This is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Hanuman. Lord Hanuman was born on Chaitra-paurnima, the full moon day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Chaitra. On this day, the Hanuman principle (Hanuman tattva) is more active than on any other day of the year.

    Lord Hanuman's mother, Anjani had observed penance like the queens of king Dasharath (father of Lord Rama) and had received payas (rice boiled in milk with sugar, distributed as sacrament from sacrificial fires or yadnya prasad). It was through the blessing of this holy sacrament that the queens conceived. Hence, Lord Hanuman is also considered as a brother of Lord Rama.

    Omnipotence: Lord Hanuman is the only deity that cannot be troubled by negative energies. He was born of the absolute air element (vayutattva). The well-known story that the baby Hanuman leaped to devour the sun at birth, implies that the absolute air element (signified by Lord Hanuman in the story) is subtler and therefore, more powerful than the absolute fire element (tejtattva) (signified by the sun in the story).

    Supreme devotion (bhakti): Hanuman's devotion and service unto Lord Rama is the best example of devotion of a servitor (dasyabhakti) unto The Lord. He was ever ready to sacrifice even His life for the sake of His Lord. Before the service of His Lord even the attainment of Liberation (Moksha) was worthless to Him. Hanuman is an ideal combination of a servitor and a warrior!

1. Statue of Lord Hanuman facing the south (Dakshinamukhi Maruti): South refers to the direction south or the right side (Refer the above picture). Since the sun channel (surya nadi) is active in the right-facing Hanuman, His statue has more manifest energy. This form of Hanuman is worshipped to overcome any problems due to negative energy*. Statue of Lord Hanuman facing the north (Vamamukhi Maruti): North refers to the direction north or the left side. Since the moon channel (chandra nadi) is active in the left-facing Hanuman, His statue has less manifest energy. This form of Hanuman is worshipped to make spiritual progress.
   
2. Statue of Lord Hanuman as the Servitor (Dasmaruti) has Him standing before Lord Rama in obeisance. This statue emanates subtle vibrations of spiritual emotion (bhav). His statue as the courageous One (Viramaruti) shows Him ready for battle. This statue emanates the more gross, positive energy and hence, is worshipped to overcome problems of negative energy, such as possession, black magic, etc.

    Objectives: Since the manifest energy in Lord Hanuman (70%) is much more in comparison to that in other deities (10%), He is worshipped in the context of energy as follows.

1. To overcome distressing energy: To overcome problems due to evil spirits, black magic, departed ancestors' subtle bodies, influence of the planet Saturn (Shani), etc.
   
2. To control pleasant energy: To overcome any obstacle in the pathway of the activated spiritual energy system (kundalini) and to channelize it appropriately, so that the seeker can continue his spiritual practice smoothly.

	In Maharashtra (a state in India) Saturday is considered as an auspicious day for Lord Hanuman's worship. In the rest of India, both Saturday and Tuesday are considered as auspicious days for His worship.
	On these days, vermilion and oil are offered unto Him. Vermilion and oil have the ability to attract the subtle pure particles (pavitrakas) of Lord Hanuman. Choosing the substances offered in the worship according to the science of Spirituality helps charge the image with subtle particles (pavitrakas) of that deity. Worshipping a spiritually charged image of a deity is obviously more beneficial in activating faith and spiritual emotion in the devotee.
	In some places coconuts are broken in front of Lord Hanuman’s image, as offering. Breaking of a coconut signifies the ’shattering’ of one’s (’hard’ to overcome) ego and intellect at The Lord’s Feet.
	Lord Hanuman’s worship yields protection from negative energies. Therefore on the days of His worship, especially people affected by negative energy worship Him by offering oil and vermilion. When one offers oil thus, one expels some negative energy that may be within one. Some oil vendors collect this used oil that may be charged with negative energies. To prevent being affected by negative energies from oil used thus, one should carry fresh, unused oil from home for ritualistic worship at Lord Hanuman’s temple.

   On this day, spiritual discourses are started before dawn in Hanuman temples everywhere. The spiritual discourse is ended at sunrise and holy sacrament (prasad used during Lord Hanuman’s ritualistic worship) is distributed at the time, since Lord Hanuman was born at sunrise.

* Refer to the Weekly Online Issue 109, Practical Guidance and Clarification of Doubts sections and Issue 124, Message to Seekers section for details on overcoming negative energies.