Hanuman Ji Sindoor & Chola - Significance & Vidhi

One day, Hanuman saw Mata Sita applying sindoor to the parting of Her hair. When He asked why, She replied that she did it for the long life and well-being of Lord Ram. Hearing this, Hanuman thought: if a little sindoor brings Ram such blessing, then by covering His entire body with sindoor, He could bring Lord Ram boundless life and joy. He smeared sindoor all over himself out of pure love. Lord Ram, moved by this devotion, blessed him - and so devotees offer sindoor to Hanuman to this day.

A chola is a thick coating of sindoor mixed with oil, applied over Hanuman Ji's idol like a sacred robe. It represents Hanuman's total surrender and love for Ram, and His readiness to give His whole self in devotion. Offering a chola is considered a powerful act of bhakti, said to remove serious troubles, fulfil sincere wishes and grant protection from negative forces. The deep red colour also symbolises strength, sacrifice and Brahmacharya (purity).

Offer sindoor on Tuesday or Saturday with this vidhi: 1. Bathe and wear clean clothes; clean the idol of any old chola if renewing it. 2. Mix pure sindoor with a few drops of chameli (jasmine) oil to form a smooth paste. 3. With the ring finger or a clean leaf, apply the paste from Hanuman Ji's feet upward, covering the body. 4. Apply a tilak of the same sindoor on your own forehead as prasad. 5. Offer a betel leaf (paan), boondi laddoo and red flowers. 6. Light a lamp, recite the Hanuman Chalisa, and perform the aarti. 7. Pray with folded hands for strength, courage and protection.

Chameli (jasmine) oil is traditionally mixed with sindoor because it binds the vermillion smoothly, gives a fragrant, lasting chola, and is believed to be especially dear to Hanuman Ji. A paan (betel leaf) is offered after the chola as a mark of honour and affection, just as one would offer paan to a respected guest. Together, the sindoor, chameli oil and paan form the classic, time-honoured offering that delights Bajrangbali.

Offering sindoor and a chola to Hanuman Ji with devotion is believed to remove obstacles and serious difficulties, grant courage and protection from fear and negative energy, and fulfil heartfelt wishes. It is considered especially powerful for relief from Saturn-related troubles and for safety of the family. Most importantly, the act deepens one's bhakti, drawing the devotee closer to the loving grace of Hanuman and Lord Ram.

Use pure, good-quality sindoor and fresh chameli oil, and keep your hands and the place of worship clean throughout. Apply the chola with calm devotion, not in haste, and never use it as a show of grandeur. The old chola, when renewed, should be removed respectfully and immersed in clean water or buried, never thrown away carelessly. Sincerity and love matter far more than the thickness of the chola.