Hanuman Aarti in Bengali

By his strength the greatest mountains tremble, and illness and misfortune dare not come near him. Anjana's son, giver of great strength, he is the Lord of the saintly and their constant helper.

Popular versions sing 'nikat na jhanke' ('dare not even peep near'); the Gita Press text reads 'jhanpai'.

Shri Ram sent him forth with the betel leaf of honour; he burned Lanka and brought back news of Sita. Lanka was a mighty fortress with the ocean for its moat, yet the son of the Wind crossed it without a moment's delay.

'Beera' (bida) is the rolled betel leaf once given to a warrior who accepted a daring mission, as a mark of trust.

He burned Lanka, destroyed the demons and fulfilled the purpose of Sita and Ram. When Lakshman lay unconscious and dawn drew near, he brought the Sanjivani herb and saved his life.

Tradition says the herb had to arrive before sunrise for Lakshman to live. That is why the verse says 'sakare', at daybreak.

Entering the netherworld, he broke through bonds as deadly as Yama's and tore off the arms of Ahiravan. With his left arm he struck down the demon hosts; with his right he carried the saintly to safety.

In the Ahiravan episode the demon carries Ram and Lakshman off to the netherworld and Hanuman rescues them. The story is not in Valmiki's Ramayana; it comes from later Ramayana traditions. 'Jam-kare' is read either as Yama-like bonds or as guards.

Gods, humans and sages wave the aarti before him, crying 'Victory, victory, victory to Hanuman!' On a golden plate the camphor flame spreads its glow, as Mother Anjana herself performs his aarti.

Whoever sings this aarti of Hanuman dwells in Vaikuntha and attains the highest state.

Gita Press prints 'Hanuman (ji)', the 'ji' being optional. Many popular recordings add a couplet here that is not in the Gita Press text: 'लंक विध्वंस किये रघुराई। तुलसीदास स्वामी कीरति गाई॥' (Lank vidhvans kiye Raghurai, Tulsidas swami kirati gai: 'Shri Ram destroyed Lanka; Tulsidas sings the glory of his Lord').