हनुमान पूजा

When & why

The worship of Hanuman — the devotee of Rama, and the embodiment of strength, courage, and protection. It is kept especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and most of all on Hanuman Jayanti, which most of north India observes on the Chaitra Purnima (with regional dates elsewhere). Hanuman is worshipped for strength and courage, the removal of fear, protection from harm, and relief from the difficulties attributed to Mars and Saturn. The recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa and the Sundarkand is central to his worship.

Samagri checklist

Sankalpa

Before the puja

• शुद्धिPurification

  Bathe and wear clean clothes. Sit on an āsana facing east or north, with the puja space wiped clean. Sprinkle a little water over the samagri and over yourself, do ācamana (sip water three times), and steady the breath before beginning.

• संकल्पSankalpa

  Take a little akshat and water in the right palm and silently make the Sankalpa — the dedication of the puja: your gotra and name, the place, today's tithi and nakshatra, and the intention for which the puja is performed. Release the water at the close of the dedication.

• गणेश-स्मरणGanesh Smarana

  Invoke Shri Ganesha first, with akshat, durva, and a flower, so the puja proceeds without obstacle. A remembrance of Rama and Sita is also offered, since Hanuman is ever in their service.

The sixteen upacharas

1. 1

   Step 1

   ध्यान · आवाहनMeditation & Invocation

   Meditate on Hanuman — strong-bodied and vermilion-hued, the mace in hand, the mountain borne aloft, ever absorbed in the name of Rama — and invoke his presence into the image.

2. 2

   Step 2

   आसनSeat

   Offer a seat — symbolically, a few akshat (unbroken rice grains) or flowers placed before the image, requesting the deity to be seated.

3. 3

   Step 3

   पाद्यWater for the feet

   Offer pādya — a few drops of clean water at the feet of the image, as water to wash the feet of an honoured guest.

4. 4

   Step 4

   अर्घ्यArghya

   Offer arghya — water mixed with akshat and a flower, poured from a small vessel or conch as a respectful offering for the hands.

5. 5

   Step 5

   आचमनWater to sip

   Offer ācamanīya — a small spoonful of clean water, as water for the deity to sip.

6. 6

   Step 6

   मधुपर्कHoney-curd-ghee

   Offer madhuparka — a small portion of honey, curd, and ghee mixed together, the traditional sweet welcome for a revered guest.

7. 7

   Step 7

   स्नानBathing

   Bathe the image with clean water, and with panchamrita for an extended puja, drying it gently before the offerings.

8. 8

   Step 8

   वस्त्रVesture

   Offer fresh cloth — a small clean piece of cotton or cloth placed at the base of the image.

9. 9

   Step 9

   यज्ञोपवीतSacred thread

   Offer a fresh sacred thread (yajñopavīta), placed across the shoulder of the image — customarily offered to male deities.

10. 10

    Step 10

    गन्धSandalwood paste

    In place of sandalwood, apply sindoor mixed with chameli (jasmine) oil to the image — the offering most particular to Hanuman. Tradition tells that Hanuman, learning that Sita applied sindoor for Rama's long life, covered his own body with it in devotion.

11. 11

    Step 11

    पुष्प · अर्चनाFlowers & Name-archana

    Offer red flowers and a garland of red flowers, one at a time, while reciting the name-mantra of Hanuman.

    Mantra

    ॐ हं हनुमते नमः

    oṁ haṁ hanumate namaḥ

    Om — with the seed-syllable haṁ, salutations to Hanuman.

    Transliteration is under scholarly review — treat as provisional.

12. 12

    Step 12

    धूपIncense

    Light incense (dhūpa or an agarbatti) and offer it, circling it gently before the image.

13. 13

    Step 13

    दीपLamp

    Light a ghee or oil lamp and offer it before the image, then set it to the right.

14. 14

    Step 14

    नैवेद्यFood offering

    Offer naivedya — boondi laddu, gud-chana (jaggery and gram), and banana — placed on a clean dish.

15. 15

    Step 15

    ताम्बूलBetel & areca

    Offer tāmbūla — betel leaves with a piece of areca nut, a clove, and a cardamom.

16. 16

    Step 16

    नीराजन · आरतीCamphor Aarti

    Conclude the worship with the aarti — light camphor, circle it clockwise before the image, and sing the deity's aarti. The puja proper ends here; what follows is the closing.

Closing the puja

• चालीसा · सुंदरकांड पाठChalisa & Sundarkand Recitation

  Recite the Hanuman Chalisa — the forty-verse hymn of Tulsidas — and, where time allows, the Sundarkand, the canto of the Ramcharitmanas that recounts Hanuman's leap to Lanka and the finding of Sita. This recitation is held the heart of Hanuman worship.

• प्रदक्षिणाPradakshina

  Circumambulate the image clockwise three times, holding a flower — or, if the image is large and fixed, turn yourself clockwise in place. Then bow.

  Mantra

  यानि कानि च पापानि जन्मान्तरकृतानि च । तानि तानि विनश्यन्तु प्रदक्षिणपदे पदे ॥

  yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāntara-kṛtāni ca | tāni tāni vinaśyantu pradakṣiṇa-pade pade ||

  Whatever sins have been committed, in this birth or in former births — may they all be destroyed, step by step, with every circumambulation.

  Transliteration is under scholarly review — treat as provisional.

• क्षमा-प्रार्थनाKshama-prarthana

  Bow with folded hands and offer the Kshama-prarthana — a request that the deity forgive any shortfall of mantra, of rite, or of devotion during the puja, and accept it as complete.

  Mantra

  मन्त्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं सुरेश्वर । यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे ॥

  mantrahīnaṁ kriyāhīnaṁ bhaktihīnaṁ sureśvara | yat pūjitaṁ mayā deva paripūrṇaṁ tad astu me ||

  O Lord of the gods — whatever I have worshipped here lacking in mantra, lacking in proper rite, lacking in devotion — let it, O Lord, become complete by your grace.

  Transliteration is under scholarly review — treat as provisional.

Read within the puja

After the puja

• Hanuman Aarti
• Hanuman Chalisa
• Jaap — Om Ham Hanumate Namah
• Tuesday worship

Regional & family variants

• Tuesday and Saturday

  Hanuman is worshipped on both Tuesday and Saturday. Tuesday (Mangalvar) is his principal day; Saturday worship is kept especially for relief from the difficulties attributed to Saturn, since Hanuman is held to shield his devotees from them.

• Hanuman Jayanti — regional dates

  Most of north India observes Hanuman Jayanti on the Chaitra Purnima. The Telugu states keep it in Vaishakha, Karnataka in Margashirsha or Vaishakha, and Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the month of Dhanu — so the date depends on region.

Sources