Hanuman Puja

Significance and when it is done

Hanuman Puja (हनुमान पूजा), also called Hanumatpujan (हनुमत्पूजनम्), belongs to the category of devotional pujas, paths and homas. It is offered to Hanuman, and its stated purpose is for courage and protection from fear and from Shani. Because of this, the puja is commonly arranged on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days traditionally associated with Hanuman and with Shani. Families often plan it at a time when they feel the need for steadiness and support, rather than for any specific promised result.

The puja is devotional in character. It is not a havan, and no fire ritual is part of it. A typical duration is about 45 minutes, though this can vary with the tradition followed and with how much of the vidhi is included. For readers who wish to understand how this puja fits their own situation, it is best to consult a qualified jyotishi rather than to read a general page as a personal reading.

Who performs it and who should attend

A pandit performs the puja, and family members usually attend and join in the parts meant for them. There is no fixed rule about who must be present; households differ. In many homes, the elders of the family sit closest to the place of worship, and others join for the aarti and the prasad. Children are generally welcome.

The puja can also be done online. In that case, many pandits perform it by video call while a family member does the physical steps at home. This arrangement is now fairly common, and it keeps the family involved in the ritual even when the pandit is not physically present. The pandit's fee, or dakshina, is set by each pandit individually, and samagri and travel are usually separate.

Vidhi step by step (outline)

The exact sequence differs from region to region and from family to family, so the outline below is a general one. A pandit may add or shorten portions according to the tradition he follows.

• Sankalp: the family states the intention of the puja, with names and gotra where that is customary.
• Ganesh smaran and punyahavachanam: a brief invocation and purification at the start.
• Kalash sthapana: the kalash is set up with water, and Ganga jal is used where available.
• Dhyana and avahana of Hanuman: the deity is invoked and welcomed.
• Asana and padya: offerings of a seat, water for the feet, and the usual upacharas.
• Snana and vastra: bathing, followed by the offering of the red chola.
• Chandan, sindoor and chameli oil: applied in the manner the family's tradition follows.
• Pushpa and mala: flowers and garland are offered.
• Naivedya: fruits and sweets, commonly boondi laddoo, are offered.
• Dhoop, deepa and camphor aarti: incense, the diya and camphor aarti.
• Stotra path: recitation of Hanuman stotras as per the pandit's tradition.
• Pradakshina, namaskar and kshama prarthana: closing with forgiveness for any lapse.

Preparing the samagri and the space

The samagri list is given on this page in full. It includes roli (kumkum), haldi, akshat (unbroken rice), moli (sacred thread), supari, paan leaves, coconut, ghee, diya and cotton wicks, camphor, incense sticks, flowers and garland, fruits, sweets for naivedya, Ganga jal, kalash, sindoor and chameli oil, red chola, boondi laddoo and Tulsi.

It helps to keep everything in one place before the pandit arrives, so the puja is not interrupted. A clean space, a stable surface for the kalash and the diya, and a clear area for seating are enough. Families often set out the prasad separately so it can be distributed after the aarti.

Regional variations

Traditions differ across India and in the diaspora. In some regions the emphasis is on sindoor and chameli oil, in others on the red chola and boondi laddoo. North Indian and South Indian households may order the upacharas differently, and Smarta and Vaishnava families may follow slightly different sequences. Where a family follows amanta or purnimanta reckoning, the pandit will adjust accordingly. None of these differences makes one form more correct than another; the family's own tradition is usually the guide.

After the puja: prasad, daan, dos and don'ts

After the aarti, prasad is distributed to those present. Daan, where the family wishes to give it, is arranged with the pandit. Common courtesies include keeping the area clean, treating the samagri with respect, and not interrupting the recitation. There is no need for fear or haste; the puja is a calm, devotional act. For personal guidance on charts and timing, a qualified jyotishi should be consulted.