Hanumān Jayanti 2023 Date: 11th November 2023 (especial worship during the evening time)
Shri Hanumān-Jayanti, the appearance day of Hanumān ji is celebrated on the fourteenth (14th) day of the dark-half (Krishna-Paksha) of the Kartika month.
Hanumān Ji is worshipped by all the followers of Sanatan-Vaidic-Dharma, especially Vaiṣṇavas, still among the four Vaiṣṇava-Sampradāyas, Śrī (Rāmānanda-)Sampradāya and Śrī Madhva-Sampradāya worship Hanumān Jī more fervently than others. In Śrī Rāmānanda-Sampradāya, He is worshipped as the Nitya-Parikara (eternal-paraphernalia) of Bhagavān Śrī Rāma in the Sāket-loka in the Tripādvibhuti and the main Ācārya of Śrī Rāma-Mantra.
Hanumān Jī is said to be the Ācārya of Bhakti (loving-devotion) in Nārad-Bhakti-Sutra.
इत्येवं वदन्ति जनजल्पनिर्भया एकमताः कुमारव्यासशुकशाण्डिल्यगर्गविष्णुकौण्डिन्यशेषोद्धवारुणिबलिहनुमद्विभीषणादयो भक्त्याचार्याः ॥
(नारद भक्तिसूत्र -८३)
ityēvaṃ vadanti janajalpanirbhayā ēkamatāḥ kumāra-vyāsa-śuka-śāṇḍilya-garga-viṣṇu-kauṇḍinya-śēṣōddhav-āruṇi-bali-hanumad-vibhīṣaṇ-ādayō bhakty-ācāryāḥ ॥
(nārada bhaktisūtra -83)
“So declare the Ācāryas of Bhakti with one accord without fear of worldly-gossip (criticism), the Ācāryas like: Kumāra, Vyāsa, Śuka, Śāṇḍilya, Garga, Viṣṇu, Kauṇḍinya, Śēṣa, Uddhav, Āruṇi, Bali, Hanumān, Vibhīṣaṇa, etc.”
Therefore, All Vaishnavas should celebrate the appearance day of Hanumān Ji who is dearest to Bhagavān Śrī SītāRāma.
Hanumān Ji bestows humility, servitude, unwavering faith and loving-devotion into the lotus feet of ŚrīŚrī SītāRāma. He removes all kinds of obstructions, dangers and secures well-being of the devotees of ŚrīŚrī SītāRāma.
In the beginning of Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa, Gosvāmi Tulasīdāsa does Vandānā of Hanumān Jī as the Vishuddha (Purest, the most qualified) Ācārya of Bhakti (Vijñāna) who takes delight in the holiest-forest in form of the glories of Bhagavān ŚrīŚrī SītāRāma.
सीतारामगुणग्रामपुण्यारण्यविहारिणौ।
वन्दे विशुद्धविज्ञानौ कवीश्वरकपीश्वरौ॥
(श्रीरामचरितमानस, मङ्गलाचरण श्लोक -४)
sītārāma-guṇagrāma-puṇyāraṇya-vihāriṇau।
vandē viśuddha-vijñānau kavīśvara-kapīśvarau॥
(śrīrāmacaritamānasa, maṅgalācaraṇa ślōka -4)
“I do Vandānā (prayer) to the king of bards, Śrī Vālmīki and the chief of monkeys, Śrī Hanumān, of pure-intelligence, both of whom sport in the holy-forest in the shape of glories of Bhagavān Śrī SītāRāma.”
Śrī Hanumān is the Rishi (seer and Ācārya) of the Upanishads. He has preached Śrī Ramarahasyopanishad. While in Muktikopanishad, Shri Hanumanji is the inquirer and Parabrahman Bhagavān Śrī Rāma is the preacher.
महाबीर बिनवउँ हनुमाना। राम जासु जस आप बखाना॥
(श्रीरामचरितमानस १.१७.५)
mahābīra binavaum̐ hanumānā। rāma jāsu jasa āpa bakhānā॥
(Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa 1.17.5)
“महावीर श्री हनुमानजी की विनती (प्रार्थना) करता हूँ, जिनके यश का श्री रामचन्द्रजी ने स्वयं (अपने श्रीमुख से) वर्णन किया है॥”
“I supplicate Hanumān, the great hero, whose glory has been extolled by Sri Ram Himself.” [Sri Ramcharitmanas 1.17.5]
Hanumān Ji introduces himself :
दासोऽहं कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः ।
(श्रीवाल्मीकि रामायण ५.४२.३४)
dāsō'haṃ kōsalēndrasya rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ ।
(Śrī Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 5.42.34)
“I (Hanumān) am the servant of Śrī Rama, the king of Kosala Kingdom, who is unwearied in action.”
