Aarti Keejai Hanuman Lalla Ki, Dushtdalan Raghunath Kala Ki Jake bal se girivar Kanpai, Rogdosh Bhaye nikat na Janke Anjani putra maha baldahi, Santan ke prabhu sada sahai De veera Raghunath pathaye, Lanka jari Siya sudhi laye Lanka so kot samudra si khai. Jat Pavansut var na lai Lanka jari asur sab mare, Siyaramji ke kaaj sanvare Lakshman murchit pare dharni pai, Aani Sanjivan pran uvare Paithi patal tori yamkare, Ahiravan ke bhuja ukhare Bhahe bhuja sub asurdal mare, Dahine bhuja santjan tare Sur nar munijan aarti utare, Jai Jai Jai Hanumanji uchare Kanchan thar kapur lau chhai, Aarti karat Anjani mai Jo Hanumanji ke aarti gavai, So vaikunt amarpad pavai Lanka vidhvans kiye Raghrahi, Tulsidas prabhu kirti gahi.
WHO IS HANUMAN?
Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Rama and a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana. He is a general among Vanaras and an ape-like race of forest-dwellers. Hanuman appeared for the aid of the hero Rama in the struggle against the demon king Ravana. Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and his exploits are much celebrated in a variety of religious and cultural traditions, particularly in Hinduism, so much so that he is often the subject of worship according to some bhakti traditions.
Holy Deity of Hanuman is a provider of courage, hope, knowledge, intellect and devotion. In all the pictures and deities Lord Hanuman is pictured as a robust monkey holding a mace or gada that is a sign of bravery. He also have a picture of Lord Rama tatooed on his chest, which is a sign of his devotion to Lord Rama. He is called as Mahaveera or the great hero and Pavan-suta or son of air.
Famous Hanuman Temples in India
‘Jakhuo’, a word derived from Yaku sage is one of the famous temples of Hanuman at Shimla. Legend says that the sudden landing of Hanuman on that hill flattened it and it is therefore a legendary abode of Yaksha, Kinners Nagas and Asuras.
Mythology says that Lakshmana, younger brother of Lord Rama was injured during the war between Rama and Ravana by an arrow from Meghnad. For this, Hanuman was required to get sanjeewani herb from Himalaya. Hanuman landed at Jakhu Mountain to gather more information about the required herb from Yaku sage and then forwarded towards mountain Dron. Lord Hanuman had promised him to meet when returning but due to shortage of time, he could not meet him and return from a shorter route. When Hanuman didn’t returned, Yaku sage got sad and at that very moment, Hanuman appeared and told the reason for not able to meet. As he disappeared from there, the idol that can still be found at the same temple appeared in front of him.
An 18 feet idol of Hanuman can be found in Namakkal Anjaneyar temple in Tamil Nadu. The idol faces east and is believed to be worshipping Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami which is one of Lord Vishnu’s avatars. The idol is said to be Swayambu i.e. it keeps growing in height. This is why thetemple has no roof enclosing. Sholinghur, a town in Vellore district has another two famous Hanuman temples. Sholinghur Sro Yoga Narasimha swami temple and Sri Yoga Anjaneyar temple. The latter is located over china malai (small hill) that contains 480 steps from ground. Sholinghur shetram is also one of the famours temples or Lord Anjaneya.
Another Hanumar temple at Nerul, Navi Mumbai has a 33 feet tall idol of Hanuman installed on a 12 feet high pedestal. There are silver coverings (Silver Kavasam) on Hanuman idol. A similar 32 feet idol of Sri Anjaneyar is present at Nanganallur in Channai. What distinguishes this idol is that it was molded out of a single rock.
A 72 feet idol of Hanuman can be found in Hanuman Vatika in Raurkela, Orissa. The tallest statue of hanuman was installed in 2003 at Pritala, Andra Pradesh. Its height is 135 feet. A 100 year old Shiva temple at Kaviyur, Kerala is considered very auspicious by devotees. Panchaloha made idol of Hanuman here depicts him telling story to Sita about Ramayan in the Asoka Vana.
Panchamukhi is the place where Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami, the main deity of Sri Raghavendra Swami mediated on this five faced form of Hanuman. There is a shrine for Panchamukha Anjanaeya Swami at kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. A tall monolithic green granite murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed in Thiruvallu in Tamil Nadu.One of the most famous places of Pilgrimage in cenral India is Chitrakoot which is claimed to be the resting place of Shiri Hanuman.
Hanuman Dhara- On the peak of a mountain, the Hanuman Dhara Temple is situated where there is a natural rock formation image of Shri Hanuman inside the cave and a stream of water flows naturally on his tail. The story behind this is said that after the coronation of Lord Ram, Hanuman asked for a permanent place to settle where his injury of burns on his tail will be cured. On the request of Hanuman, Lord Ram spurred a stream of water with his arrow on the tip of mountain and asked Hanuman to rest there where the water of the stream will fall on his tail cooling his burning sensation. This temple is now known as Hanuman Dhara.
Stories of Hanuman and Shani
Once, Hanuman was meditating, when Shani came and started teasing Hanuman by pulling his tail. Hanuman warned him as Shani is his Guru’s son and Hanuman respects him but when Shani did not listened, Hanuman gave him a good thrashing. At the end Shani pleaded to leave and promised not to go near any devotee mediating on Lord Rama.
Also it is believed that one Shani climbed on to Lord Hanuman’s shoulder, implying that Hanuman was coming under the effects of the influence of Shani. At this, Hanuman assumed a large size making Shani caught between his shoulder and the ceiling of the room. When the pain was unbearable, Shani requestedHanuman to release him promising that he would moderate the malefic effects of his influence on all those people who pray to Hanuman.
Lord Hanuman is said to be the symbol of selflessness while Shani is symbolic of instant judgment on a person’s past and present karma accordingly. It is firmly believed thatworship of Hanuman grants fortitude and strength. Hanuman is also believed to be the Lord of Mars and all the planets are under the control of his tail.
One of the most important, famous, religious festivals of Hindu is Hanuman Jayanthi which is celebrated on the full moon day (purnima), in the month of Chaitra to commemorate the birth of Hanuman. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and thus is worshipped for his unflinching devotion to the God. People apply sindoor as tilak from the body ofHanuman which is believed to be the symbol of good luck. All the temples of Hanuman all over the country are full of devotees and people celebrated this day with full excitement. Spiritual discourses starts at dawn asHanuman was born at sunrise and so all such deeds are stopped at that time and Prasad is distributed to everyone which provide strength and comfort to the devotee.
Hanuman is the machine of strength and enormous energy who is able to assume any form big or small, weak or powerful at his will. Hanuman is able to move huge mountains, break big rocks to pieces, dart through air, rival Garuda in swiftness of flight and even seize the clouds. Hanuman is the only one who is said to conquer the evil spirits and relieve the mankind from the effects of black magic.
