Sri Raama Navami wishes!

On this auspicious day, the birthday of the Purushottama SriRaama, here are two interesting anecdotes related to Him, one of them which happened even before His birth!

Dasaratha kills Shravana:
Once, the childless king Dasaratha goes to a forest to hunt, and uses his Shabdavedi, a weapon that strikes the destination based on the sound emitted by the object to be attacked. He launches this after listening to what sounded like an animal drinking water. Unfortunately, it was a young boy who was collecting water in his pot for his aged blind parents, who became the victim of the weapon. Dasaratha is then shocked to see that he has killed the only son of helpless parents, who curse him that he would also suffer separation from his son, just like they had been deprived of theirs.
While Dasaratha was profoundly grief-struck by the incident, he also felt immensely happy that he had been "cursed". Since he had no children, he was satisfied that for the curse to be fulfilled, a son would first be born to him!Later, he got not one but four illustrious sons. Of course, the first one is the Hero Sri Raama!

Raama Sethu Bridge:
The building of the Sethu bridge to Lanka is very well known to all (except for those who don't want to know for some reasons :-)).
It is said that the Vaanara Sena built the bridge by throwing stones with Raama's name inscribed on them, and these floated to form the bridge.However, SriRaama Himself did the same-He picked a small stone and threw it into the sea, only to find that it sank immediately. Why?
Hanuman asks Raama, "They took your name and the stones are floating, whose name will you take?"
The stones used for the Lord became the bridge and the stone which the Lord discarded was useless!!!
Jai Sri Raam!

More on Hanuman and His VIP status!

We would have seen Anjaneya in temples, decorated with Kumkum or Chendooram. (Chendooram is similar to Kumkum but it's saffron in colour instead of red. )

There is a fascinating legend behind this.

Once, Anjaneya sees Sita Devi applying Kumkum on her forehead, as is the custom among Indian ladies. He asks Her the reason for this. Sita replies, "I apply this Kumkum on my forehead so that my husband SriRam lives a long life". Hanuman thinks that if such a small amount of Kumkum can increase beloved Ram's life, then applying kumkum all over the body would make Him live for many, many years. He thus comes to the court of Ram, red in colour, with Kumkum smeared all over His body!

Seeing Him in such a funny form, the people in the court start laughing at Him. Then, SriRam asks Him for an explanation for this act. Maruti explains the reason, and Rama is speechless after seeing this innocent show of Bhakti by Hanuman. He then blesses Hanuman and proclaims that Hanuman must be worshipped with Kumkum. What a privilege-The one whom He worships instructs the world how to worship Him!

That's why you'll find Anjaneya with bright red kumkum in temples. Kumkum is also given as Prasadam in Hanuman temples.

Shown in the picture above is the Chendooram Alangaram in the Ashtamsa Varadha Anjaneyar temple, Peelamedu - Opp.Esso Bunk Coimbatore- 641 004.

Thanks to http://www.avaalankarams.blogspot.com/.

Worshipping Lord Hanuman is an excellent pariharam for all problems.

Yesterday being Hanuman Jayanti, Hanuman/Rama temples would have been full of devotees.

Let's know some interesting facets of Hanuman:

He is truly a VIP deity-Devotees first pray to Him when they visit Rama temples! Hanuman, the loyal friend of Sri Rama is an Avatara of Lord Rudra-and His power to destroy enemies is well known. Not surprisingly, traditional Indian wrestlers invoke Him (Jai Bajrang Bali) before fighting!

Those who pray to Him get relief from the malefic effects of Shani (The other deity who gives us this protection is Ayyapan), and I have been to a Hanuman temple in Cochin where Poojas are done by the faithful for this. Also known as Anjaneya(the son of Anjana), He is a Chiranjeevi(immortal) and has a very special distinction among all deities-He is present in both the Maha Itihaasas, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. Notice the Ratha (chariot) of Arjuna driven by Parthasarathy, you'll find the flag of Hanuman flying high, on top of the chariot.

Hanuman is found in many forms-a peaceful one with hands folded and tail resting on the ground, as the humble devotee of SriRam, a courageous one ready for battle and with the tail upright, etc.One interesting form is the PanchaMukha Anjaneya, with 5 faces, which are for Hanuman, Hayagriva, Garuda, Varaaha and Narasimha.I have seen one temple with Him in this form-this is found 2 km before Marudhamalai in Coimbatore, and is a very good spectacle.