The story of Lord Hanuman is familiar to most people in India. When people think of Hanuman, they inevitably remember his great devotion to Lord Rama and the superhuman feats he performed in the Ramayana. For instance, he leapt over the ocean to reach Lanka, where Rama’s wife, Sita, was held captive. In another instance, he uprooted an entire mountain and carried it to Lanka to save the life of Lakshmana, Rama’s brother.
Hanuman was born to an apsara called Anjana and Kesari. Kesari was the king of the Vanaras or monkey clan. It is said that Anjana did penance to please Lord Shiva as she wanted Shiva to be born as her son. In fact, Hanuman is believed to be Rudra, an avatar of Lord Shiva.
The Birth of Hanuman
Long ago, in the mountains of Meru lived a great sage by the name of Gautam. The monkey couple, Kesari and Anjana, dwelt near his hermitage. Anjana was actually an apsara or a heavenly maiden, but a curse changed her into a monkey woman. To gain freedom from the curse, she had to give birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
Why was Anjana cursed?
Once, when Anjana was roaming on earth, she chanced upon a monkey meditating in a forest. Seeing the monkey behaving like a holy man, she burst into peals of laughter. She ridiculed the monkey, but it ignored her. But she continued to laugh and also threw some stones at the monkey. Finally, the monkey lost his patience. He opened his eyes which flashed with anger. It was then that Anjana realized that the meditating monkey was actually a sage who had taken the form of a monkey to do meditation. Before she could apologize for her foolish behaviour, the sage cursed her. As she had done an evil act by disturbing a sage’s meditation, she would turn into a monkey. She could get relief from the curse only if she gave birth to a son who was an incarnation of Shiva. Now it is clear why Anjana did penance to Lord Shiva.
Anjana Begets a Son
Anjana was despondent over her fate, but she decided to use the loophole that the sage had offered and began to do severe penance to Lord Shiva, even going without food or water. Lord Shiva was pleased with her prayers and decided to bless her with a son by incarnating in her womb.
Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Ayodhya, the childless King Dasaratha was performing a Yagna to have children. Lord Agni gave him a divine kheer to be shared among his three wives. Instructed by Lord Shiva, Vayu, the Wind God, carried a portion of the kheer and dropped it on Anjana’s outstretched hands. Anjana ate the divine kheer. Vayu told her that she would become the mother of a son who would have courage, strength, intelligence, speed, and the power to fly. She was overwhelmed with joy on hearing this.
Hanuman’s exact birthplace is unclear. Some believe it is Anjaneya hill in Hampi, Karnataka. Others believe that it is Anjan Dham in Anjan, a village in Patna. Other possibilities include Anjaneri in Nasik, Maharashtra, and Lakshka hill in Churu district, Rajasthan.
How is Hanuman Jayanthi Celebrated?
On Hanuman Jayanthi, devotees unfailingly recite the Hanuman Chalisa, which is a hymn to Hanuman. It comprises 40 verses that praise Lord Hanuman. Tulsidas, a 16th-century poet and the author of Ramcharitamanas, was the composer. Reciting the Hanuman Chalisa regularly is believed to get rid of obstacles and problems and protect one from evil forces. It can also bestow strength and courage to those who lack them, as these traits are associated with Hanuman.
Hanuman was supposedly born on a Tuesday. But some think it is a Saturday. Both these days are special for Hanuman worship. Many devotees observe a fast on these days. They eat only fruits or take milk. The word ‘Jayanthi’ comes from Sanskrit and denotes ‘One who triumphs’. Birthdays of the divinities are called Jayanthis in Hinduism. It also signifies the deity’s advent on earth for a specific purpose. Hanuman’s mission was to help Lord Rama defeat the evil forces that Ravana represented. This is the main reason for divine incarnations or avatars. When evil forces threaten the world, the gods take birth on earth to destroy them and restore order on earth. Hanuman is said to be an avatar of Lord Shiva.
On Hanuman Jayanthi, devotees offer betel leaf garlands and butter, among other things. The story goes that when Hanuman assured Sita that Rama would come to rescue her, she was very happy. She then plucked a betel leaf from a tree nearby and placed it on his forehead. Then she blessed him, saying that he would be immortal. But why butter? Supposedly, butter helped cool his body which became very hot after battling the demons in Lanka.
Lord Hanuman can give you courage, strength, and confidence. This can help you to face the challenges of life and succeed in all your endeavors. On his birthday, Lord Hanuman is more receptive to your prayers and is easy to please, as it is his special day.
