Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman Jayanti also called as Hanumath Jayanti is celebrated to remember the birth of Lord Hanuman, The Vanara God , widely respected throughout India. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the 15th day of the shukla paksha during the month of Chaitra ( The Chaitra Pournimaa ) . Hanuman devotees assemble at hanuman temples early in the morning to worship him. Hanuman jayanti is important festivals of hindus world wide.
Who is Hanuman ?
Hannuman is an devoted devotee of Lord sri Rama, and is worshipped for his persistent devotion to lord rama. Lord Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy and is worshipped in folk tradition as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.
Legend of Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman also called Anjaneya is the son of Lord Pavana, the God of Wind. The legend goes that in his childhood, he assumed that the sun was a delicious fruit and tried to swallow it. Foreseeing danger Indra, the King of the Gods struck Hanuman with his thunderbolt and wounded him. In anger Lord Pavana went away with Hanuman to the nether region endangering the existence of all humans and gods. At length Brahma, the Lord of all cosmos appealed to Pavana to return to earth. To appease him, all the gods conferred great boons on Hanuman making him immortal and more powerful than any other being. Thus Hanuman is the embodiment of the powers of all gods.
According to another legend , once Lord Hanuman saw Goddess Sita applying sindoor on her forehead. On seeing this, Lord Hanuman enquired from her the reason for applying Sindoor.Goddess Sita replied that this would ensure a long life for her husband rama. Hanuman then smeared his entire body with sindoor, in an effort to ensure Rama’s immortality. So on this day, devotees visit temples and apply tilak of sindoor to their foreheads from lord Hanumans statue as this is considered to be good luck.
How and When Hanuman Jayanti is Celebrated ?
In Maharashtra and Karnataka state Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day ( Purnima ) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra. A special feature of Hanuman Jayanti is that according to some religious almanacs (Panchangs ) the birthday of Hanuman falls on the fourteenth day (chaturdashi) in the dark fortnight of the month of Ashvin while according to others it falls on the full moon day in the bright fortnight of Chaitra.
In Tamilnadu and Kerala states Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Margazhi (normally comes between Dec 15 and Jan 14). There it is believed that Hanuman or Anjaneya was born on Moola Nakshatra,on the new moon day (amavasya) in the month of Margazhi.
In Odisha state , the Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the first day of Baisakha month as per Oriya calendar (normally comes on April 14 or 15). There it is also celebrated as new year for all Oriyas (i.e. Maha Vishuva Sankranti).In Andhra, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the tenth day of bahula paksha or Krishna paksha in the month of Vaishaka.
In Andhra pradesh state , Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated for 41-days which starts on Chaitra Purnima and ends on the tenth day during Krishna Paksha in Vaishakha month. In Andhra Pradesh devotees begin 41-days Deeksha on Chaitra Purnima and conclude it on Hanuman Jayanthi day.