Hanuman is the quintessential devotee and sevak (servant) of Sri Rama. He is loved for His unflinching devotion to Shri Rama. He is widely revered all over India and the world as SankatMochan or remover of difficulties and sorrows. Though a Rama Bhakta, He is worshiped by followers of Shiva as He is the 11th Rudra Avatar(avatar of Lord Shiva). Today is the anniversary of His birth – the Purnima (full moon day) of Chaitra Month (Hindu Month). Early morning, in all the Hanuman Temples, people flock and offer worship to Hanuman. Kirtans start at Brahma Murhat or 4 a.m. and are concluded at sunrise – at the time when Hanuman is born. Then ritualistic worship of Hanuman is done and He is given an offering of a sweet made with dry ginger; and the prasad is distributed among the devotees.
The entire body of Hanuman is covered with a paste of sindhur and oil. He glows a bright orange- red color. The devotees who visit the temple, take some of this sindhur and apply it on their forehead as blessings of Hanuman. Hanuman is very fond of sindhur or the red powder, married women apply on their foreheads as mark of marriage. According to the legends, Maa Sita was applying sindhur on Her forehead and Hanuman was watching Her. He questioned Her as to why She applied it. Maa Sita replied that it would ensure a long life for Her husband, Sri Rama. Hanuman loved Sri Rama so much that He immediately smeared His entire body with sindhur so that Sri Rama would be immortal.
The ritualistic worship of Hanuman is done by application of the Sindhur powder (red/orange powder) with the ring finger. He is offered the flowers of the calotropis or the milkweeds plant. Garlands are made of the leaves of the calotropis plant and offered to Him. Incense sticks are offered to Him by waving around in a full circle clockwise. Circum-ambulation of the temple is done clockwise in respect and adoration of Hanuman. Oil is offered to Him in ritualistic worship. Saturdays are special for worship of Hanuman.
Hanuman is a symbol of strength and energy. He is the patron saint of wrestlers in India. He is also a favourite amongst students and scholars as He is the symbol of intelligence, memory and knowledge. Worshipping Him removes obstacles and hindrances from our work and lives and ensures our progress and prosperity. Hanuman is a great Siddha and possesses all the Siddhis or powers. He can assume any form – He assumed the form of a Brahmin when He first met Sri Rama; He can increase His size to gigantic proportion and also make it smaller and lighter than an ant – He demonstrated this to Maa Sita in the Ashok Vatika, the garden of Ravan where Maa Sita was imprisoned; He has enormous strength and can lift mountains and He can fly at great speed – He showed these when He brought the Sanjeevani Mountain for reviving Laxman; He rivals Garuda -the eagle who is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu -in speed of flight; He has blessings of the Saturn or Shani Dev that Shani Dev will be kind to those who worship Hanuman and they will not suffer from the gaze of Shani Dev(this means that those who worship Hanuman will have their karmas changed in manner which causes less suffering in life – else we have to pay for what we do and we mostly do wrong!); and where the blessings of Hanuman are present, evil spirits and negativities do not have a place.
Hanuman has been blessed with eternal life. He is Chiranjeevi. He also has a boon that wherever the name of Sri Rama is chanted, He is present and He hears the holy name and He blesses the person who is chanting it. Such is His devotion to the name of Sri Rama that He takes on multiple forms and is present at numerous places simultaneously to relish the sweetness of Rama Nama. The easiest way of pleasing Hanuman is chanting the divine name of SitaRam. When we chant the SitaRam Mantra in our minds continuously, Hanuman will be present with us at all times of day and night and will guide and protect us.
