| Hanuman Jayanti | |
|---|---|
 Murti of Hanuman worshipped on Hanuman Jayanti | |
| Observed by | Hindus |
| Type | Religious |
| Significance | Commemoration of the birth ofHanuman |
| Observances | Visiting temples, offerings, charity, recitation of theHanuman Chalisa and theRamayana andits other versions |
| 2026 date | Most regions 02 April[1] Telugu date 22 May[2] Kannada date 3 December (Eastern hemisphere)[3] 2 December (Western hemisphere)[4] Tamil and Malayali date 19 December[5] |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Ram Navami,Chaitra Navaratri |
Hanuman Jayanti (Sanskrit:हनुमज्जयंती,romanized: Hanumajjayantī), also calledHanuman Janmotsav,[6] is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of the Hindu deity, and one of the protagonists of theRamayana andits many versions,Hanuman. The celebration of Hanuman Jayanti varies by time and tradition in each state of India. In most northern states of India, the festival is observed on the full-moon day of the Hindu month ofChaitra (Chaitra Purnima).[7] InTelugu states Anjaneya Jayanthi celebrate on every Bahula (Shukla Paksha) Dashami inVaishakha month according toTelugu calendar. InKarnataka, Hanuman Jayanti is observed on Shukla Paksha Trayodashi, during the Margashirsha month or inVaishakha, while in a few states likeKerala andTamil Nadu, it is celebrated during the month ofDhanu (calledMargazhi in Tamil). Hanuman Jayanti is observed onPana Sankranti in the eastern state ofOdisha, which coincides with the Odia New Year.[8]
Hanuman is regarded to be an ardent devotee ofRama, anavatar ofVishnu, widely known for his unflinching devotion.[9] He is revered as a symbol of strength.[10]
Hanuman is avanara, born toKesari andAnjana. Hanuman is also known as the celestial son ofVayu, the wind-god.[11][12] His mother, Anjana, was anapsara who was born on earth due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse upon giving birth to a son.
In Venkatachala Mahatyam and Skanda Puranam, it was explained that Anjana Devi, mother of Hanuman, approached sage Matanga seeking a way for her to be blessed with a son. She was advised to do penance on Venkatachalam. After several years of penance, she was blessed with a son. The place where she did penance and where Hanuman was born, had become famous as Anjanadri.
Varaha Purana and Brahmanda Purana, it was clearly explained that after Hanuman was born, he leapt into the sky assuming the rising Sun as a fruit to satiate his hunger. The place from where he made the jump was Venkatagiri. After Lord Brahma and Lord Indra attacked him with their weapons, he fell down and Anjana Devi started crying for her son. To pacify her, the gods descended on Venkatachalam and bestowed several boons on Hanuman and said the place would be called Anjanadri Hill. That's why in seven hillsThirumala one hill got Anjanadri.[13]
TheValmiki Ramayana states that his father, Kesari, was the son ofBrihaspati, the king of a region named Sumeru, located near the kingdom ofKishkindha nearHampi in present-dayVijayanagara district ofKarnataka.[14][15] Anjana is said to have performed intense prayers lasting twelve years toShiva to bear a child. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva granted them the son they sought.[16]
Eknath'sBhavartha Ramayana states that when Anjana was worshiping Rudra, KingDasharatha ofAyodhya was also performing the ritual ofPutrakameshti under the guidance ofSage R̥śyaśr̥ṅga in order to have children. As a result, he received somepayasam (Indian pudding) to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births ofRama,Lakshmana,Bharata, andShatrughna. By divine ordinance, akite (bird) snatched a fragment of that pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayu, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result.[15][17]
Hanuman is worshipped as a deity with the ability to gain victory over evil and provide protection. On this festival, devotees of Hanuman celebrate him and seek his protection, courage, fearlessness and blessings. They join in temples to worship him and present religious offerings. In return, the devotees receiveprasadam.[7] People who revere him read from Hindu texts like the Hanuman Chalisa and Ramayana.[12] Devotees visit temples and apply avermillion to their foreheads from Hanuman'smurti. According to legend, when Hanuman foundSita applying sinduram to her forehead, he enquired about this custom. She replied that doing so would ensure a long life for her husband, Rama. Hanuman then proceeded to smear his entire body with vermillion, thus ensuring Rama's immortality.[18]
Also, it is believed that the person who meditates while keeping Lord Hanuman in their mind and chants hismantras always receives the blessings of Bajrang Bali. Additionally, all the troubles and problems in their life are eliminated leading to variousmiracles.
InTamil Nadu andKerala, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the new moon day inMargali (Dhanu) month. Famous Hanuman temples in these states like Nanganallur, Namakkal, Suchindram, Thrikkaviyoor and Alathiyoor celebrate this day with pomp.[citation needed]
InTelangana andAndhra Pradesh, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated for 41 days, beginning on Chaitra Purnima, and concluding on the tenth day during Krishna Paksha in Vaishaka.[19]
InMaharashtra, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day (pūrnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra. A special feature of Hanuman Jayanti is that according to some religious almanacs (panchāngs) the birthday of Hanuman falls on the fourteenth day (chaturdashi) in the dark fortnight of the month ofAshvin, while according to others it falls on the full moon day in the bright fortnight of Chaitra. On this day in a Hanuman temple, spiritual discourses begin at dawn since Hanuman is believed to have been born during sunrise. During the time frame of birth, the spiritual discourse are halted and the offering of food (prasadam) is distributed to everyone.[20] Spiritual discourses are organised in most of the Hindu temples of the region on this day.
In Odisha,Pana Sankranti (April 13/14/15) is believed to be the birthday of Hanuman. Devotees visit temples and chant theHanuman Chalisa throughout the day. Reading theSundara Kanda book of theRamayana on this day is also said to be a pious exercise. The day also marks the beginning of the New Year in the traditionalOdia Solar Calendar.[21] The festival occurs in the solar Odia calendar (the lunisolar Hindu calendar followed in Odisha) on the first day of the traditional solar month ofMeṣa.
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