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{{Short description|Hindu festival}}

{{EngvarB|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox holiday
| type = Hindu
| longtype = Religious
| image =
| image_alt =
| caption = Hanuman worshipped on Hanuman Jayanti
| official_name =
| nickname =
| observedby = [[Hindu]]s
| begins = [[Chaitra]] [[Purnima (day)|Purnima]]
| ends = Chaitra Purnima
| month = April
| date2022 = Saturday Apr 16, 2022
| date2023 = Thursday April 06, 2023<ref>[https://www.drikpanchang.com/hindu-festivals/hanuman-jayanti/hanuman-jayanti.html Hanuman Jayanti]</ref>
| celebrations = 1 day
| observances =
| relatedto =
| frequency = Annual
| holiday_name = Hanuman
| date = 16th oct
}}
{{Hinduism}}

'''Hanuman Jayanti''' ({{Lang-sa|हनुमज्जयंती|lit=Victory of Hanuman|translit=Hanumajjayantī}}) is a [[List of Hindu festivals|Hindu festival]] that celebrates the birth of the Hindu deity, and one of the protagonists of the [[Ramayana]], [[Hanuman]]. In most states of [[India]], the festival is observed on the [[Purnima|full-moon day]] of the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu month]] of [[Chaitra]] (Chaitra Purnima).<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2018-06-09 |title=Hanumajjayanti, Hanumajjayantī, Hanumat-jayanti, Hanūmajjayantī: 3 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/hanumajjayanti |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v2yiyLLOj88C&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA1310&dq=hanuman+jayanti&hl=en |title=Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes] |last2=Baumann |first2=Martin |date=2010-09-21 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-204-3 |language=en}}</ref> In [[Karnataka]], Hanuman Jayanti is observed on Shukla Paksha Trayodashi, during the Margashirsha month or in [[Vaisakha|Vaishakha]], while in a few states like [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]], it is celebrated during the month of [[Dhanu (month)|Dhanu]] (called ''[[Tamil calendar|Margali]]'' in Tamil).

Hanuman is regarded to be an ardent devotee of [[Rama]], an incarnation of Vishnu, widely known for his unflinching devotion. He is revered as a symbol of strength<ref>{{Cite book |last=Verma |first=Manish |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4gzFFLdBoYC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA17&dq=hanuman+jayanti&hl=en |title=Fasts and Festivals of India |date=2013 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. |isbn=978-81-7182-076-4 |language=en}}</ref> and energy, and is venerated for these reasons on this occasion.

== Legend ==
[[File:Anjani with Child Hanuman - Bronze - Pallava Period - ACCN 15-524 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-24 6603.JPG|thumbnail|Anjani (Anjana) with Child Hanuman - Bronze, [[Pallava]] Period, [[Mathura]], India|358x358px]]
Hanuman is a [[vanara]], born to [[Kesari (Ramayana)|Kesari]] and [[Añjanā|Anjana]]. Hanuman is also known as the son of [[Vayu]], the wind-god.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cole |first=Owen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVc4AgAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT42&dq=hanuman+hinduism&hl=en |title=Hinduism - An Introduction |last2=Kanit |first2=V. P. Hermant |date=2010-06-25 |publisher=John Murray Press |isbn=978-1-4441-3100-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> His mother, [[Añjanā|Anjana]], was an [[apsara]] who was born on [[bhuloka|earth]] due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse upon giving birth to a son. The [[Valmiki]] Ramayana states that his father, [[Kesari (Ramayana)|Kesari]], was the son of [[Brihaspati]], the king of a region named Sumeru, located near the kingdom of [[Kishkindha]].<ref name=Puranas>[https://books.google.com/books?id=nmmkM0fVS-cC&dq=bibliogroup:%22Encyclopaedic+Dictionary+of+Pur%C4%81%E1%B9%87as%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas: (A-C) ; 2.(D-H) ; 3.(I-L) ; 4.(M-R) ; 5.(S-Z)], pp=628-631, Swami Parmeshwaranand, Sarup & Sons, 2001, {{ISBN|81-7625-226-3}}, {{ISBN|978-81-7625-226-3}}</ref> Anjana is said to have performed intense prayers lasting twelve years to [[Shiva|Rudra]] to bear a child. Pleased with their devotion, Rudra granted them the son they sought.<ref>Sri Ramakrishna Math (1985) "Hanuman Chalisa" p. 5</ref>

[[Eknath]]'s ''Bhavartha Ramayana'' states that when Anjana was worshiping Rudra, King [[Dasharatha]] of [[Ayodhya]] was also performing the ritual of [[Putrakameshti]] in order to have children. As a result, he received some sacred pudding ([[payasam]]) to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of [[Rama]], [[Lakshmana]], [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]], and [[Shatrughna]]. By divine ordinance, a [[Kite (bird)|kite]] 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.<ref name=Puranas/><ref>Sri Ramakrishna Math (1985) "Hanuman Chalisa" pp. 5-6</ref>

== Worship ==
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 and blessings. They join in temples to worship him and present religious offerings. In return, the devotees receive [[Prasad|prasadam]]<ref name=":0" /> by the temple priests as sweets, flowers, coconuts, [[tilak|tilaka]], sacred ash (''udi'') and holy water from the river [[Ganges]] (''Ganga jalam''). People who revere him also recite various devotional hymns and prayers like the [[Hanuman Chalisa]] and read holy scriptures like the [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Illustrated_Encyclopedia_of_Hinduism/g6FsB3psOTIC?hl=en |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism}}</ref>[[File:Madurai Meenakshi temple prayer.jpg|thumb|left|A woman praying to Hanuman, the monkey god at [[Meenakshi Amman Temple]] in [[Madurai]], India]] Devotees visit temples and apply a ''[[tilaka]]'' of ''[[sindoor|sinduram]]'' to their foreheads from Hanuman's [[murti]]. According to legend, when Hanuman found [[Sita]] 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 sinduram, thus ensuring Rama's immortality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hanuman {{!}} Hindu mythology {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hanuman |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

In [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]], Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the [[New Moon]] day in [[Margazhi|Margali]] ([[Dhanu (month)|Dhanu]]) month. Famous Hanuman temples in these states like Nanganallur, Namakkal, Suchindram, Thrikkaviyoor and Alathiyoor celebrate this day with pomp.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022|reason=need to find a reliable source that states this information}}

In [[Telangana]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]], Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated by a [[diksha]] of 41 days, beginning on Chaitra Purnima, and concluding on the tenth day during Krishna Paksha in Vaishaka.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022|reason=reliable source needed to support this information}}

In [[Maharashtra]], 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 of Ashvin, 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vamtantra.com/hanuman-jayanti/|title=Hanuman Janmotsav Puja To Make Lord Hanuman Happy|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-02}}</ref> Spiritual discourses are organised in most of the Hindu temples of the region on this day.

== See also ==
*[[Narasimha Jayanti]]
*[[Rama Navami]]
*[[Krishna Janmashtami]]
*[[Anjaneya Temple, Nanganallur]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Hanuman Jayanti}}
{{Sindhi festivals}}
{{HinduFestivals}}

[[Category:Festivals in India]]
[[Category:January observances]] 
[[Category:March observances]]
[[Category:April observances]]
[[Category:Hindu holy days]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in India]]
[[Category:Hanuman]]

Hanuman Jayanti - Revision history

ImportMaster at 19:12, 8 January 2023