Hanuman Jayanti

As promised, the best story that I know:

 

Bhajelo Ji Hanumaan! Bhajelo Ji Hanumaan!

Oh Friend! Sing the praises of Hanuman!

Shree Guru charana saroja raja,

Nija manu mukuru sudhaari

Having polished the mirror of my heart with the dust on my Guru’s lotus feet

Baranaun Raghubara bimala jasu,

Jo daayaku phala chaari

I sing the pure fame of the best of the Raghus, which bestows the Four Fruits of Life (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha)

Budhi heena tanu jaanike,

Sumiraun pavana kumara

Knowing this body to be devoid of intelligence, I recall the Son of the Wind

Bala budhi vidya dehu mohin,

Harahu kalesa bikaara

Grant me the strength, wit, and wisdom, and remove my sorrows and shortcomings

Seeyaavara Raamachandra pada Jai Sharanam

Hail the refuge of the feet of Sita’s bridegroom, Ramachandra

1.Jaya Hanumaana gyaana guna saagara,

Jaya Kapeesha tihun loka ujaagara

Victory to Hanuman, ocean of wisdom and virtue,

Hail Monkey Lord, illuminator of the three worlds

2. Raama doota atulita bala dhaamaa,

Anjani putra Pavanasuta naama

Ram’s emissary abode of matchless power,

Anjani’s son named Son of the Wind

3. Mahaabeera birkama bajarangee,

Kumati nivaara sumati ke sangee

Great hero mighty as a thunderbolt,

Remover of evil thoughts and companion to the good

4. Kanchana barana biraaja subesaa,

Kaanana kundala kunchita kesaa

Golden Hued and splendidly adorned,

With heavy earrings and curly locks

5. Haatha bajra aura dvajaa biraajai,

Kaandhee mooja janeu saaji

In your hands shine mace and banner,

A sacred thread of munja grass adorns your shoulder.

6. Shankara suvana Kesaree nandana,

Teja prataapa mahaa jaga bandana

You are Shiva’s son and Kesari’s joy,

Your glory is revered throughout the world.

7.Vidyaa vaana gunee ati chaatura,

Raama kaaja karibe ko aatura

Supremely wise, virtuous, and clever,

You are ever intent on doing Ram’s work.

8. Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiyaa,

Raama Lakshana Seetaa mana basiyaa

You delight in hearing of the Lord’s deeds,

Ram, Lakshman, and Sita dwell in your heart

9. Sookshma roopa dhari Siyahin dikhaavaa,

Bikata roopa dhari Lanka jaraavaa

Assuming tiny form you appeared to Sita,

And in awesome guise you burned Lanka.

10. Bheema roopa dhari asura sanghaare,

Raamachandra ke kaaja sanvaare

Taking dreadful form you slaughtered demons

And completed Lord Ram’s mission

11. Laaya sajeevana Lakhana jiyaaye,

Shree Raghubeera harashi ura laaye

Bringing the magic herb, you revived Lakshman,

And Ram embraced you with delight.

12. Raghupati keenhee bahuta baraai,

Tuma mama priya Bharatahi sama bhaai

Greatly did the Raghu Lord praise you-

“Brother, you’re as dear to me as Bharat!”

13.Sahasa badana tumharo jasa gaaven,

Asa kahi Shreepati kantha lagaaven

“May the thousand-mouthed serpent sing your fame!”

