Hanuman Jayanti 1st moon of Chaitra

Lord Hanuman was born on the Anjaneri mountain. His mother Anjana was an apsara born on earth due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse by giving birth to a son. The Valmiki Ramayana states that his father Kesari was the son of Brihaspati, he was the king of a place called Sumeru. Anjana offered intense prayers for 12 long years to Rudra for a child. Pleased with their devotion, Rudra granted them the son they were looking for. Hanuman, in another interpretation, is the incarnation or reflection of Rudra himself.

Hanuman is often called the son of the deity Vayu (God of Wind); several different traditions explain the role of Vayu in the birth of Hanuman. A story mentioned in Eknath's Bhavartha Ramayana (16th century CE) states that when Anjana was worshipping Rudra, King Dasharatha of Ayodhya was also performing the ritual of Putrakama yagna in order to have children. As a result, he was given sacred pudding (payasam) to be shared by his three wives, which led to the births of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna.

By divine ordinance, a kite plucked a fragment of this pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayu, the Hindu deity of wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result. Another tradition says that Anjana and her husband Kesari prayed to Rudra for a child. Under Rudra's guidance, Vayu transferred his masculine energy into Anjana's womb. Accordingly, Hanuman is identified as the son of Vayu

Another story of Hanuman's origins is derived from the Vishnu Purana and the Naradeya Purana. Narada, in love with a princess, went to his lord Vishnu, to make him look like Vishnu, so that the princess would garland him at swayamvara (husband-choosing ceremony). He asked for hari mukh (Hari is another name for Monkey (Vanara) and also that of Vishnu, and mukh means face). Vishnu thus granted him the face of a vanara. Unaware of this, Narada went to the princess, who burst into laughter at the sight of his monkey face in front of the entire court of the king.

Narada, unable to bear the humiliation, cursed Vishnu, that Vishnu would one day be dependent on a vanara. Vishnu replied that what he had done was for Narada's sake, as he would have undermined his own powers if he were to marry. Vishnu also noted that Hari has the dual Sanskrit meaning of vanara. Hearing this, Narada repented for cursing Vishnu. But Vishnu told him not to repent as the curse would act as a boon, as it would lead to the birth of Hanuman, an avatar of Rudra, without whose help Rama (Vishnu's avatar) would not be able to kill Ravana.

On Hanuman Jayanti day, according to the Sastras, Swamy Hanuman should be worshipped as all the Vanara chiefs pray to him in a banana garden. This form should be worshipped on this special day and not as Dasa-Anjaneya, Abhaya-Anjaneya or any other form. Worshipping this form of swamy hanuman will fulfill all desires and remove all obstacles.

Lord Hanuman is worshipped as a deity who can achieve victory over evil and provide protection. On this auspicious day, devotees of Lord Hanuman celebrate him and seek his protection and blessings. They flock to temples to worship him and present religious offerings. In return, devotees are given Prasad by the temple priests in the form of sweets, flowers, coconut, tilak, holy ash (udi) and Ganga jal (holy water). People also celebrate him on this day by reciting various devotional hymns and prayers like the Hanuman Chalisa and reading holy scriptures like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Hanuman Janam-Utsav is an important festival of Hindus. Hanuman Janmotsav is also the biggest festival celebrated in India. Lord Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and is widely known for his unwavering devotion towards Rama. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. He is said to be able to take any form at will, wield the gada (including many celestial weapons), move mountains, soar into the air, grasp clouds and also rival Garuda in the speed of flight.