Hanuman Jayanti

Chaitra Pournima (8^th April 2020)

Importance of celebrating Hanuman Jayanti

On the day of Hanuman Jayanti, Deity Hanuman’s Principle is a thousand times more active when compared with other days. On this day, chanting ‘Shri Hanumate Namaha I’ and worshipping Deity Hanuman with bhav (Spiritual emotion) helps in getting maximum benefit of His Principle.

Objective

Deity Hanuman has more manifest energy (72%) when compared with other Deities who have approximately 10% manifest energy. The following reasons (based on concepts of energy) inspire devotees to worship Deity Hanuman.

1. Problems caused by negative energies, influence of Shani, etc.

2. To channelise pleasant energy : To overcome obstacles in the path of activated kundalini (spiritual energy) and to channelise it in the appropriate direction.

Method of worship Prevalent practice

There is a custom of offering oil and sindur (Vermilion) to Deity Hanuman on this day. At some places, the practice of breaking a coconut is a part of worship. For spiritual progress, people worship the Idol of Deity Hanuman facing the left side, the ‘Vamamukhi (Vama = left, mukha = face)’ Idol.

The reason for specific offerings to specific Deities : One objective of worship is that the Idol should get charged with Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) and facilitate our spiritual progress. To instil Chaitanya, the offering made unto the Idol should have higher ability to attract pavitraks (Subtlemost pure particles) of that Deity; this is why oil, sindur and madar (Calotropis gigantea) flower and its leaves are offered to Deity Hanuman.

Deity Hanuman and Shani’s sadesati : Deity Hanuman is worshipped to alleviate suffering due to Shani’s sadesati (Unfavourable period of seven and a half years).

The ritual to overcome sadesati : Take a cup of oil. Add fourteen grains of udid (Black gram) to it and see your reflection in this oil. Then offer this oil to Deity Hanuman.

Science underlying the Idol – Colour : One comes across varied information about Deity Hanuman’s true form. He is mostly red and rarely black. ‘Red’ Hanuman is the one who is smeared with sindur. Shani’s influence may have resulted in His black complexion. Deity Hanuman is popularly known as an Incarnation of Rudra or as the son of Rudra. The red-complexioned Rudra has perhaps influenced Deity Hanuman’s complexion too. When Deity Hanuman became red-complexioned, tales of His love for sindur gained popularity.

1. Once after bathing, Seetamata applied a red circular mark in the centre of Her forehead with sindur. When Deity Hanuman asked Her the reason for this, She replied, “It prolongs the life of your Master”. This influenced Deity Hanuman so greatly that He smeared sindur all over His body !

2. Once when Deity Hanuman was proceeding to Lanka carrying the Dronagiri mountain, Bharat struck Him with an arrow and wounded His leg. This wound healed with the application of oil and sindur, hence, Deity Hanuman is fond of them.

(Reference : Sanatan’s booklet – ‘Maruti [Spiritual knowledge] Part 1’)