PrabhuBhakti Blog

Hindu devotees around the world worship Hanuman, who is one of the most respected gods in the Hindu religion. Hanuman has 108 different names, with Maruti, Bajrang Bali and Anjaneya being three of them.

Important temples like Jahkhu temple in Shimla, Sri Anjaneyar Temple in Ambur in Tamil Nadu and Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi are built to worship Hanuman. Another temple dedicated to him has been built in Trinidad with an 85-feet tall statue of the lord.

Maruti was born as a monkey-like human belonging to the ‘vanara’ race. He became Lord Rama’s follower when Rama was out of his kingdom and helped him to release Goddess Sita from evil King Ravana. He single handedly helped Lakshman get back his life, bringing ‘Sanjeevani’ by transporting the ‘Gandhamadan’ mountain.

That is why he is revered by devotees for his courage and might. His sincerity to Lord Rama is also well-known. A lot of Hindu shrines have his idol next to Lord Rama’s suggesting lifelong loyalty and friendship.

Devotees celebrate Hanuman Jayanti in the month of ‘chaitra’ that falls between March and April as per the Gregorian calendar. Fasts are observed and devotees throng to temples to offer their prayers to Hanuman. ‘Chalisa’, a special prayer which consists of 40 verses in it, is chanted by devotees of Anjaneya.

Devotees put on red or saffron colored clothes and bands on wrists. Legend says, Hanuman asked Sita the purpose of wearing sindhur on the forehead; she replied that it signifies Lord Rama’s long life. He is believed to have coated sindhur throughout his body for the long life of Lord Rama.

Hindu devotees believe that Anjaneya is the ‘immortal one’ and still lives today in caves, reciting the name of Lord Ram.

Read about Lakshmi on Prabhubhakti.

As you all know Hanuman is the devotee, friend and a close associate of Lord Rama, the King of Ayodhya. There are many stories of Hanuman helping Lord Rama during his fourteen years of exile from Ayodhya. Never can the incident of saving Lord Lakshmana by bringing Mrita Sanjeevani and searching for Devi Sita in Lanka, be forgotten by any Hanuman devotee.

Hanuman’s affection towards Lord Rama is popular with all his worshippers. You might have noticed Lord Hanuman with Sindoor covered body in almost all the temples. The reason behind this act reveals his love for Lord Rama.

The story goes like this – One day Devi Sita was applying Sindoor on her forehead and Hanuman saw this. Out of curiosity he asked the reason for this act. She replied with a smile that, applying Sindoor will bring all the good luck to Lord Rama and he will lead a prosperous and happy life. Hearing this, he disappeared and came back with his body fully smeared with Sindoor. He said he wanted to see Rama happier and leading a longer life. Lord Rama heard this and gave a boon to his devotees saying whoever worships Hanuman by applying Sindoor to his body will be able to lead a happy life.

Hanuman is considered to be one of the favorite gods of Hindus. His friendship, loyalty and service towards Lord Rama, during the exile period, are known by all the Hindu believers. His role in rescuing Sita from Lanka is very significant. Hanuman is referred to as Karmayogi meaning one who shows his meditation and devotion through hard work. Because of his selfless devotion and service to Lord Rama, he gets the boon of everlasting life from Lord Rama. Hanuman symbolizes energy and strength and it is believed that Hanuman can assume any form or shape when he wishes.

His birthday is celebrated in the month of Chaitra by Hindus all over the world. Devotees in different parts of the world worship Lord Hanuman on this auspicious day and offer him fruits and sweets. The 40-verse long Hanuman Chalisa is recited many times on his birthday. Special pujas for the Lord of monkeys are also conducted in temples. People smear their forehead with Sindhur believing that this will bring them good luck in their lives. Streets are filled with people in processions carrying the idol of Hanuman. This day people observe fast and after their prayers, the prepare feast.

Read about Hanuman chalisa text and Lord Rama from Prabhubhakti.

Guruvayoor is one of the most prominent temples of Lord Krishna in Kerala. Many devotees from different states of India, even foreigners visit the temple to get blessings from the God. Legend has that Guru with his disciple Vayu placed an idol obeying Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva named this place as Guruvayoor.  This idol is carved out of stone called Pathala Anjana Sila and it is considered to be very sacred.

The temple is in rectangular shape and it is known as the Dwaraka of South India. Guruvayoor is the fourth biggest shrine in India when the number of devotes are taken into account. It is said that Lord Krishna, here, is the incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu and has four arms. The temple walls are filled with many murals depicting different mythological stories. People from different parts of the state come here and offer their prayers everyday. Many rituals are being performed in this temple like marriages and rice feeding ceremony. Krishnashtami is celebrated with grandeur in this temple as many pujas will be conducted at that time and also the idol of Lord Krishna will be dressed up.

Hanuman is one of the most revered Gods in Hinduism and Hanuman chalisa has almost 40 verses. Learn about them on Prabhubhakti.

Gayatri mantra is considered to be the mother of all Vedas and is highly revered in Hinduism. The mantra is the most powerful mantras of all according to Hinduism and has been described in Rigveda. It is a prayer to God to bring the light of wisdom to us and remove all pains and ignorance. The mantra is receded with Aum which awakens our spirits. Aum is followed by Bhur, Bhuvah, Swaha which are called Vyahrities and they mean Earth, Air and Heaven.

The Gayatri mantra holds three concepts like glorifying God, meditation and offerings to God as prayer. As the mantra raises our consciousness to its highest level it is also known as Savitri mantra. Savitr means stimulator. It can also mean Sun who is the life stimulator or the one who offers light and heat to all living and non-living beings in the universe. That is why Gayatri mantra is chanted as a mantra to Suryadeva, one of the Hindu gods who is the reason for life on Earth. Gayatri mantra is also called Guru Mantra. This mantra has scientific importance also as the sounds created by the words in this mantra balances the energy flowing in this universe. This mantra is praised in Hindu texts like Manusmriti, Bhagavat Gita and Harivamsa.

Read about Hanuman chalisa and understand the relation between Hanuman and Rama, through Prabhubhakti.

Mahabharatha and Ramayana are the two epics in Hindu religion. Essentially Mahabharatha is the story of the incidents which lead to Kurukshetra war between Pandavas and Kauravas and its aftermaths. The epic reflects the game of politics, human beliefs and wisdom which nourishes human life. It is divided into eighteen Parvas and ends with the death of Lord Krishna.  The end of Mahabharatha is also the beginning of Kaliyuga where values and virtues collapse and manhood move towards destruction.

The story of Mahabharatha not only travels through the lives of Pandavas and Kauravas but it is also insightful and has many layers of meanings which never loses its relevance. This text of long narratives on lives of Pandavas and Kauravas and the Kurukshetra war has devotional and philosophical aspects engrafted in it. Through this epic, Veda Vyasa explains the four goals of life vis Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. These are Purusharthas meaning the purpose of man in his life. These are four things that man seeks for in his life. It has not been able to find out when and where Mahabharatha was was created but the epic is unmatched and reflects the depth and magnificence of Indian culture.

Know Lord Hanuman closer and learn about Om Jai Jagadish Aarti on Prabhubhakti.