Do you know that in South India, especially in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, butter is applied to the idol of Lord Hanuman? Lord Hanuman, known for his valour and courage, is one of the most worshipped deities in Hinduism. According to Hindu scriptures, he is considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva and the ardent devotee of Lord Rama.

Lord Hanuman is best known for his powerful role in the epic Ramayana, where he helped Lord Rama locate the whereabouts of Goddess Sita.

Offering butter and applying it to Lord Hanuman idols is a unique practice. Let's understand the reason behind it.

Offering butter and applying it to Lord Hanuman idol is a unique practice (Image: Instagram/sriashtamsavaradhaanjaneyar)

The Legend Behind Butter Offerings

In South India, especially at temples like the Namakkal Ajaneyar Temple and the Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple, butter is generously applied to the idol of Lord Hanuman. The reason is rooted in regional Hindu traditions.

According to this traditional legend, during the Ramayana, Rama had to fight a war with Ravana in Lanka. Lord Rama’s army mainly consisted of monkeys with basic weapons such as claws and rocks. On the other hand, Ravana had skilled machinery and advanced warriors to fight the war.

Despite being fully equipped, Lord Rama’s army fought bravely and even overpowered Ravana's army. Seeing this, Ravana decided to target his loyal devotee, Lord Hanuman, who was fighting the war using his fists and teeth. Apart from this, he was also the charioteer for Lord Rama, carrying him into the battle.

Lord Rama had to sit on the shoulders of Lord Hanuman when fighting Ravana, who fought from his powerful chariot on the battlefield. Ravana took advantage of this situation and targeted Hanuman, attacking him with sharp arrows. This caused severe injuries to his body, making him severely wounded.

According to this traditional belief, Lord Rama felt deep sorrow upon witnessing the condition of his devotee. He lovingly cleaned Hanuman's wound and applied butter all over his body. The butter, believed to have therapeutic properties, provides relief to his wounds. Rama's care, love and affection touched Hanuman.

It is believed that this is why many devotees in South India offer butter to the Hanuman idol, praying for relief from difficulties, good health, and overall well-being.

The Legend Behind Butter Offerings (Image: Gemini AI)

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Why is the butter offering rare in North India?

The butter offering is less common in North India for the following reasons:

1. North India experiences extreme weather, especially during the summers, making it almost impossible to keep a thick layer of butter on the idol of Lord Hanuman.

2. In North India, devotees traditionally offer sindoor and oil to Lord Hanuman. This practice is linked to the popular legend in which Lord Hanuman saw Goddess Sita applying sindoor on her forehead. When asked about the reason for applying, Sita explained that it is for the long life and well-being of Lord Rama. Out of his immense devotion, Lord Hanuman applied sindoor all over his body for his long life and protection.

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What do you think about this beautiful tradition followed in South India? Do let us know.