Sri Hanuman Jayanti

Sri Hanuman Jayanti

On May 27, 2011

Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Hanuman, the Vanara god, widely venerated throughout India especially in North India. Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, and is worshipped for his unflinching devotion. From early morning, devotees flock Hanuman temples to worship him.

Lord Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is 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 worshipped in folk tradition as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.

The philosophy of epic Ramayana is incomplete without the understanding of the unfathomable devotion of Lord Hanuman for Shri Rama. Lord Hanuman is the son of Vayu (the wind god). He was taken by Vayu to Suryadeva to gain Vedic knowledge as he was considered as omniscient on the planet earth.

Lord Hanuman is invincible and blessed to be immortal. The supremacy possessed by him is very beautifully described in Ramayana, during the Ramayana war of Lord Rama against the mighty Ravana. The Sundara Kanda, the fifth book in the Ramayana, focuses mainly on the adventures of Hanuman. He is also known as Mahaveer Hanuman.

Devotees will visit temples and apply tilak of sindhur to their foreheads from Hanuman's body as there is a common belief that Lord Hanuman loves sindhur. According to legend, Sita was applying sindhur to her forehead, Hanuman questioned why she was doing so and Sita replied that this would ensure a long life for her husband, Lord Rama. Hanuman then smeared his entire body with sindhur, in an effort to ensure Rama’s immortality.

On Hanuman Jayanti, in Hanuman temples spiritual discourses are started at dawn. Hanuman was born at sunrise. At that time the spiritual discourse is stopped and prasad is distributed to everyone.

Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional song based on Lord Hanuman as the model devotee. It is a poem written by Tulsidas in the Awadhi language, and is his best known Hindu text apart from the Ramcharitmanas. The word Chalisa is derived from "chalis" in Hindi, which means 40, as the Hanuman Chalisa has 40 verses. Tulsi Das says in the Chalisa that whoever chants it with full devotion to Hanuman, will have Hanuman's grace.

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The emblem of Hanuman on the flag of Arjuna is another sign of victory because Hanuman cooperated with Lord Rama in the battle between Rama and Ravana, and Lord Rama emerged victorious. Now both Rama and Hanuman were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him. Lord Krishna is Rama Himself, and wherever Lord Rama is, His eternal servitor Hanuman and His eternal consort Sita, the goddess of fortune, are present. Therefore, Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever.

- Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad gita 1.20, Purport

108 names recitations of Lord Hanuman:

