HANUMAN JAYANTI22nd OF APRIL 2016-SIGNIFICANCE OF HANUMAN JAYANTI

Hanuman Jayanti 2016

Hanuman Jayanti 2016 will be celebrated by the people all over India on 22nd of April, at Friday.Hanuman Jayanti 2016

Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on full moon day during Chaitra month. Hanuman, who is also known as Vanara God, was born on this day and Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman. 

Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield rocks, move mountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds and rival Garuda in swiftness of flight. He is worshipped as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.

Devotees observe Hanuman Jayanti during different time of the year according to their regional beliefs and the type of calendar being followed. Hanuman Jayanti during Chaitra Purnima is the most popular one in North Indian states.

In Andhra, Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated for 41-days which begins on Chaitra Purnima (April 22) and ends on the tenth day during Krishna Paksha in Vaishakha month is on May 31, 2016. . 

In Tamil Nadu Hanuman Jayanti is known as Hanumath Jayanthi and observed during Margashirsha Amavasya.  Hanuman Jayanti is observed during the Margazhi month (December – January) (January 10, 2016 as per many panchangs) - (some had marked it on January 9). 

In Orissa, Hanuman Jayanti is observed during Vishubha Sankranti (April 15).

Hanuman Jayanti is also observed some communities during Diwali (October 29, 2016). This is observed on the previous day of Diwali. 

In Karnataka - Another popular day dedicated to Hanuman is the Hanumantha Vrata observed in Margashirsh month (November - December) in Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telagnana. This is on December 12, 2016.

In the Maharashtra, it is commemorated to the Purnima in the Hindu Lunar month of Chaitra. However, according to other Hindu calendar, it falls on 14th day (chaturdashi) of Ashvin month in the dark fortnight. 

How  to Celebrate Hanuman Jayanti

Lord Hanuman, a dedicated disciple of the Hindu Lord Rama, is worshipped all over the India by the Hindu people for his deep devotion to the god Rama. At the day of Hanuman Jayanti celebration, all the Hanuman temples become full of crowd as people started puja from early morning after a holy bath. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people of Hindu religion as an important festival of the Hindus. It is a great Hindu ritual celebrated in cultural and traditional way.

Hanuman Ji

People worship Lord Hanuman as a symbol of devotion, magical powers, strength and energy. People read Hanuman Chalisa as it has ability to conquer the evil spirits and provide peace to the mind. The devotees of Lord Hanuman visit Hanuman temples at this day after a holy in the early morning, apply red tilak (vermillion) to the foreheads of Hanuman idol, read Hanuman Chalisa, offer Prasad of laddoo, do Aarti by chanting mantras and Aarti songs, make round of the temple and so many rituals. As Lord Hanuman was born to the Vanara community having reddish orange color body, that’s why it is seen to all the Hanuman temples having reddish orange colored Hanuman idol. After puja, people apply red Sindur to their own foreheads as a Prasad and distribute laddoo Prasad among people to get blessed with what they have prayed to their God Hanuman. After puja, Prasad is distributed among people to have full blessings.

Significance of Hanuman Jayanti Celebration

Hanuman Jayanti celebration indicates the balanced coexistence of the whole human fraternity with the nature’s incredible creature, Lord Hanuman from Vanara community. People from the Hindu religion worship Lord Hanuman as a divine creature. This celebration has lots of importance to all however Brahmacharis, wrestlers and bodybuilders are specially inclined towards this celebration. There are many names through which Lord Hanuman is famous among his devotees like Bajrangabali, Pavanasuta, Pavankumar, Mahavira, Balibima, Marutsuta, Anjanisut, Sankat Mochan, Anjaneya, Maruti, Rudra and many more.

Hanuman avatar is considered as the 11th Rudra avatar of the Lord Siva with great devotion, strength, knowledge, divine power, bravery, intelligence, spirit for selfless service and etc. He has devoted his life only for his Lord Rama and Mata Sita and never shows his bravery and intelligence without any purpose. The devotees of the Lord Hanuman always pray him for getting blessed with the same for their bright future. He is worshipped in many ways by his devotees; some meditates by repeating his name many times to get power, fame, success and etc in the life whereas some reads the Hanuman Chalisa to get the same.

History behind Celebration of Hanuman Jayanti

Once, a great saint named Angira went to visit the heaven king, Indra and welcomed there through the dance presented by a damsel named, Punjiksthala. However, saint was not used of that type dance and started meditating on his God. After the end of dance, he was asked by the Indra about the performance of dance. He was silent and said that I was in deep meditation to my Almighty because I have no interest in such dance. It was very ashamed to the Indra and damsel; she started disappointing the saint and then cursed by the Angira that “Behold! You shall degrade to earth from Swarg. You will be born as a female monkey in the mountain forests”.

She then felt sorry and regretted to the saint then a merciful saint supported her through blessings like, “A great devotee of Paramatma will be born to you. He will forever serve Paramatma”. She became the daughter of Kunjar (king of the monkeys on earth) and got married to the Kapiraj Kesari of the Mount Sumeru. She gave birth to the Hanuman with the help of five divine factors such as curse and blessings of the saint Angira, her prayers, blessings of Lord Shiva, blessings of Vayu deva and Putreshti Yagna’s fruit. It is considered that Lord Shiva had to rebirth as a human being on the earth in his 11th Rudra avatar in the form of Hanuman as He could not serve to the Lord Rama by being in His real form.

The whole Vanara community including all the human fraternity was happy and celebrated his birthday with great enthusiasm and joy by dancing, singing and lots of activities. From then, it was started celebrating as a Hanuman Jayanti by his devotees to get strength and wisdom like him.

What are the offerings made to Hanuman?

The most important offerings made to Hanuman are Sindhoor (vermilion powder), til (Sesame), til oil, urad dal (husked black gram) and garlands of Arka flowers and leaves.

Red color symbolizes virility and strength. It is also said that Hanuman started applying vermilion all over the body after he found that Mata Sita was wearing Sindhoor on her forehead to protect Lord Ram.

In South India, clarified butter and vadas are also offered to Lord Hanuman.

The leaves and flowers that are offered to Hanuman are wild and contains medicinal properties. The widely used flower and leaf is that of Arka or Milkweed flower

Arka in various languages:

Bengali: Aakanda

English: Bowstring Hemp, Calotrope, Crown Flower, Giant Milkweed, Swallow-Wort

Hindi: Ak, Akua, Arka, Akwan, Fudhar, Madar, Safed Aak

Manipuri: Angkok

Marathi: Arka, Arki, Rui, Ruiti

Sanskrit: Alarka, Arka, Arki, Sadapushpa

Tamil: Erukku, Malaiyerukku

Telugu: Jilledi Puvvu, Jilledu, Nallajilledu, Uccinta, Uchchinta