So saying, Shri’s (Lakshmi’s) Lord drew you to Himself

14. Sanakaadika Brahmaadi muneesaa,

Naarada Saarada sahita Aheesaa

Sanak and the sages, Brahma, gods, and great saints,

Narada Sarasvati, and the King of the serpents

15. Yama Kubera digapaala jahaante,

Kabi kobida kahi sake kahaante

Yama, Kubera, and the guardians of the four quadrants,

Poets and scholars-none can express your glory

16. Tuma upakaara Sugreevahin keenhaa,

Raama milaaya raja pada deenha

You rendered great service to Sugriva,

Presenting him to Ram, you have him kingship

17. Tumharo mantra Vibeeshana maanaa,

Lankeshvara bhaye saba jaga jaanaa

Vibhishana heeded your counsel,

And became Lord of Lanka, as all the world knows

18. Yuga sahasra jojana para bhaanu,

Leelyo taahi madhura phala jaanu

Though the sun is thousands of miles away,

You swallowed it, thinking it a sweet fruit

19. Prabhu mukrikaa meli mukha maaheen,

Jaladhi laanghi gaye acharaja naaheen

Holding the Lord’s ring in your mouth,

It’s no surprise you leapt over the ocean

20. Durgama kaaja jagata ke jete,

Sugama anugraha tumhare tete

Every arduous task in this world

Becomes easy by your grace

21. Raama duaare tuma rakhavaare,

Hota na aagyaa binu paisaare

Your are the guardian of Ram’s door,

None enters without your permission

22. Saba sukha lahai tumhaaree sharanaa,

Tuma rakshaka kaahu ko daranaa

Taking refuge in you one finds all delight,

Those you protect know no fear

23. Aapana teja samhaaru aapai,

Teenon loka haanka ten kaanpai

You alone can withstand your own splendor,

The three worlds tremble at your roar

24. Bhoota pisaacha nikata nahin aavai,

Mahaabeera  jaba naama sunaavai

Ghosts and goblins cannot come near,

Great Hero, when your name is uttered

25. Naasai roga hara saba peeraa,

Japata nirantara Hanumata beeraa

All disease and pain is eradicated,

Brave Hanuman, by constant repetition of your name

26. Sankata tena Hanumaana churaavai,

Mana karma bachana dhyaana jo laavi

Hanuman releases from affliction

Those who remember him in thought, word, and deed

27. Saba para Raama tapaswee raajaa,

Tina ke kaaja sakala tuma saajaa

Ram the ascetic reigns over all but

You carry out his every task

28. Aura Manoratha jo koee laave,

Soee amita jeevana phala pave

One who comes to you with any yearning,

Obtains the abundance of the Four Fruits of Life

29. Chaaron yuga parataapa tumhaaraa,

Hai parasidha jagata ujiyaaraa

Your splendor fills the four ages,

Your glory is famed throughout the world

30. Saadhu santa ke tuma rakhavaara,

Asura nikandana Raama dulaare

You are the guardian of saints and sages,

The destroyer of demons, the darling of Ram

31. Ashta sidhi nau nidhi ke daataa,

Asa bara deena Jaanakee Maata

You grant the eight powers and nine treasures,

By the boon you received from Mother Janaki (Sita)

32. Raama rasaayana toomhara paasaa,

Sadaa raho Raghupati ke daasa

You hold the elixir of Ram’s name,

And remain eternally his servant

33. Tumhara bhajana Raama ko paavi,

Janama janama ke dukha bisaraavai

Singing your praise, one finds Ram

And escapes the sorrows of countless lives

34. Anta kaala Rahubara pura jaeee,

Jahaan janma Hari bhakta kahaaee

At death, one goes to Ram’s own city,

Or is born on earth as God’s devotee

35. Aura devataa chita na dharaee,

Hanumata se sarva sukha karaee

(Even if you) Give no thought to any other deity

Worshipping Hanuman, one gains all delight

36. Sankata katai mite saba peeraa,

Jo sumire Hanumata bala beeraa

All affliction ceases, all pain is removed

By remembering the mighty hero, Hanuman

37. Jai Jai Jai Hanumaana Gosaaee,

Kripaa karahu gurudeva kee naaee

Victory, Victory, Victory to Lord Hanuman!

Bestow your grace on me, as my Guru

38. Jo sata baara paata kara koeee,

Chootahi bandi mahaa sukha hoee

Whoever recited this a hundred times,

Is released from bondage and gains bliss.

39. Jo yaha parai Hanumaana Chaleesa,

Hoya sidhi saakhee Gaureesaa

One who reads this Hanuman Chaleesa

Gains success as Gauri’s Lord (Shiva) is witness

40. Tulaseedaasa sadaa Hari cheraa,

Keeje naata hridaya mahan deraa

Says Tulsidas, Hari’s constant servant,

“Lord, make your home in my heart.”

Pawana tanaya sankata harana mangala moorati roopa

Son of the Wind, Destroyer of sorrow, embodiment of blessing

Raama Lakhana Seeta Sahita,

Hridaya basahu sura bhoopa

Dwell in my heart, King of Gods

Together with Ram, Lakshman, and Sita

Mangala moorati Maruta nandan,

Sakala mangala moola nikandan

Embodiment of welfare and auspiciousness, Son of the Wind

The source of all blessings and the root of all destruction

Jai Bajrangbali Naharaj ki Jai!

(with thanks to Krishna Das and Sri Dharma Mittra)