April 15, 2014: This year's Hanuman Jayanti, being celebrated today, April 15, is considered very auspicious by lakhs of devotees of lord Hanuman in Jaipur as it falls on Tuesday. Hanuman's devotees and worshippers have stated thronging various Hanuman temples dotting the city right from the wee hours.

Devotees are offering of sesame oil, urad and vermilion to idols of Hanuman to celebrate his birth. Also, devotees are offering fruit, especially bananas, and sweet boondi to Hanuman as well distributing them among the visitors to the temple.

Devotees started queuing up at the ancient and most famous Hanuman temple, Khole Ke Hanumanji, located on Delhi-Jaipur highway, to be the part of the first pooja and special rituals in honour deity's birth. Hanuman, as a benevolent Hindu deity, is seen as an ardent devotee of Lord Rama.

In Focus

He is a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and also finds mentions in Mahabharata, Puranas and some Jain texts. Several Hindu texts also present him as an incarnation of Lord Shiva and son of Vayu Devta or Wind God.

Another famous Hanuman temple in Rajasthan is Salasar Balaji that is located in the town of Salasar Sujangarh in Churu district. The temple attracts a large number of worshippers throughout the year. However, on Chaitra Purnima and Ashvin Purnima large fairs are organized which millions of devotees visit as they pay homage to the deity.

Lord Hanuman is has been given many epithets for his worthwhile qualities. In Rajasthan, many children are named as Hanuman and Hanumant to live up to the values and qualities he stood for. 

Moreover, Hanuman is the only deity who is worshiped all over Rajasthan in the event of trouble by evil spirits. It is also widely believed that Hanuman is one of the few deities not afflicted by Shani and a large number of people worship Hanuman to get rid of bad effects of Shani.

Here is my acrostic on HANUMAN to describe his qualities.

H: Has incomparable strength or Atulita Bala Dhaamam

A: Agile and swift in mind or Manojavam

N: Noble soul and repository of all the human virtues and good qualities or Sakala Guna Nidhaanam

U: Utmost control over senses or Jitendriyam

M: Moves with the speed of wind or Maarutatulyavegam

A: Attained knowledge of Vedas and foremost among knowledgeable or Gyaaninaam Agraganyam

N: Normative liberator from dangers or Sankata Mochana