Significance of Hanuman Jayanti

Significance of Hanuman Jayantii     

Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated as birth of Hanuman, According to Hindu calendar Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in the month of  Chaitra. Hanuman is the son of Kesari and the mother is Anjana Devi. Hanuman is known for his great strength, power and above all he is the great devotee of Lord Rama. Lord Hanuman is famous among his devotees like Bajrangabali, Pavanasuta, Pavankumar, Mahavira, Balibima, Marutsuta, Anjanisut, Sankat Mochan, Anjaneya, Maruti, Rudra and many more.

On the day of Hanuman Jayanti, devotees bath the idol of Hanuman and they apply Sindoor on his body. Laddoos are offered to Lord Hanuman because he loves to eat laddoos. Reading Hanuman Chalisa on Hanuman Jayanti helps in getting rid of all fears.

Lord Hanuman is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. People observe fast on Hanuman Jayanti to get blessed by the great monkey God.
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 to the foreheads of Hanuman idol.

LEGEND:

Story 1:

Anjana was the mother of Hanuman.  In her previous life Anjana was an apsara named Punjikasthala lived in the court of Indra. Once Sage Angira went to visit the Indra (king of Heaven). Indra welcomed the saint by the dance presented by a damsel named, Punjiksthala. She was cursed by a sage for disturbing his meditation that she will be born as a female monkey in the mountain forest. The damsel begged for forgiveness, pleased sage consolidated her by saying that she will be released from the curse when she give bith to the child who will be an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

The damsel  (Punjikasthala)  take birth as Anjana  to get rid of the curse.  And married to the Vera Kesari a monkey chief. She gave birth to the Hanuman with the help of some divine factors such as :

1.    Curse and blessings of Saint Angira,
2.    Blessings of Lord Shiva,
3.    Blessings of Vayu deva( God of Wind), Who carried the divine power of Lord Shiva to Anjana's womb and
4.    Putrakamesti yagam.

It is considered that Lord Shiva pleased with the Anjana's tapasya and he gave a boon. Anjana said she wanted Shiva as her Son in order to get rid of her curse from the sage. Shiva accepted her request.

Story 2:

There is the another story, when Dasartha king of Ayodhya performmed the “Puthra Kamesti Yagam”, Agni gave him a bowl of Kheer and said to shared among his three wives. During this process of giving and receiving the sacred sweet dish, an eagle snatched away some of the kheer and dropped it where Anjana were performing deep penance for Lord Shiva. Vayu (God of Wind) made the Kheer  drop into her out stretched hands, Anjana ate the Kheer she conceived and later she gave birth to Hanuman

Story 3:

Once Goddess Sita applying Sindoor on her forehead, Hanuman asked Sita what is the reason behind applying Sindhoor on her forehead.Then , Sita replied that by applying sindhoor it will ensure long life for her husband. Hearing this Lord Hanuman smeared his whole body with sindhoor, in an effort to ensure the long life for Lord Rama.

Article by :
Haritha