Hanuman Chalisa Introduction - Part four Special days for the worship of Hanuman

                Hanuman Chalisa    Introduction - Part four



           Special days for the worship of Hanuman.

In fact , all days are good for the worship of all deities. Hindus worship many gods. And these gods are different names representing different powers and aspects of the same Supreme. So different week days are allotted to deities and the Hindus find satisfaction  and joy in concentrating , worshipping and offering different kinds of things favourite to the gods known as ' prasada ' to them.

Tuesday is the day associated with Hanuman in north India. However , in Maharashtra and some other parts Saturday is also a special day for the worship of Hanuman in temples.

It is believed that Tuesday is the day when Lord Rama  ( and perhaps Hanuman too ) was born. It is also said  that it was a tuesday when Hanuman went and told Sita in the Ashokavana about Rama's victory over Ravana. She was so overwhelmed at the news that she blessed Hanuman that whoever worshipped Hanuman on Tuesday, his wishes would be fulfilled.

Tuesday is known as Mangalavara. Mangal means auspicious. Hanuman is quoted as Mangala Murati in Hanuman Chalisa. He is of the auspicious form because he did good deeds to all and does good to his devotees.

The most probable explanation could be thus. Mars ( Mangal ) is the planet that presides over this auspicious day ( Mangala vara ). Saturn is the presiding deity of Saturday. Saturn and Mars are associated with hardships and are known to disrupt human life with their influence. So Mars and Saturn are the most dreaded ones by the Hindus. Since Hanuman liberated Mars and Saturn ( in fact all the planets ) from the clutches of Ravana who had put them into captivity in order to havecontrol over them, Mars and Saturn do not harm the devotees of Hanuman.

Hanuman and Saturn -  The worship of Hanuman Lord Hanuman is a panacea for the harsh effecets of the unfavourable presence as well to please the Lord Shani. In the Ramayana, Hanuman is said to have rescued Shani from the clutches of Ravana and in gratitude, Shani promised Hanuman that any one who prayed to him ( Hanuman ) especially on Saturdays, would be relieved from the malefic effects of Saturn, or at the least, the effects would be softened.

Another version of the encounter between Lord  Hanuman and Shani is that once Shani climbed on to Hanuman' head implying that Shani's influence was beginning on Hanuman. Hanuman was doing some work for Rama. He started putting boulders and hills on his head, and Shani was caught painfully between Hanuman's head and the heavy boulders and hills. As the pain was unbearable, Shani requested Hanuman to release him, promising in return that if a person prayed to Hanuman, he ( Saturn ) would have no malefic influence or moderate the malefic influence on that person. Following this, Hanuman released Shani. It is also believed that devotees offer sesame oil to Lord Saturn on Saturdays to relieve him of the pain he suffered.

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