1.    Om Anjaneyaya Namaha
2.    Om Mahaviraya Namaha
3.    Om Hanumate Namaha
4.    Om Marutatmajaya Namaha
5.    Om Tatvagyanapradaya Namaha
6.    Om Sitadevimudrapradayakaya Namaha
7.    Om Ashokavanakachchhetre Namaha
8.    Om SarvamayavibhaNjanaya Namaha
9.    Om Sarvabandhavimoktre Namaha
10.    Om Rakshovidhvansakarakaya Namaha
11.    Om Paravidya Pariharaya Namaha
12.    Om Para Shaurya Vinashakaya Namaha
13.    Om Paramantra Nirakartre Namaha
14.    Om Parayantra Prabhedakaya Namaha
15.    Om Sarvagraha Vinashine Namaha
16.    Om Bhimasena Sahayakrithe Namaha
17.    Om Sarvadukhah Haraya Namaha
18.    Om Sarvalokacharine Namaha
19.    Om Manojavaya Namaha
20.    Om Parijata Drumulasthaya Namaha
21.    Om Sarva Mantra Svarupaya Namaha
22.    Om Sarva Tantra Svarupine Namaha
23.    Om Sarvayantratmakaya Namaha
24.    Om Kapishvaraya Namaha
25.    Om Mahakayaya Namaha
26.    Om Sarvarogaharaya Namaha
27.    Om Prabhave Namaha
28.    Om Bala Siddhikaraya Namaha
29.    Om Sarvavidya Sampattipradayakaya Namaha
30.    Om Kapisenanayakaya Namaha
31.    Om Bhavishhyathchaturananaya Namaha
32.    Om Kumara Brahmacharine Namaha
33.    Om Ratnakundalaya Namaha
34.    Om Diptimate Namaha
35.    Om Chanchaladvalasannaddhaya Namaha
36.    Om Lambamanashikhojvalaya Namaha
37.    Om Gandharva Vidyaya Namaha
38.    Om Tatvajnaya Namaha
39.    Om Mahabala Parakramaya Namaha
40.    Om Karagraha Vimoktre Namaha
41.    Om Shrinkhala Bandhamochakaya Namaha
42.    Om Sagarottarakaya Namaha
43.    Om Pragyaya Namaha
44.    Om Ramadutaya Namaha
45.    Om Pratapavate Namaha
46.    Om Vanaraya Namaha
47.    Om Kesarisutaya Namaha
48.    Om Sitashoka Nivarakaya Namaha
49.    Om Anjanagarbha Sambhutaya Namaha
50.    Om Balarkasadrashananaya Namaha
51.    Om Vibhishhana Priyakaraya Namaha
52.    Om Dashagriva Kulantakaya Namaha
53.    Om Laxmanapranadatre Namaha
54.    Om Vajra Kayaya Namaha
55.    Om Mahadyuthaye Namaha
56.    Om Chiranjivine Namaha
57.    Om Rama Bhaktaya Namaha
58.    Om Daitya Karya Vighatakaya Namaha
59.    Om Akshahantre Namaha
60.    Om Kanchanabhaya Namaha
61.    Om Panchavaktraya Namaha
62.    Om Maha Tapase Namaha
63.    Om Lankini Bhajnjanaya Namaha
64.    Om Shrimate Namaha
65.    Om Simhika Prana Bhanjanaya Namaha
66.    Om Gandhamadana Shailasthaya Namaha
67.    Om Lankapura Vidayakaya Namaha
68.    Om Sugriva Sachivaya Namaha
69.    Om Dhiraya Namaha
70.    Om Shuraya Namaha
71.    Om Daityakulantakaya Namaha
72.    Om Suvarchalarchitaya Namaha
73.    Om Tejase Namaha
74.    Om Ramachudamanipradayakaya Namaha
75.    Om Kamarupine Namaha
76.    Om Pingalakshaya Namaha
77.    Om Vardhi Mainaka Pujitaya Namaha
78.    Om Kabalikrita Martanda Mandalaya Namaha
79.    Om Vijitendriyaya Namaha
80.    Om Ramasugriva Sandhatre Namaha
81.    Om Mahiravana Mardhanaya Namaha
82.    Om Sphatikabhaya Namaha
83.    Om Dinabandhuraya Namaha
84.    Om Mayatmane Namaha
85.    Om Bhaktavatsalaya Namaha
86.    Om Sanjivananagayartha Namaha
87.    Om Suchaye Namaha
88.    Om Vagmine Namaha
89.    Om Dridhavrataya Namaha
90.    Om Kalanemi Pramathanaya Namaha
91.    Om Harimarkata Markataya Namaha
92.    Om Dantaya Namaha
93.    Om Shantaya Namaha
94.    Om Prasannatmane Namaha
95.    Om Shatakantamudapahartre Namaha
96.    Om Yogine Namaha
97.    Om Ramakatha Lolaya Namaha
98.    Om Sitanveshana Pathitaya Namaha
99.    Om Vajradranushhtaya Namaha
100.    Om Vajranakhaya Namaha
101.    Om Rudra Virya Samudbhavaya Namaha
102.    Om Indrajitprahitamoghabrahmastra Vinivarakaya Namaha
103.    Om Partha Dhvajagrasamvasine Namaha
104.    Om Sharapamjarabhedhakaya Namaha
105.    Om Dashabahave Namaha
106.    Om Lokapujyaya Namaha
107.    Om Jambavatpritivardhanaya Namaha
108.    Om Sitasameta Shriramapada Sevadurandharaya Namaha