Hanuman

हनुमान

Rama's tireless devotee, the wind's son whose strength serves love

Hanuman is the tireless devotee of Rama. He is a vanara, a forest-dwelling monkey-being, of the Ramayana, born to Anjana and Kesari and held by devotees to be the spiritual son of the wind-god Vayu. Born with strength enough to leap oceans, he put every gift to Rama's service. He found Sita in Lanka, and when one healing herb could not be identified, he carried a whole mountain. Devotees believe he is a chiranjivi, an immortal.

People turn to him for courage, steadiness, humility and the removal of troubles. Many recite the Hanuman Chalisa, Tulsidas's 16th-century hymn in Awadhi. He is honoured in temples across India and the diaspora, with sindoor and marigold garlands, and at Hanuman Jayanti, which is kept on different dates in different regions.

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The story behind the line on the shirts

“Brought the whole mountain.”

It's from the Ramayana. Rama's brother Lakshmana lay gravely wounded in battle, and the herbs that could save him grew on a far-off mountain. Hanuman flew there but couldn't tell which plants were the right ones, so he lifted the whole mountain and carried it back. Devotees love it as the picture of devotion that does whatever it takes.

How to recognise Hanuman

Orange-red bodyLook for a body of orange to vermilion-red, the colour of sindoor, recalling the story that Hanuman smeared himself with it after Sita said it brought Rama long life.
Vanara faceThe face is a reverent monkey face, often half-monkey and half-human, calm, noble and devout.
Joined palmsKneeling or standing humbly with palms joined at the chest in anjali mudra shows his devotion to Rama.
The gada (mace)A heavy round-headed mace on a straight shaft, resting against his shoulder or standing beside him, signals strength used in service of dharma.
Raised tailA long tail rises or curls up behind him, in one bronze behind the left shoulder.
Loincloth and crownHe is bare-chested and muscular, wearing a loincloth or dhoti that reflects his ascetic nature, often with a simple tapering gold crown, jewellery and marigold garlands.
Place beside RamaBeside Rama he is traditionally placed on the right and shown at about half Rama's height, marking his role as devotee.

Names and titles

Son of the WindVayuputra or Pavanputra, honouring his father Vayu, the wind-god
Anjaneya, Son of AnjanaA name from his mother Anjana, used across South India
Sankat MochanRemover of troubles; the name of his famous temple in Varanasi
Carrier of the MountainHe carried the whole Dronagiri mountain of healing herbs to save Lakshmana
Painted in Sindoor for RamaHe covered his body in sindoor so that Rama would have a long life

Feast days

Hanuman Jayanti7 November 2026

Hanuman Jayanti kept on the dark-fortnight Chaturdashi before Diwali, also known as Kali Chaudas or Naraka Chaturdashi. Devotees at Hanumangarhi in Ayodhya and in Gujarat honour Hanuman's birth on this day. It is the same celebration as the other Chaturdashi-before-Diwali entry in this set.
How it's celebrated. At Hanumangarhi, the hilltop Hanuman temple in Ayodhya, devotees mark the day as his birthday. In Gujarat it is observed as Hanuman Puja, with special prayers and recitations of Hanuman texts. Some almanacs give Hanuman's birthday as this Chaturdashi, while most of north India keeps Chaitra Purnima instead.
Sources: Wikipedia: Hanuman Jayanti · mPanchang: Hanuman Puja during Diwali · Wikipedia: Hanuman Garhi Temple
Hanuman Vratam22 December 2026

Hanuman Vratam, the Kannada form of Hanuman Jayanti, is kept on the bright-fortnight Trayodashi of Margashirsha. It is the same celebration as the other Karnataka Margashirsha entry in this set.
How it's celebrated. Devotees in Karnataka fast and offer prayers to Hanuman. In the home rite described by one devotional source, Ganesha is worshipped first, a water-filled kalasha is placed before Hanuman's image, and lamps and incense are lit. Some Kannada traditions treat it as a vrata distinct from his birthday.
Sources: Drik Panchang: Kannada Hanuman Jayanti · Pranadevaru: Hanumadvratham · Wikipedia: Hanuman Jayanti
Hanumath Jayanthi7 January 2027

Hanumath Jayanthi is the Tamil and Malayali observance of Hanuman's birth, on the new-moon day (Amavasya) of Margazhi, usually with the Moolam star. It is the same celebration as the other Tamil Nadu and Kerala Margazhi entry in this set.
How it's celebrated. Temples hold abhishekam before dawn and devotees chant, sing bhajans and recite the Sundara Kandam. At Namakkal the large Hanuman image is garlanded with 100,008 vadas. Nanganallur and Suchindram are noted in Tamil Nadu, and Thrikkaviyoor and Alathiyoor in Kerala. Some devotees keep the Moolam star day instead.
Sources: Organiser: Tamil Nadu Hanuman Jayanti · Wikipedia: Hanuman Jayanti · Culture and Heritage: Hanuman Jayanti in Tamil Nadu
Pana Sankranti Hanuman Jayanti14 April 2027 (date to be confirmed)

In Odisha, Hanuman Jayanti is kept on Pana Sankranti (Maha Bishuba Sankranti), the Odia New Year, when the sun enters Aries. It follows the solar calendar rather than the lunar Chaitra Purnima.
How it's celebrated. At the Jagannath temple in Puri, Hanuman is brought to the Ratna Simhasan to receive the Agyanmala garland, then carried in a palanquin to the Jagannatha Vallabha Matha. Akhadas in Puri mark his birth, and Pana and Chhatua are offered. Some scholars note that Chaitra Purnima is also valid.
Sources: Odisha TV: Odia New Year at Puri Srimandir · Odisha Bytes: Hanuman Jayanti in Odisha · Wikipedia: Hanuman Jayanti
Telugu Hanuman Jayanthi31 May 2027

Telugu Hanuman Jayanthi falls on Krishna Paksha Dashami in Vaishakha, ending a 41-day Hanuman deeksha begun on Chaitra Purnima. Devotees in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana follow a reckoning of his birth recorded in the Parasara Samhita.
How it's celebrated. Deeksha devotees wear saffron, tie a Hanuman mala, eat simply and chant daily. They conclude the vow at Hanuman temples, with Kondagattu, Kasapuram and Maddi Anjaneya Swamy in West Godavari named as well-known places. Offerings include sindoor, jasmine, betel leaves and laddus. Sundara Kanda and the Chalisa are recited.
Sources: Hindupad: Hanuman Deeksha Viramana · NewsBytes: Telugu Hanuman Jayanti · Wikipedia: Kondagattu Anjaneya Swamy Temple