Hanuman Jayanti is the date of birth of Lord Hanuman and is celebrated on the full moon (Purnima) day in the Lunar Hindu calendar month of Chaitra (March & April). Shri Hanuman is also known as Bajrang Bali and Anjaneya and is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu religion. He is a Chiranjeevi which means the one blessed with immortality.
Hanuman Jayanti is an important festival to many followers of Hinduism. 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 worshiped in folk tradition as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.
In 2013 Hanuman Jayanti is on April 25th. The festival is celebrated all across India and other nations such as Guyana, Trinidad, Nepal and Fiji and even parts of North America where there is a large hindu population. In Maharashtra, 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 (panchings) the birthday of Hanuman falls on the 14th 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. On this day, in a Shri Hanuman temple spiritual discourses are started at dawn. Hanumanji (the Vanara God) was born at sunrise. At that time the spiritual discourse is stopped and the offering of food (Prasad) is distributed to everyone. In the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Margazhi( normally comes between December 16 to January 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 Andhra, Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated on tenth day of bahula paksham in the month of Vaishaka. It is good to parayan Hanuman Chalisa on this auspicious day.
What is Lord Hanuman’s relevance in today’s society?
In today’s society of convulsions, inertia, selfishness, moral and social, spiritual and ethical decay, Lord Hanuman has become the standard bearer and the embodiment of courage, self-control, power, selfless service, bravery, integrity and humility.
