Hanuman Jayanti: Time To Redefine Celibacy

Hanuman Jayanti is widely celebrated by Hindus across India. It is celebrated in the Chaitra month of Hindu calendar and on the day of Chaitra Purnima Vrat. Etymologically, Hanuman means a man with a disfigured jaw and Jayanti means Birthday. Hanuman is popularly known as an incarnation of Lord Shiva and embodiment of Lord Rama’s greatest devotee. Lord Hanuman is also known by names such as Bajrangbali, Pavanputra, Bal Brahmachari, Sankat Mochan etc. On Hanuman Jayanti, Hindu devotees celebrate the birth of this significant Hindu God.

How it is celebrated

On this day, devotees observe a day-long fast and conduct puja at home or at the temples of Lord Hanuman. During the puja, devotees apply sindoor on the forehead of the deity’s idol, recite Hanuman Chalisa, offer laddoos and perform aarti. This day is significant for bodybuilders and wrestlers. In some villages, Hanuman Jayanti is marked by organising wrestling competitions.

The legend behind the birth of Lord Hanuman

According to the myths and legends, Lord Hanuman was born to Monkey King and Queen Lord Kesari and Anjana. Once, Sage Druvasa was invited by Lord Indra to attend a meeting in heaven. He was welcomed by a dance performance of a celestial nymph Punjiksthali. However, the sage wasn’t interested in dance and found Punjiksthali’s performance an interruption in his meditation and meeting. Agitated, the sage asked her to stop dancing but Punjiksthali ignored his command and continued to dance. This enraged Sage Druvasa so much that he cursed the nymph saying, "You have been acting like a monkey, hopping from here to there just like a mischievous monkey; better become one yourself.”

Afraid of being cursed, Punjiksthali apologised and pleaded the sage to take back his curse. But the sage who couldn’t cancel the curse totally modified it in a way that it became a boon for her. The sage said that even though Punjiksthali will take birth as a monkey on earth, she will be the wife of a Lord and a mother of a heavenly figure and devotee of Lord Rama.

Consequently, Punjiksthali was reborn as Anjana to Monkey Lord Viraj, married Monkey Lord Kesari and became a mother to Lord Hanuman.

Another significant legend that backs the importance of Hanuman Jayanti is an episode from Ramayana. It is believed that once Hanuman saw Sita applying Sindoor and asked her its significance. When Sita said that applying sindoor ensured long life of Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman coloured his entire body in sindoor. That is why devotees apply sindoor on the forehead of Lord Hanuman while worshipping him.

Watching from the feminist lens

Hanuman Jayanti should also remind us of the fact that many people still do not allow women to worship Lord Hanuman. The reason behind this is his celibacy (Bal Brahmachari) which is interpreted as staying away from women. But a question that has always irked me is that why singlehood or celibacy among men must mean staying away from women? How can touching or being around women infringe a vow that a man has so diligently devoted himself to?

Hanuman Jayanti: Does it not raise a question on the devotion of men rather than the purity of women?

This distance is especially problematic because women are considered as cursed, impure, sexual beings who are blamed for distracting Brahmans, Lords or intellectuals. Our scriptures have rendered women’s existence and menstruation as a curse on humanity and these beliefs are further legitimised by men who idealise Hanuman’s celibacy. But does Lord Hanuman’s celibacy dictate hatred for women? No. He worshipped Sita, offered to carry her on his back and even had a child (the mother although is unknown). So let us unlearn these regressive idealogies and strive towards a better definition of humanity, society and religion.

This year, Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Find the dates and days of all the Hindu festivals and vrats here.

Picture Credit: Anshu A on Unsplash. Views expressed are the author's own.