આ પોસ્ટનું ગુજરાતી ભાષાંતર કરવામાં આવ્યું નથી.
On New Year’s Day, Temple Shree Ramji Mandhata held its annual Shri Hanuman Chalisa Recitation to mark the beginning of the year. The temple was full despite the cold weather and freshly fallen snow, which made the journey a little more challenging.
The recitation began at 9:00 a.m. and continued until the hymn had been recited 51 times, concluding around 12:00 p.m.
What is the Shri Hanuman Chalisa?
The Hanuman Chalisa is a hymn in praise of Hanuman.
Hanuman is a deity in Hinduism and celebrated as the embodiment of wisdom, strength, courage, devotion, and self-discipline. [1] He is a devotee and companion of Lord Rama and his exploits are described in the Ramayana.
One of the most well-known stories recounts how Hanuman carried an entire mountain to the battlefield to save Lakshmana’s life when he was gravely wounded because he was unsure which life-saving herb was needed. Our idol of Hanuman at the temple depicts this moment.
The Hanuman Chalisa was written in the 16th-century by the poet Tulsidas [2]. The word “Chalisa” means “forty” in Hindi, referring to the hymn’s structure:
- Two introductory couplets at the beginning ( “dohas”)
- 40 quatrains (“chaupais”, hence the “chalisa”)
- A concluding couplet (“doha”)
You can find the Hanuman Chalisa in Gujarati and with English pronunciation here. A really great translation to English can be found here.
The recitation is a great way to begin the New Year. Throughout the Hanuman Chalisa, Hanuman is described as the remover of obstacles, the dispeller of fear, and the guardian of those who take refuge in him. By reciting the Chalisa, we seek clarity of mind and courage to act in the year ahead.
Happy New Year from Temple Shree Ramji Mandhata!
Author: V. T. Patel
References
[1] Hanuman – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman
[2] Hanuman Chalisa – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman_Chalisa