Kids’ Org : Sankat Mochan

Pre-birth story of Hanuman

Once Angira rishi visited Indra in heaven. Indra welcomed him by arranging a dance by a damsel named Punjiksthala. As soon as she commenced dancing, the rishi closed his eyes to meditate on Paramatma. When the dance ended, the rishi remained silent. Indra then asked him, “O rishi! How was the dance?”
“I was absorbed in meditation of the Almighty. Such dance does not interest me.” Indra felt ashamed. However, the ego-filled damsel sneered, “How can such a fickle rishi not appreciate my dance?” Hearing this, Angira cursed her, “Behold! You shall degrade to earth from heaven. You will be born as a female monkey in the mountain forests.”
The whole of heaven plunged into consternation. The damsel greatly regretted and repented. She repeatedly begged for forgiveness. Finally, the merciful rishi solaced her, “A great devotee of Paramatma will be born to you. He will forever serve Paramatma.”
This damsel was the daughter of Kunjar, the king of the monkeys. She married Kapiraj Kesari of Mount Sumeru. She gave birth to Hanuman on the15th day of Shukla Paksha in month of Chaitra with the help of five divine factors such as curse and blessings of the saint Angira, her prayers, blessings of Lord Shiva, blessings of Vayu deva and Putreshti Yagna’s fruit. It is considered that Lord Shiva had to rebirth as a human being on the earth in his 11th Rudra avatar in the form of Hanuman as He could not serve to Sri Ram by being in His real form.
The whole vanar community and the human fraternity was happy and celebrated his birthday with great fervour and enthusiasm. From then on Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated by his devotees .Hanumanji obtained boons from Varuna Deva –the water deity and Yama – the deity of death, victory and immortality. From Brahma He obtained the power of inducing fear in enemies, of destroying fear in friends, to be able to change His form at will and to be able to easily travel to wherever He wished. From Mahadevji He obtained the boons of longevity, spiritual wisdom and ability to cross the ocean. Hanumanji attained a supremely formidable form. However as such, He began harassing rishis. Therefore Bhrugu rishi and Angira admonished Him that He would forget the ability to use His formidable power and only a divine personality will later guide Him to use it appropriately.
Henceforth Hanumanji lived an ordinary simian life in Kishkindha, on Mount Hrushyamuk as Sugriva's advisor. Only when Sri Ram and Lakshman arrived in search of Sita, did the two first meet. Thus His life turned a new course.

Some renowned Temples of Sri Hanuman

• Hanumangadhi temple is in Ayodhya
• Balaji Hanuman Temple, Mehendipur (Rajasthan)
• Salasar Hanuman Temple, Salasar (Rajasthan)
• Hanumandhara, Chitrakut
• Sankatmochan Temple, Banaras (Uttar Pradesh)
•  Shri Hanuman Temple, Jamnagar (Gujarat)
•  Mahavir Hanuman Temple, Patna (Bihar)
•  Hanuman Temple, Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)