"Hanuman Jayanti'

  Today, April 8, 2020 is the Full Moon day ('pournima' of Chaitra masa, Sharvari samvatsara) celebrated as Hanuman Jayanti. Hanuman, also known as Anjaneya and Maruti, is said to be the son of Anjana Devi and Vayudeva mythologically, in the great epic Ramayana of Vedavyasa. Anjani is the Deity, God of Fire, Agni and Marut (Vayudeva) is the Deity of Air, Vayu is borne out of Akasha (Space) and, Agni (Fire) is borne out Air (vayu). In a way, these are akin to the gaseous forms of Oxygen and Hydrogen that go to make Water!
    Hanuman is associated with Sri Ram and already the nation has celebrated Ram Navami. We have tried to give a detailed account of Sri Ram as the Deity that King Dasharatha was performing in his Puja Room. This is moola Ramadevaru, the antecedents of which go back to the days of the birth of Sun, Earth and the Moon and the beginning of Life on earth! The Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavad-Gita give more details about these.

  Now, who is Hanuman associated with Sri Ram in the epic of Ramayana? As the story goes, Ram was a child when Shiva came in disguise with Anjaneya in the form of a monkey! The child Ram who was crying was brought to the balcony and was shon this monkey playing tricks! Ram wanted this monkey and asked for it. Shiva said, the monkey would come to him when he gets into trouble and disappeared! Whatever the story, Shiva appeared with Hanuman and introduced the vanara king well in advance to him!

  Hanuman, Anjaneya, Maruti, Vayuputra, Prana deva (the deity of Life-force), or whatever name you call, it is significant that Hanuman is associated with Sri Ram and Sita. Hanuman is the very life-force, the life-breath of all living beings, jivarashi. Hanuman is praised as the very embodiment of Intelligence (buddhi), strength (balam), success (yashas), courage (dhairyam), oratory (vak-patutvam), as also, the knower of all inner secrets. He, the deity of Life is also the bheshaja (Doctor), the Great healer! Hanuman is established within the hearts of all! "It is He who breathes in us and keeps the system running from birth to death!" In the scientific parlance, it may be called Oxygen (prana-vayu / life-breath), It is also Hydrogen that is the Fire from which the life-supporting Water emanates!
    Thus, the Deity Hanuman whom we worship today is none other than the 'Vayu jeevottama' as also, 'Hari sarvottama'! May He bestow us all good health and protect from afflictions of harmful germs and viruses!