As per Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa and Bhagavad Śrī Rāmānanda, Śrī Hanumān Jī appeared on the Kārtika-Kṛṣṇa-Paksha-Chaturdaśī (the fourteenth day of the dark phase of Kārtika Month) i.e. just a day before Deepāwalī (Kārtika Amāvasyā).
॥ श्रीहनुमत् जन्मोत्सवनिरुपणम् ॥
॥ Śrīhanumat janmōtsava-nirupaṇam ॥
स्वात्यां कुजे शैवतिथौ तु कार्तिके
कृष्णेऽजनागर्भत् एव मेषके ।
श्रीमान् कपीट् प्रादुरभूत्परन्तपो
व्रतादिना तत्र तदुत्सवं चरेत् ॥
(श्री वैष्णवमताब्जभास्कर ४.२५)
svātyāṃ kujē śaivatithau tu kārtikē
kṛṣṇē'janāgarbhat ēva mēṣakē ।
Śrīmān kapīṭ prādurabhūtparantapō
vratādinā tatra tadutsavaṃ carēt ॥
(Śrī Vaiṣṇava-matābja-bhāskara 4.25)
“कार्तिक मास के कृष्णपक्ष में चतुर्दशी तिथि (शैवतिथि) को मंगलवार को, स्वाति नक्षत्र और मेष लग्न के उदय काल अर्थात् सायंकाल माता अञ्जना के गर्भ से परम बुद्धिमान शत्रुओं का संहार करनेवाले कपि श्रेष्ठ हनुमान् जी प्रकट हुए । उस दिन (अर्थात् कार्तिक कृष्ण चतुर्दशी को) व्रत आदि के द्वारा उत्सव (हनुमज्जन्मोत्सव) मनाना चाहिए॥ ”
“In the dark-phase (Kṛṣṇa-paksha) of the Kartika month, on the fourteenth day (14th day), when day was Tuesday, in Svati Nakshatra, and in the evening time, the supremely wise and the subduer of demonic entities, Shri Hanumān Ji appeared from the womb of Dēvī Añjanā. On that day (14th day of dark-half of Kartika month), one should do vrata (observe fast) and celebrate in various ways the festival of appearance day of Śrīmān Hanumān Jī.”
ऊर्जे कृष्ण चतुर्दश्यां भौमेस्वात्यां कपीश्वरः ।
मेष लग्ने अंजना गर्भात् प्रादुर्भूतः स्वयं शिवः॥
(वैष्णवागम)
ūrjē kṛṣṇa caturdaśyāṃ bhaumēsvātyāṃ kapīśvaraḥ ।
mēṣa lagnē aṃjanā garbhāt prādurbhūtaḥ svayaṃ śivaḥ॥
(Vaishṇāvagama)
“कार्तिक कृष्ण चतुर्दशी को स्वाति नक्षत्र मे मेष लग्न के उदय काल सायंकाल में मंगलवार के दिन श्रीमती अञ्जनी माता के गर्भसे श्री हनुमानजी के रुपमें से साक्षात् भगवान शिव हीं श्रीराम-सेवार्थ प्रकट हुए।”
“On the fourteenth day of Kartik Krishna-Paksha (the dark-half of month of Kartika), in Svati-Nakshatra, and Mesh lagna in the evening time, on Tuesday, Lord Shiva himself appeared from the womb of Mother Anjani in the form of Shri Hanumānji to serve Bhagavan Śrī Rāma.”
The story of the birth of Śrī Hanumān is described in Śrī Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa, after giving birth to Hanumān Jī (in the evening of the Kārtika-Kṛṣṇa-Chaturdashi), in the morning mother Añjanā went into the forest for collecting some fruits, in the meantime the infant Hanumān felt very hungry and started crying, He saw the reddish sun rising in the sky. Thinking it to be a red fruit, Hanumān Jī leaped and flew towards the sun with such an amazing speed which is not seen in either the wind-god, or the Garuḍa - the mighty ride of Bhagavān Viṣṇu, or even the mind (mana). [Hanumān Jī is thousand times swifter than the Garuḍa]. He reached on the chariot of the Sun-god, at that time Rāhu was approaching the Sun for eclipse. Then, Hanumān Jī laughingly caught the Rāhu, Rāhu became utterly fearful and somehow escaped and went to the king of Devas, Indra. Sun-eclipse always happens on the day of Amāvasyā [the new-moon day], not on Purṇimā [the full-moon day], therefore in this Kalpa, Hanumān-Jayanti doesn't fall on the day of Purṇimā [Chaitri-Purṇimā, as some people have started celebrating on that day].
