The birth anniversary of Hanuman falls this year on November 12. Hindus rever him as one of their Gods and he is widely venerated through out India. In most areas in India on the Tuesdays of full-moon fortnight a number of Hindus observe fast. In the evening when the fast is culminated Laddoos are distributed in the Hanuman Mandirs. The Temples are normally swarmed with the congregants of all ages, and the prayers are held till late in the evening.

A number of legends have been associated with the birth of Hanuman. One of them indicates that he was the son of unmarried apasra called Anjana. Anjana was the daughter of Rishi Gautam. The story goes that, once very much irritated, Rishi Gautam invoked a curse upon his daughter. He vowed that she would give birth to a child while she was still unmarried. To save herself from the curse, Anjana swore never to come across any male in her life. She dug an underground alcove and accomodated herself there. She created a roof-top hole for air, and as an access to obtain articles to meet other life necessities. And she absolutely absorbed herself in God's prayers.

Rishi Gautam had indulged in arduous and life long prayers and worships. He attained highest position in the court of Brahama. He was bestowed with a boon that his uttereances and vows would never be defied and revoked. Anjana's getting pregnant was destined. Any definace of that could lead to a catastrophy.

To get Gautam's prophesy accomplished, Shiva himself came to the earth. When Anjana heard him calling her from outside, she begged him to go away and told him that her strenuous and formidable prayers would be answered.

Shiva told her that, as she had no Guru, her supplications would not be accepted; the curse could not be revoked, and her deliverance was inconceivable.

She was baffled and begged for some Gur-mantras for clemency. But she was adamant not to see the face of any man in her life.

Shiva acquiesced to her feelings. Through a bamboo stalk he blew air in her ears. Some accounts say that he conveyed into her ear the mantra, "On Namo Bhagwate Deva...." Immediately Anjana attained bliss. She came out of the hermitage, gave birth to a boy, and without looking at his face left for her heavenly abode.

The Rishi Balmiki's Adhaya 4 states that Anjana's name in her previous life was Kashtha. She was the wife of Rishi Kaisery. She was exceptionally pretty. Even the wind-god himself became passion-blind on seeing her. The wind-god took her in his convolutions and caused her to give birth to Hanuman.

Even as a little boy Hanuman was very powerful. Ordinary diet could not satisfy his apetite. Once he became so hungry that he flew into the sky to eat the sun, which he thought was a fruit. The God Indra threw a thunderbolt to stop him. The injury caused by the thunderbolt deformed his face. Angered by this the wind-god took him into a cave to shelter him. With the disappearance of wind, people of the world started to suffocate. On the request of the gods, Bramah entered the cave, healed

Hanuman and confirmed on him various boons.

All the anecdotes agree that Hanuman was the son of Wind-god and that is why he is popularly known as Pavan-putra Hanuman.

He isprominently personified in Rishi Balmiki's Ramyana. As the mythological destiny had it, Hanuman came in the shelter of Shri Ram and Lakhshman just after Seeta had been

abducted by Ravana. In thousands of years of history, his valours have become household words. Most prominent among them are the rescue of Seeta, burning of Lanka, war with Ravana, and saving of Lakhshman's life.

And the story of Ramyana needs no re-narration.