The Navratri Worship That Cannot Be Skipped: Hanuman and Bhairava

Which deities must be worshipped alongside the Goddess during Navratri?

During Navratri — especially Chaitra Navratri — all divine powers are at their peak and descend from their realms to visit their sacred sites and devotees on earth, which is why worshipping them alongside the Goddess's Navdurga or Mahavidya forms is mandatory, not optional.

During Navratri, the primary worship is of Goddess Jagdamba's forms — the Navadurgas, the ten Mahavidyass, or one specific chosen form — but people often omit certain deities whose worship is strictly mandatory, without which the worship and mantra chanting of the Goddess is never complete. Particularly during Chaitra Navratri, when Ram Navami also occurs, worshipping all of them is mandatory, because all divine powers are at their peak during this period and travel from their own realms to the earthly realm, visiting their sacred sites and the abodes of their devotees.

Why should Lord Hanuman specifically be worshipped throughout Chaitra Navratri?

Worshipping Lord Hanuman daily from Pratipada tithi through Chaitra Purnima (Hanuman Jayanti) during Chaitra Navratri brings numerous benefits, especially when done with specific rites for a particular wish.

Every household should pay special attention to worshipping Lord Hanuman during Chaitra Navratri. Worshipping Him specifically from Pratipada tithi (the first day) up to Chaitra Purnima (Hanuman Jayanti) brings numerous benefits, and worshipping Him with specific rituals for a particular wish brings various further benefits.

Why does Hanuman's worship come even before the Goddess's own worship?

The Durga Chalisa itself describes Langur Veer (Hanuman) as advancing ahead of the Goddess to secure the location She is about to arrive at — since He and Lord Bhairava hold responsibility for the site's complete security, both should be worshipped before Her.

Even standard devotional practice, without extensive knowledge of Tantra, recites the Durga Chalisa during the Goddess's arrival — which itself states 'Langur Veer karat agwani': Langur Veer (Hanuman) leads the way and advances first. Wherever Navadurga or Her elemental powers are about to arrive, Langur Veer reaches that location first and oversees the entire space — the responsibility for the location's complete security lies upon Lord Hanuman and Lord Bhairava. Since Hanuman arrives first, worshipping Him and Bhairava should be done prior to worshipping the Goddess.

What are the specific ways to worship Hanuman during Chaitra Navratri?

Reciting Hanuman Chalisa (or its Havan), performing Archana with His 108 names, reciting His Sahasranama from Pratipada to Purnima for a specific wish, and worshipping Goddess Anjani alongside Him are all valid methods.

At minimum, reciting Hanuman Chalisa is simple and effective, and its prescribed Havan procedure can also be performed. If offering ArchanaA short worship offering flowers or Tulsi leaves while reciting a deity's names — such as Their 108 names, taking only two to three minutes. to Hanuman using His Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 names) — which takes about two to three minutes, with flowers or Tulsi leaves — He becomes pleased. For a specific desire, ArchanaA short worship offering flowers or Tulsi leaves while reciting a deity's names — such as Their 108 names, taking only two to three minutes. using His SahasranamaA recitation of a deity's thousand names — a devotional text genre used across many deities, not one single fixed composition. (1,000 names) from Pratipada to Purnima tithi will ensure that wish is fulfilled. If Anjani (Hanuman's mother) is also worshipped and remembered alongside Him, nothing can stop the work from being fully accomplished, since both mother and son are then served together. This service and worship should be performed specifically from Pratipada to Purnima tithi during Chaitra.

What special worship is done for Hanuman's flag on Ram Navami and Chaitra Purnima?

On Ram Navami and Chaitra Purnima, special worship of Lord Hanuman's flag (Dhwaja) is conducted — on Ram Navami specifically, His flag must be hoisted and worshipped at home.

On the dates of Ram Navami and Chaitra Purnima, special worship of Lord Hanuman's flag (DhwajaA deity's flag, hoisted and worshipped on a specific festival day — such as Lord Hanuman's flag on Ram Navami.) is conducted. On Ram Navami specifically, His flag must be hoisted and worshipped at home.

Is worshipping Hanuman and Bhairav really necessary during Navratri?

The Goddess's limb-powers (Anga Shakti) and peripheral deity powers (Mandala Shakti) accompany Her the way a family's children accompany their mother, making their worship mandatory — for Bhairava, the minimum is remembering Him, chanting His name, and lighting a four-faced lamp.

Many question whether worshipping Lord Hanuman is truly necessary or can be skipped — but the Goddess's limb powers (Anga ShaktiThe Goddess's own limb-powers — one of the reasons Her worship is never complete without also worshipping the wider set of powers, like Mandala Shakti, that accompany Her.) and peripheral deity powers (Mandala ShaktiThe Goddess's peripheral or attendant deity powers — accompanying Her like a family's sons and children, and mandatory to worship alongside Her main form.) are essential to worship. If a family is invited, the Goddess does not come alone; Her sons and children accompany Her, making standard worship and remembrance of all of them essential, to the extent of one's knowledge. Worship of Lord Hanuman must therefore be conducted during Navratri, alongside worship of Lord Bhairava according to one's capacity — at minimum, remembering Him, chanting His name mantras, and lighting a four-faced lamp (Chaumukh DeepakA four-faced oil lamp with four wicks, used in pairs or in multiples across a house during application rituals for Bhairava and similarly potent deities.) in His name. These two powers execute all of the Goddess's tasks and hold responsibility for protecting Her devotees, making their worship during Navratri mandatory.