Bhubaneswar: Confusion prevailed among the devotees in Odisha about the date of Hanuman Jayanti celebration. Even as it was celebrated in northern India on Thursday, the Odias have been celebrating it on Mahabisuba Sankranti.
It has been a tradition in Odisha to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti on the Pana Sankranti as per the date in the new almanac released by Mukti Mandap of Jagannath temple in Puri. But the scholars and researchers on the scriptures differ with the practice.
According to a researcher Dr Naresh Dash, Lord Hanuman was born on Poornima (full moon) day of Chaitra month in Hindu calendar as per some ancient scriptures. Naturally, this day should be celebrated as Hanuman Jayanti.
“In Odisha, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on Mahabisuba Sankranti which falls on May 14 this year. This Sankranti is considered a pious day as it marks the new year of Odia calendar and first day of new almanac. Khadiratna Panjika (almanac) also mentions that today is the birthday of Lord Hanuman. But it has also stated that the day can be celebrated as Hanuman Jayanti.”
However, Dash said it has been a practice in North India to celebrate the Jayanti as per the ‘Tithi’ (day of Lord’s birth) while Odisha people follow the opinion of Mukti Mandap for the celebration.
Another scholar on scriptures, Satya Narayan Mishra said both Mahabisuba Sankranti and full moon day of Chaitra month can be celebrated as Hanuman Jayanti. Because, Lord Hanuman was born on the day when it was both Sankranti and full moon day of Chaitra month.
“Due to movement and changes in constellation of stars over the centuries, the time gap between the two ‘tithis’ has been widening. Accordingly, the dates of Sankranti and Hanman’s birthday keep on changing,” he added.
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