Lord Hanuman, the epitome of divine devotion, strength, and willpower was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, who was an incarnation or Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Thus, the birth anniversary of Bajrangbali during the month of April is observed as Hanuman Jayanti or Janmotsav! This article will walk you through the life of Lord Hanuman Ji and will unravel the history and significance of Hanuman Jayanti vrat. But, before that let us have a short glimpse at the early life of Maruti!
Hanuman Jayanti or Hanuman Janmotsav on the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Purnima day to celebrate the birth of Pawanputra!
Hanuman Jayanti Vrat: History And Early Life Of Anjaneya
Born to an Apsara cursed as an ape, Anjana, and the King Kesari, Anjaneya was born on the sacred occasion of Chaitra Purnima in the month of Vaisakha. Thus, Hanuman Jayanti Vrat is observed on the day of Chaitra Purnima to celebrate the birth of Bajrangbali!
How Hanuman Was Born?
There have many many stories on how Hanuman was born. According to the Hindu scriptures, Lord Hanuman Ji is believed to be the son of Lord Vayu. According to Ekanth’s Bhavartha Ramayana, Mother Anjani, who was an Apsara, was born on the mortal earth as a curse. To get rid of her curse, she embarked on the journey of pleasing Rudra, an avatar of Lord Shiva. While worshiping Rudra to bless her with a son, a kite snatched a part of the sacred payasam from King Dashratha who was also performing rituals to have children, and dropped it in the forest where Mata Anjani was worshiping Shiva! Following the incident, Lord Vayu or Pawan, the God of Air dropped the divine payasam before Mata Anjani who consumed it and as a result, Lord Hanuman was born.
Another story says that on the directions of Rudra, the God of Air, Pawan transferred the male energies of Rudra into the womb of Mata Anjani and as a result of the amalgamation of divine male and female energies, Lord Hanuman was born. Thus, he is also widely known as Pawanputra, or son of Pawan Dev!
Hanuman Jayanti Vrat : Significance And Puja Vidhi
In the northern parts of India, the Hanuman Jayanti vrat is observed on the Chaitra Purnima of the month of Vaisakha. On the contrary, in the Southern parts of India, like Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on Shukla Paksha Trayodashi in the month of Marghashirsha.
While in Maharashtra, Hanuman Jayanti vrat is observed a day before the Hanuman Jayanti! This year the Hanuman Jayanti falls on 16th April 2022 on the full moon day.
The Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated with great zeal and devotion across India. The Hanuman Jayanti vrat is mostly observed by the men in the house to gain Bajrangbali’s blessings. It is also observed by bodybuilders to achieve great strength and willpower similar to their Aradhya Lord Hanuman.
Also Read – 11 Chiranjivis – The Immortals In Hindu Mythology
How To Celebrate Hanuman Jayanti?
The preparation begins on the dawn of Hanuman Jayanti. Devotees take a holy bath at a river or pond to purify their souls from all the evils of the earth! Then, they set their foot on the journey to Hanuman Temple and offer prayers and offerings to gain blessings from Pawanputra.
The temple is well decorated with lamps and lights! The sacred Vermilion or Sindoor is offered along with Coconuts and Bananas to Lord Hanuman. Incense sticks are lit and flowers like Hibiscus are offered along with delicious sweets like Ladoos.
Hanuman Chalisa is chanted and the great deeds of Lord Hanuman are remembered! Holy Scriptures like Ramayana are read to remember and pay respect to Bajrangbali.
Lord Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama! When he saw Mata Sita applying Sindoor for the long life of his husband, Lord Rama, Hanuman Ji too went on to apply the sacred Vermilion on his entire body for the betterment and immortality of his Aradhya Lord Rama!
Thus devotees worship Lord Hanuman to gain his blessings on the day of Hanuman Jayanti. People worship Lord Hanuman to gain inner peace, self-control, divine strength, and victory over evil!
After the Puja Vidhi, the temple Priests offer the devotees the sacred prasad of Hanuman Ji which includes sweets, coconuts, and the holy water of the Ganga!
Devotees also observe fasting on the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. While some survive on milk and sabudana khichdi, others observe complete fasting and break the Hanuman Jayanti vrat on the following day after the Hanuman Jayanti. People also recite religious hymns and prayer songs on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.
Also Read – Hanuman Ji Birth: True Story Of The Birth Of Bajrang Bali
Mistakes To Avoid: Don’t Do These Mistakes On Hanuman Jayanti
While people think that Hanuman Jayanti is all about offering prayers and sweets to the Lord and reading Holy Scriptures, there is much more to this day that is not yet revealed! In this section, we will unleash some of the mistakes to avoid during the Hanuman Jayanti vrat!
1. Women Should Not Touch Lord Hanuman
It is believed that Hanuman Ji was a child celibate, meaning that he abstained from having sexual intercourse. While in some Scriptures, it is said that his mate was Suvannamachcha. Being a child celibate, women should not touch the idol or photo of Lord Hanuman while offering Puja!
2. Put Over Red And Yellow Clothes
It must be kept in mind that the devotees of Lord Hanuman should only wear red and yellow clothes while offering Puja and prayers to Bajrangbali. Black and white should be avoided at any cost.
3. Read The Hanuman Chalisa
It is important to chant the entire Hanuman Chalisa correctly and with full devotion to earn the blessings of Lord Hanuman. Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa incorrectly or leaving it in between might lead to serious consequences as it angers the Lord.
4. Stay Away From Meat, Crimes, And Greed
Lord Hanuman was the epitome of selfless devotion, truth, and divine strength. Thus, devotees should stay away from meat, crimes, and greed to earn the blessings of Lord Hanuman. Lord Hanuman was a Brahmachary and sacrificed his whole life for the betterment of humankind. Thus, devotees must abstain from crimes and greed!
Conclusion
The Hanuman Jayanti vrat is observed by the devotees of Lord Hanuman to gain the blessings of him to achieve the ultimate success and victory in the journey of life. Devotees who pray to Lord Hanuman with full devotion and purity of soul never face troubles and problems in their lives. Chiranjivi Lord Hanuman protects all his children from the evil clutches of wrongdoers.
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