Hanuman stands for strength used in service. In the Ramayana he crosses the ocean, finds Sita and carries the mountain of herbs, yet he never claims credit and always says it was Rama's grace. Devotees pray to him for courage, focus, good health and freedom from fear.
He is also known as Sankat Mochan, the remover of difficulties, and is believed to be ever-living (chiranjeevi), present wherever the name of Rama is sung. This is why reading the Ramayana or singing Rama's name is considered the simplest way to please him.
Many traditions hold that Hanuman was born around sunrise, so in North India temples begin celebrations in the early morning. The Pratah Kaal (morning) puja and the Abhijit Muhurat shown above are good windows for the main worship.
Anjana, a celestial being who had been born on earth because of a curse, prayed for a son along with her husband Kesari, a chief of the vanaras. Through the blessing of Vayu, the Wind God, she gave birth to Hanuman, who is therefore also called Pavanputra and Maruti, son of the wind.
As a hungry infant, Hanuman saw the rising sun and, thinking it was a ripe fruit, leapt into the sky to catch it. Indra, alarmed, struck him with his thunderbolt on the jaw (hanu), and the child fell to earth. Grieving Vayu withdrew all air from the world until the gods revived the child and each granted him boons of strength, wisdom and protection. The name Hanuman is traditionally linked to this injured jaw.
