Hanuman Jayanti

Anjana — an apsara cursed to take monkey form — performs tapasya to have a son. The wind god Vayu grants her Hanuman. As a child, Hanuman mistakes the rising sun for a fruit and leaps to eat it. Indra strikes him with the vajra, breaking his jaw (hence Hanuman — 'broken jaw'). Vayu withdraws in grief, causing the three worlds to suffocate. The gods relent: each bestows a boon, making Hanuman nearly indestructible. His divine purpose revealed to Rama much later.

On Chaitra Purnima, devotees observe the Satyanarayan Vrata, a sacred fast and puja dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his form as Satyanarayan, the embodiment of truth. This ritual involves reciting the Satyanarayan Katha and offering sacred food, believed to bestow peace, prosperity, and spiritual well-being upon the observers. It is a popular observance performed for fulfilling desires or expressing gratitude.

Chaitra Purnima is considered sacred for the worship of Chitragupta, the celestial scribe who meticulously records the good and bad deeds of all beings. Devotees perform puja to seek his blessings for the cleansing of past sins and guidance towards a righteous life. This observance is rooted in the belief that Chitragupta, created by Lord Brahma, maintains the cosmic ledger of karma.

In Puri, on Chaitra Purnima, the preparations for the auspicious Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath commence. As a traditional ritual, the Bhoi servitors retrieve the ceremonial boats, Nanda, Bhadra, and Baijayanti, from the Narendra Pushkarani, marking the initial steps for the 21-day summer festival.

According to the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam and local Tamil scriptures, Lord Indra experienced the alleviation of his sins on Chaitra Purnima near Madurai. He discovered a Shiva Lingam at that spot and, in an act of devotion, constructed a temple. Lord Shiva, pleased with Indra's repentance, caused golden lotuses to bloom in a nearby pond, signifying divine forgiveness. Special pujas are performed at the Meenakshi Temple to commemorate this legend.

In the regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Chaitra Purnima is celebrated as Chithirai Pournami. Devotees, particularly those adhering to the Kaumaram and Shaiva Siddhanta traditions, observe a fast and offer prayers to Lord Murugan (Kartikeya) on this day. This observance is believed to bring blessings and dispel negativity.