Advertisement
Hello,
I am new here. I am somewhat familiar with Hinduism and Hindu deities, but not too much indepth terminology or practice. I am curious what offerings can be made to Hanuman, and how one would honor him, get his attention, or thank him in a traditional way. What does he like?
I am also curious as to some other things associated with him. When is his festival? His colors, etc.?
Thanks!
Badger
I am new here. I am somewhat familiar with Hinduism and Hindu deities, but not too much indepth terminology or practice. I am curious what offerings can be made to Hanuman, and how one would honor him, get his attention, or thank him in a traditional way. What does he like?
I am also curious as to some other things associated with him. When is his festival? His colors, etc.?
Thanks!
Badger
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: New Here/Offerings to Hanuman
Thu, June 22, 2006 - 10:17 PMHi Badger,
I'm not Hindu; what I do is bhakti yoga, or the yoga of devotion, and Hanuman is my personal deity. Tuesday is His special day. I have an altar to Him and on Tuesday I give him a banana and 11 flowers. I say the Hanuman Chalisa 11 times and give him one flower after each one. I also have a candle lit and incense burning. Sometimes I fast on Tuesday, except for the Hanuman prasad. Sometimes I made ladoos for Him on Tuesday; they're His favorite (and mine too!) Hanuman's birthday (Hanuman Jayanti) is in spring, the first full moon in March I believe.
Hanuman is easy to worship and easy to Love. Read the Ramayana if you want to know his story--you will fall in Love like I did. If you ask Him what He wants you to do, He will say "worship Ram". He likes bananas, ladoos, and other sweets. He likes everyone to chant Ram Ram Sitaram!
Hari Om!
-
-
Re: New Here/Offerings to Hanuman
Fri, June 23, 2006 - 4:22 PMThanks, Cynthia! I did some research online and know about his story and relationship to Rama. In the past, I've thought Hanuman was interesting, but never quite thought of him twice. I was more interested in Shiva/Shakti, rather than the Vishnu tradition. Recently, I was getting these images in my mind and found myself mysteriously drawn to Hanuman. After doing a bit of research I found a reference to him being an incarnation of Shiva! I had no idea previously. Right now, his presence makes complete sense to me personally.
Anyways, could you tell me a bit more about appropriate colors for him or specific types of flowers for him? I think I know what ladoos are, but not entirely sure. (A yogurt drink?) After leaving an offering, how long do you keep it there at the altar and what do you do with it afterwards? What particular flavors of sweets does he like? Is there an incense or oil appropriate to him? (Sandalwood?)
Sorry for all the questions, but I would like to do this correctly. Wondering how you have your altar set up? I will try to find the Chalisa online, but maybe it is already in one of the tribe posts here. I'll look...
PS- Hopefully others here can also let me know about other Hanuman associations.
Thanks,
Badger
-
-
Re: New Here/Offerings to Hanuman
Fri, June 23, 2006 - 4:24 PMBTW- What is the "Hanuman prasad"? -
-
Re: New Here/Offerings to Hanuman
Fri, June 23, 2006 - 10:03 PMBest Hanuman chalisa I have heard is by Krishna Das on his "Door Of Faith" CD. The cd also has the lyrics, or you can just download them from www.krishnadas.com . He also sings chalisa on his Live on Earth CD but i personally prefer the door of faith.
-
Re: New Here/Offerings to Hanuman
Sat, June 24, 2006 - 7:34 PMI'm not sure the reason, but it's a wonderful thing to see how active Hanuman energy is getting in the world right now. I think it has something to do with simplicity, boiling down all philosophies to just having a *heart* connection, not a *head* connection, with God/dess. To feel and know, inside, without a doubt, that God is Real.
Prasad, to my understanding, is food you have offered to the gods. When They're "done", you eat it and it is special and blessed.
It seems to me like your altar should have whatever things evoke Love for your chosen deity. A picture, statue, or symbol of some sort like a Shiva Lingam, food or flowers for offering. I like to offer Hanuman earth, air, fire, and water. That would be food or flowers for earth, incense for air, a candle for fire, and water for water (two little containers, pour water from one to the other).
Hanuman's colors are yellows, oranges, reds, browns. Ladoos are sweets made from ghee, chickpea flour, powdered sugar, and cardamom.
And yeah, play the Hanuman Chalisa, sung by somebody who Loves Hanuman, like Krishna Das or Jai Uttal.
Bolo Ram! -
-
Re: New Here/Offerings to Hanuman
Sun, June 25, 2006 - 9:12 AMThanks again to both of you!
-
-
-
-