Shrimad Bhagavatam says Hanumān Ji is the Param Bhagavat devotee. Worship of a devotee is greater than even the worship of Bhagavan, as then devotion of Bhagavan is easily achieved. Therefore, one should not fail to observe the Hanumat Janmotsav Vrata and celebrate the appearance day of Hanumān Ji.
Since Hanumān Ji is direct disciple of Shri Sītā Jī, He is dearest devotee to Sita and Rama both, therefore celebrating his appearance day brings a great satisfaction to Sita and Rama both. Therefore, All Vaishnavas should celebrate the appearance day of Hanumān Ji.
Lord Shiva says to Devī Pārvatī —
आराधनानां सर्वेषां विष्णोर् आराधनं परम् ।
तस्मात् परतरं देवि तदीयानां समर्चनम् ॥
(श्री पद्मपुराण ६.२५३.१७६)
ārādhanānāṃ sarveṣāṃ viṣṇor ārādhanaṃ param ।
tasmāt parataraṃ devi tadīyānāṃ samarcanam ॥
(Śrī Padma-Purāṇa 6.253.176)
“हे देवि! सभी आराधनाओं में भगवान श्रीविष्णु (श्रीराम) की आराधना परम-श्रेष्ठ है, और विष्णु की आराधना से भी श्रेयस्कर उनके भक्तों, वैष्णवों की आराधना होती है।”
“The worship of Vishṇu (Śrī Rāma) is best and greater than the worships of all other Gods, and still greater than that is the worship of his devotees”
In the morning one should take Sankalp to observe Śrī Hanumān-Jayanti Vrat. In the evening, one should do especial worship of Hanumān and Bhagavān Śrī SītāRām, Request and Invite them to come and take seats at the altar to receive the Puja, offer them water for feet-wash, hand-wash and mouth-wash, offer them bath with Pañcāmṛtam and the sacred water of Sarayū or Gaṅgā, offer them new clothes and ornaments and scents, offer flowers at their lotus feet and garlands, offer them fruits, sweets etc and show them the lit-deepak, and chant Stotra and Mantras. Hanumān Jī is pleased most, when one offers him the Prasād (fruits, Naivedyam sweets) of Bhagavān Śrī SītāRām.
In Śrī Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, after being coronated on the throne of Ayodhyā,Bhagavan Śrī Rāma was gifting some gifts to his dear associates like Sugriva, Angada, etc. In the end, He gave a divine necklace of pearls, furnished with superior gems to Bhagavati Sita, Sītā Jī put it around her neck and then she took it off from her neck and thought for a while; then Śrī Rāma who was acquainted with gesture of another requested Sita as follows "O dear princess Sita! Give the pearl-necklace to a person, with whom you are most pleased and in whom the following viz. sharpness, firmness, renown, dexterity, competence, modesty, prudence, virility, prowess and intelligence are ever or eternally present!" (Śrī Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 6.128.81-82)
Everyone started looking towards Sītā Jī, and thinking who is very much dear to her, from whom she is very much pleased, who will be most fortunate to have that divine necklace which was wore by Sītā Jī after Śrī Rāma, and Sita took it from her own neck to gift someone.
And then, the lotus-eyed Sītā Jī gifted it to her dear son Hanumān Ji in front of all...Hanumān Ji happily wore it and by wearing that necklace, which was as white as a heap of moonlight-beams, shone brilliantly as a mountain silvered by a white cloud. (Śrī Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 6.128.83)
महाबीर बिनवउँ हनुमाना । राम जासु जस आप बखाना ॥
(श्रीरामचरितमानस १.१७.५)
mahābīra binavaum̐ hanumānā । rāma jāsu jasa āpa bakhānā॥
(Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa 1.17.5)
“महावीर श्री हनुमानजी की विनती (प्रार्थना) करता हूँ, जिनके यश का श्री रामचन्द्रजी ने स्वयं (अपने श्रीमुख से) वर्णन किया है॥”
“I supplicate Hanumān, the great hero, whose glory has been extolled by Sri Ram Himself.” [Sri Ramcharitmanas 1.17.5]
(In Uttarkanda of Śrī Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bhagavan Śrī Rāma himself praises the glory of Hanumān Ji to sage Agastya.)
