vishnu avatar, and his wife Sita are inside of him. This symbolizes his loyalty to Rama and Sita as well as his exploits with them. Hanuman serves Rama and Sita as his gurus with all of his heart, mind, and deeds. This is a hint to behave like this picture of Hanuman, with Rama always in the forefront of their minds and deeds.

Prominent Hanuman temples across the worldRenowned Hanuman temples in Tamil Nadu, including those in Nanganallur, Namakkal, Suchindram, Thrikkariyoor, and Alathiyoor, flamboyantly commemorate this day. Other prominent temples of Hanuman include Jakhoo Temple in Himachal Pradesh, Anjeyanadri Hill Temple in Karnataka, Shri Hanuman Grahi Temple in Uttar Prdesh, Mahavir Temple in Bihar, Sri Anjaneyar Temple in Malaysia, Bala Hanuman Temple in Gujarat, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple in Santa Cruz, USA, Sri Anuvavi Anjaneya Temple, Tamil Nadu and Dattatreya Temple Compound in Trinidad and Tobago.

Conclusion

On a wrapping-up note, Hanuman Jayanti stands as a beacon of devotion, strength, and righteousness, reminding us of the eternal values embodied by Lord Hanuman. As we celebrate this auspicious day in 2024, let us reflect on the profound significance of Hanuman Jayanti and the timeless wisdom it imparts and strive to emulate his dedication to duty, his boundless love for Lord Rama, and his relentless pursuit of truth and righteousness. As we offer our prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Hanuman, may we find strength, protection, and inner peace on this sacred occasion. May Hanuman Jayanti illuminate our hearts with the divine light of devotion and guide us on the path of virtue and goodness. Jai Hanuman!