Hanuman Jayanti 2024 : Celebrating the Power of Devotion

Hanuman Jayanti also known as hanuman janmotsava,is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of lord Hanuman.Lord Hanuman is considered one of the most revered deities in Hinduism ,known for his strength,devotion and loyalty.The festival is observed on full moon day in the Hindu month of Chaitra,which usually falls in March or April.
According to religious beliefs, this was the holy day when Bajrangbali was born to Mother Anjani and Monkey King King Kesari.On this day, there is a tradition of worshiping Lord Shri Ram and Mother Sita along with Maruti Nandan. Hanumanji identified himself as a servent of Shree Ram,so his Pujais incomplete without offering Puja to Lord Ram. So let us know when Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated this year.

Hanuman Jayanti 2024 Date and auspicious time

According to Hindu calendar, this time Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated on 23 April 2024. The full moon date of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month will start from 3:25 am on April 23, which will end at 5:18 am on April 24. The auspicious time for worship of Hanuman ji will be from 9.03 am to 10.41 am on 23rd April. Whereas Brahma Muhurta is from 4.20 am to 05.04 am on 23rd April. Abhijeet Muhurta will start at 11:53 AM and will end at 12:46 PM.

Hanuman Jayanti Significance

The significance of hanuman jayanti goes beyond the religious aspect.Lord hanuman symbolises boundless devotion,strength and selfless services.His life serves as an inspiration to people to face challenges with courage and unwavering faith.The festival is an opportunity for devotees to reflect on these qualities and seek blessings to overcome obstacles in their lives.

Hanuman Jayanti Celebrations

On Hanuman jayanti ,devotees gather in temples to offer prayers and seek blessings from lord hanuman.The celebration typically begin with the chanting of hanuman chalisa,a hymn dedicated to Lord hanuman which highlights his qualities and exploits.Devotees also engage in the recitation of religious scriptures and participate in bhajans and Kirtans.
Some devotees observe fasts on this day,abstaining from consuming food made of grains.Instead,they consume fruits and special dishes prepared without grains. The fast is believed to bring physical and mental strength and is especially popular among wrestlers and those seeking courage and preserverance.
Certain religious in India also hold processions or parades,where devotees dress up as lord hanuman and reenact scenes from his life.These processions are accompanied by music ,dance and fireworks ,creating a festive and celebratory atmosphere.

Legends of Hanuman Jayanti

Legend of Vayu

Everyone is familiar with the tale of Lord Hanuman saving Sita Devi from the evil King Ravana's grasp. But the legend surrounding Lord Hanuman's birth is something that very few people are aware of. It so happened that his mother Anjana was cursed, becoming a monkey that could only be saved by giving birth to a boy. Anjana and her spouse Kesari have now made the decision to pray to Lord Vayu in hopes of receiving a son. In order to have heirs to his throne, King Dasaratha of Ayodhya was also engaging in a yajna at the same time with his three wives. Nevertheless, Dasaratha's women were given kheer during the yajna, which ultimately resulted in the birth of Lord Rama and his brother.According to folklore, Anjana was praying when a kite flew by and stole some of the sanctified kheer. This is said to have happened by divine intervention. It is thought that Lord Vayu was responsible. In any case, Anjana reversed her curse and gave birth to Hanuman after eating the kheer. For this reason, a lot of people think that Vayu is the father of Hanuman and that Hanuman is his manifestation.

Legend of Indra

According to legend, Hanuman saw the red sun rising when he was a young lad and realized he was hungry. What do you think? He attempted to eat it after thinking it was a ripe mango. A solar eclipse resulted from this in turn interfering with the Vedic planet Rahu. Lord Indra became enraged at this and struck Hanuman with a thunderbolt. He was rendered unconscious, scarred, and left with a permanently jutting jawline when it struck him close to the jaw. Vayu became enraged as a result, and he fled into seclusion while taking all of Earth's air with him. You can see how this made life on Earth tough for humans. At this point, the gods came together to revive Hanuman and restore order to the cosmos. Additionally, it made Vayu decide to restore oxygen to all living things.

Legend of Brahma, Shiva, Varun and Agni

Hanuman was now granted multiple desires to protect him from harm in the future. For example, Lord Agni granted him fire resistance, and Lord Shiva bestowed upon him eternal life and unsurmountable wisdom. However, Lord Brahma bestowed to Hanuman the capability to elude death at the hands of any celestial or terrestrial weapon, instill dread in adversaries, and win over allies. He was also granted the ability to travel at will and transform into many forms at will. He was also endowed by Lord Varun with the ability to be impervious to water's harmful effects.

Hanuman Jayanti Rituals

Recitation of Hanuman Chalisa

The Hanuman Chalisa is a powerful hymn that praises Hanuman's virtues and seeks his blessings for protection and guidance. Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa is believed to bring peace, prosperity, and success to the devotee's life. By invoking Hanuman's blessings through the recitation of this sacred hymn, devotees can experience a deep sense of connection with Hanuman and feel his divine presence in their lives.

Mantras to Chant on this day:

The Puranic teachings state that the following are a few holy mantras that are used to honour Lord Hanuman. Gaining power and confidence can be achieved by reciting Hanuman Chalisa and these mantras 108 times.

• Om Hanumate Namah.
• Hang Pawan Nandnaay Swaahaa.
• Hang Hanumate Rudraatmakaay Hung Phatt.
• Om Namo Bhagvate Aanjaneyaay Mahaabalaay Swaahaa.
• Om Anjaneyaya Vidmahe, Vayuputraya Dhimahi, Tanno Hanumat Prachodayat

Hanuman Jayanti is a time to celebrate the power of devotion and honor the beloved deity Hanuman. By reflecting on Hanuman's qualities and teachings, we can cultivate a deeper sense of devotion and dedication in our spiritual practice. Let us embrace Hanuman's lessons of strength, humility, and selflessness and strive to live a life filled with devotion and love. May Hanuman's blessings guide us on our spiritual journey and help us overcome all obstacles with grace and courage. Jai Hanuman.