Living in simplicity

A NINE-DAY festival marking the birth of two Hindu gods culminates with celebrations at a Southampton temple this weekend. The congregation of the Vedic Hindu Society Temple will be gathering in Northam to begin their celebration of the birth of the god Rama and of the goddess Durga.

Members of the community began reading scriptures – the Ramayana – yesterday from noon to honour and remember his life. At noon today, the congregation will file past an idol representing Rama which is put in a cradle and gently rocked by people as a symbol of worship. Ritesh Bhatt, priest at the Radcliife Road centre, said Rama’s story reminds Hindus today to respect their parents.

“Rama is living in simplicity. He was going to be king but his parents ordered him to go into exile into the forest for 14 years. It was his parents’ demand and his story serves to remind us to honour and respect your parents,” he said. As part of the nine-day festival to honour the birth of Durga, the Hindu diet is restricted but it is due to end tomorrow at sunrise.

It is coincidental that the celebration of both gods is held at the same time. The Vedic Society congregation will be celebrating Durga with dancing in October too.

Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara god, widely venerated throughout India. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the Shukla Paksha, during the month of Chaitra.

Hanuman Jayanti is an important festival of Hindus. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy.From early morning, devotees flock Hanuman temples to worship him. The devotees visit temples and apply tilaka of sindhūr to their foreheads from Hanuman's idol as Hanuman himself was of that color.

In India Lord Hanuman is worshiped for every reason, may it be to gain wealth, health or wisdom, may it be to gain success in business or foreign trips, may it be to dominate the enemies or to win almost-lost court cases, may it be the reason to get rid of BHOOT-PRET BADHA, the fear of Ghosts and devils. Lord Hanuman in known as the “SANKAT MOCHAN”, the one who can save the native from all and any kind hurdles and obstructions of the life.

In Ramayana it is mentioned that Hanuman saved the nine planets during the war from the clutches of King Raavana. And as a favor for saving them, the planets blessed Lord Hanuman by saying that any malefic effects of the 9 planets can be averted by praying to Lord Hanuman alone.

In Maharashtra, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day (pūrnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra.A special feature of Hanuman Jayanti is that according to some religious almanacs (panchāngs) the birthday of Hanuman falls on the fourteenth day (chaturdashi) in the dark fortnight of the month of Ashvin while according to others it falls on the full moon day in the bright fortnight of Chaitra.

On this day, in a Hanuman temple spiritual discourses are started at dawn. Hanuman was born at sunrise. At that time the spiritual discourse is stopped and the offering of food (Prasad) is distributed to everyone.