Why is Butter Applied to Hanuman Ji?Know the significance & Benefits

Hanuman ji is a highly revered deity, loved for his unique blend of powerful qualities. He possesses incredible strength, sharp intellect, unmatched bravery, and immense humility. Believed to be an aspect of Lord Shiva, he remains an ardent devotee of Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu. 

Hanuman played a very important role in the epic Ramayana. He successfully located Sita, who was abducted by the demon king Ravana, and reunited her with her beloved husband, Lord Rama. 

Offering butter to Lord Hanuman and applying it to his body is a unique and beloved practice in Hinduism. This tradition not only reflects Hanuman's devotion to Rama, but also showcases Rama's deep love and affection for hanuman.

Rama had to fight a tough war to save his wife Sita from Ravana in Lanka. Rama's team mostly had monkeys with basic weapons like claws and rocks. In contrast, Ravana's army had demons with strong armor and advanced weapons. Ravana's key warriors rode on powerful chariots, making the battle tough for Rama.

Rama was an exceptional archer and warrior, unmatched by anyone on earth. Despite Ravana's advantages in the battle, Rama's skill and bravery were overpowering. Feeling deeply inadequate and ashamed, Ravana devised a plan to obstruct Rama's success — he decided to target Hanuman.

Hanuman was a strong warrior with a mighty mace, using his fists and teeth effectively to create fear in the demon army. Besides his combat skills, he played a crucial role in the battle by becoming Rama's live chariot on the warfront, carrying Rama into battle.

As Ravana fought from his powerful chariot on the battlefield, Lord Rama had to sit on Hanuman's shoulders. This made Hanuman unable to use his renowned weapons or engage in direct combat. Ravana took advantage of this situation, specifically targeting Hanuman and attacking him with sharp arrows.

Ravana's powerful arrows pierced Hanuman's body, causing severe injuries and making him bleed. Blood flowed from many wounds, turning Hanuman red and causing considerable pain. Despite his own suffering, Hanuman prioritized Rama's well-being over his injuries. However, Rama felt deep sorrow witnessing the condition of his beloved devotee.

Enraged by Ravana's unfair targeting of Hanuman, Rama retaliated with a precise and powerful attack, using some of his unstoppable arrows. Overwhelmed by Rama's assault, Ravana had to quickly retreat from the battlefield. His charioteer played a crucial role in driving him back to the safety of his fort, ensuring his escape. The monkey army celebrated wildly at this victory.

Rama felt concerned about Hanuman's injuries and the bleeding. Without delay, he took Hanuman to his camp and personally attended to him. Rama cleaned Hanuman's wounds and used the available medicine, which was butter. Rama applied generous amounts of butter with care and affection on Hanuman's wounds and gave him a soothing butter massage all over his body.

The butter, with its therapeutic properties, had a positive impact on Hanuman's injuries. Rama's care, love, and healing touch worked wonders, quickly curing Hanuman and relieving him of pain. The butter massage wasn't just beneficial but also a pleasant experience for Hanuman, who enjoyed feeling his Lord's warmth and healing touch. This rejuvenation made Hanuman battle-ready, and he played a significant role in Rama's decisive victory over Ravana in the battle.

Since then, it became a tradition to offer butter to Hanuman idols during daily worship and special occasions. It is believed that Hanuman ji is pleased with this butter offering, and it brings relief from difficulties and pains for devotees, blessing them with overall well-being.