Hanuman Jayanti Puja
Sindoor, the Hanuman Chalisa and an offering of boondi
Common way — most homes
Hanuman Jayanti, Chaitra Purnima in most of India, at sunrise. Some regions keep it on other dates, such as Kartika Chaturdashi or in Margashirsha. Muhurtha shows the day on the festival card.
About 30 minutes, plus the Chalisa
Hanuman is remembered for strength joined to devotion. The household offers him sindoor mixed with oil, reads the Hanuman Chalisa and shares boondi or jaggery and gram. If a mantra is hard, "Om Hanumate Namah" can stand in for any of them.
Prayers in this puja
Shubham Karoti ›Vakratunda Mahakaya ›Shuklambaradharam ›Mushikavahana ›Manojavam ›Hanuman Chalisa ›Shanti Mantra ›
Get ready
The day before
- Clean the puja place and eat a simple meal.
- Buy sindoor, jasmine oil or sesame oil, red flowers and boondi or besan laddu.
In the morning
- Rise before sunrise if you can, bathe and wear clean clothes, red or orange if you have them.
- Keep a printed copy of the Hanuman Chalisa ready, or open it in the app.
What you need
For Hanuman
- 1Picture or idol of Hanuman
- A littleSindoor mixed with jasmine or sesame oil
- 1Red flowers or a garland
- 1 plateBoondi or besan laddu
- A littleJaggery and roasted gram
- A fewBanana and tulasi leaves
For the altar
- 1Clean cloth to place it onRed or yellow is traditional.
- 1Puja plate (thali)
On the plate
- 1Oil lamp (diya) with a cotton wickGhee or sesame oil.
- 2Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- A pinch eachKumkum and haldi
- A littleSandal paste (chandan)No chandan? Use kumkum.
- 1 tablespoonAkshat — unbroken rice grains mixed with a little kumkum
- A handfulFresh flowers
- 1Small vessel of clean water with a spoon
- 1Small bellOptional.
To offer
- A littleFruit, jaggery, sugar crystals (mishri) or anything cooked fresh at home
- 1 or 2 piecesCamphor for the aartiOptional; the lamp can be used instead.
The puja
Settle in
Sit facing east or north before the deity on a mat or folded cloth. Keep the plate on your right. Take a breath and let the day wait for a few minutes.
Achamana — sip water three times
Pour a little water into your right palm and sip it three times, saying the first three names, one with each sip. Then wash your right hand with a little water while saying the fourth.
ōm kēśavāya namaḥ. ōm nārāyaṇāya namaḥ. ōm mādhavāya namaḥ. ōm gōvindāya namaḥ.Salutations to Keshava, Narayana and Madhava; salutations to Govinda.Purify yourself and the place
Hold a flower dipped in water and sprinkle a few drops on yourself, the plate and the altar while saying this verse.
ōm apavitraḥ pavitrō vā sarvāvasthāṁ gatō'pi vā. yaḥ smarēt puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bāhyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ.Whether pure or impure, in whatever state, one who remembers the lotus-eyed Lord is pure within and without.Light the lamp
Light the lamp and place it to the right of the deity. Fold your hands to it.
śubhaṁ karōti kalyāṇamārōgyaṁ dhanasampadaḥ. śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyōtirnamō'stu tē.I bow to the flame of the lamp, which brings good fortune, well-being, health and wealth, and destroys ill will.Remember Ganesha
Every puja begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Fold your hands and say the verse once.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakōṭisamaprabha. nirvighnaṁ kuru mē dēva sarvakāryēṣu sarvadā.O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty form, radiant as a crore suns, keep my every work free of obstacles, always.Sankalpa — state your intention
Hold a little water, akshat and a flower in your right palm. Say your name, today's date in the Hindu calendar, and why you are doing the puja — for example, for the well-being of the family. Then let the water fall on the ground or into a plate. Tap "Make sankalpa" to read today's full sankalpa.
Dhyana — invite the deity
Close your eyes and picture the deity before you. Offer a pinch of akshat as you invite them to be present.
ōm hanumatē namaḥ. dhyāyāmi, āvāhayāmi.Sindoor
With your ring finger, apply the sindoor and oil to the idol, or place a dot beside the picture. Women in some traditions offer it through a family member; follow your family's way.
Pushpa — flowers
Offer the flowers at the deity's feet, one or a few at a time.
ōm hanumatē namaḥ. puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi.Dhupa — incense
Light the incense and wave it gently before the deity three times, clockwise. Ring the bell with your left hand if you have one.
ōm hanumatē namaḥ. dhūpam āghrāpayāmi.Deepa — the lamp
Lift the lamp and show it to the deity, circling it clockwise three times.
ōm hanumatē namaḥ. dīpaṁ darśayāmi.Manojavam — remember him
Fold your hands and say this verse.
manōjavaṁ mārutatulyavēgaṁ jitēndriyaṁ buddhimatāṁ variṣṭham. vātātmajaṁ vānarayūthamukhyaṁ śrīrāmadūtaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadyē.Swift as the mind, fast as the wind, master of the senses, foremost of the wise, son of the wind, chief of the monkey host, messenger of Rama: I take refuge in him.Naivedya
Place the boondi, jaggery, gram and banana before him, with a tulasi leaf. Sprinkle a little water around it and offer it with folded hands.
Read the Hanuman Chalisa
Read the Chalisa once, or as many times as you can; many read it 11 times. The family can read together, even if some only follow along.
Aarti
Light the lamp or camphor and circle it clockwise, singing the aarti your family knows or chanting "Jai Shri Ram". Take its warmth to your eyes with both palms.
Pradakshina — circle in reverence
Turn around clockwise in your place three times (or walk around the altar if there is room), saying this verse.
yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāntarakr̥tāni ca. tāni tāni vinaśyanti pradakṣiṇapadē padē.Whatever wrongs were done in past lives are destroyed with every step taken around the Lord.Kshama prarthana — ask forgiveness
With folded hands, ask forgiveness for anything done wrong or left out. This closes every puja.
āvāhanaṁ na jānāmi na jānāmi visarjanam. pūjāṁ caiva na jānāmi kṣamasva paramēśvara. mantrahīnaṁ kriyāhīnaṁ bhaktihīnaṁ surēśvara. yatpūjitaṁ mayā dēva paripūrṇaṁ tadastu mē.I do not know how to invite you, nor how to send you off, nor even how to worship; forgive me, O Lord. Whatever I have offered — lacking in mantra, in action or in devotion — may it be made whole.Prasad
Bow down. Take a little of the offered food as prasad and share it with the family. Let the lamp burn out on its own.
Fasting
Many fast until the puja or through the day. It is not required, and elders, children, the unwell and those who are pregnant should eat as they need.
Good to do
- Help someone with something heavy today; service is his way.
- Share the prasad, especially with children.
Tradition avoids
- Avoid meat and alcohol on the day.
- Do not treat him as a charm against fear alone; tradition asks for effort along with prayer.
Hanuman asked for nothing but to serve. One Chalisa read slowly, and one good turn done, make a full Jayanti.
Traditions vary. Follow your own family's way.