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् ।
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥
(श्री रामरक्षास्तोत्र, श्लोक ३३)
manōjavaṃ mārutatulyavēgaṃ jitēndriyaṃ buddhimatāṃ variṣṭham ।
vātātmajaṃ vānarayūthamukhyaṃ Śrīrāmadūtaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadyē ॥
(Śrī Rāmarakṣāstōtra, Ślōka 33)
“जिनकी मन के समान गति और वायु के समान वेग है, जो परम जितेन्द्रिय और बुद्धिमानों में श्रेष्ठ है,उन पवननन्दन वानराग्रगण्य श्री रामदूत हनुमान् जी की मैं शरण लेता हूँ।”
“I take refuge in the lord Hanumān who is as fast as the mind, equals his father the wind-God in speed, is the master of the senses, the foremost amongst the learned, the leader of the monkey forces, and the great messenger of Śrī Rāma. ॥33॥ ”
यत्र यत्र रघुनाथकीर्तनं तत्र तत्र कृतमस्तकांजलिम् ।
वाष्पवारिपरिपूर्णालोचनं मारुतिं नमत राक्षसान्तकम् ॥
yatra yatra raghunāthakīrtanaṃ tatra tatra kṛtamastakāṃjalim।
vāṣpavāriparipūrṇālōcanaṃ mārutiṃ namata rākṣasāntakam॥
“जहाँ-जहाँ श्रीरघुनाथ (भगवान श्रीरामजी) के नाम, रुप, लीला आदि का कीर्तन होता है, वहाँ-वहाँ मस्तक से बंधी हुई अंजली लगाए और नेत्रों में आंसू भरे हनुमान जी उपस्थित रहते हैं, राक्षसवंश के कालरूप उन मारुति पवनपुत्र हनुमानजीको में नमस्कार करता हूँ ।”
“Wherever the Glories of nama, rupa, leela etc of Shri Raghunatha (Śrī Rāma) are Sung, there, with Hands held over His Bowed Head in Salutation, and eyes filled with tears of love and ecstasy, Maruti Shri Hanumān is Present; I Salute Maruti Who puts an end to the Rakshasas.”
When Hanumān Ji hears any praise of Śrī Rāma, his eyes become filled with tears of love... such is the great devotion of Hanumān Ji in the lotus feet of Śrī Rāma.
Anjaneya Hanumān is the incarnation of Charusheela-sakhi, the sister and amsha of Sītā Jī in the inner leela.
“In his own form, Hanumān Ji is eternally present simultaneously in the eternal abode of Bhagavan, and through another similar form he rules the kingdoms in the continents of Kimpurusha under Śrī Rāma’s command.” (Jagadguru Madhvacharya)
Bhagavad Śrī Rāmananda also said in his Sri Vaishnava Matabja Bhaskar that Shri Anjaneya Hanumān Ji is an eternal associate of Bhagavan Śrī Rāma.
It is believed that on Kartik-Krishna-Chaturdashi, Bhagavan Shri Krishna killed Narakasura, there are also pastimes of Shri Krishna with Hanumān Ji in Dvapara-age.
In Mahabharat, Hanumān Ji had given boon to his younger brother Bheem that He will help Panadvas in Mahabharata war. So, when the Maharabharat war started, Hanumān Ji seated himself in the flag of the chariot of Arjuna, driven by Shri Krishna.
When the war ended and Pandavas won over Kauravas, then Bhagavan Shri Krishna instructed Arjuna to first take down the Gandiva-bow and leave the chariot, so Arjuna did as so said by Bhagavan. When Arjuna left the chariot, then Shri Krishna also left the chariot.
अथावतीर्णे भूतानामीश्वरे सुमहात्मनि ।
कपिरन्तर्दधे दिव्यो ध्वजो गाण्डीवधन्वनः॥
(महाभारत, शल्यपर्व ६२.१२, गीताप्रेस)
athāvatīrṇē bhūtānāmīśvarē sumahātmani ।
kapirantardadhē divyō dhvajō gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ॥
(mahābhārata, śalyaparva 62.12, gītāprēsa)
“And as soon Bhagavan Shri Krishna, the Supreme Lord of all, left the chariot, then the divine monkey Hanumān (present in the flag) flied (disappeared) in the sky leaving the flag of Arjuna's chariot.”
Here Hanumān Ji left the chariot in the last, and as soon Hanumān Ji left the chariot, then whole chariot along with horses started burning in a great flame, and it soon burnt down into ashes. It was a great amazement to Arjuna, how and why did his chariot burn down into ashes?
Then, Bhagavan Krishna answered him "Your chariot was burnt down well before from the divine weapons used by warriors against You during the war, however as I was seated on the chariot, It didn't burn down into ashes then.
Acharyas explain as Śrī Rāma himself had appeared as Shri Krishna, therefore as long Shri Krishna was seated on the chariot, so long Hanumān Ji was present, and the divine monkey Hanumān Ji was protecting Arjuna (devotee) and Bhagavan both. Sometimes in Madhurya, a devotee makes his effort to protect and care his Lord (Bhagavan loves to be cared and protected by his devotee, even though He is the Supreme Lord!), therefore Hanumān Ji left the chariot in the last. Even though Bhagavan didn't tell Hanumān Ji to leave the chariot, He left in the last and then only Chariot went into flames.