***हिंदी हिन्दू हिंदुस्तान***

Why should oil, sindoor and leaves of calotropis (ruee) be offered to Deity Hanumān?

When a particular thing is offered to a Deity, it is generally explained in simple terms, that the Deity likes it. For example, Shrī Gaṇēsh likes hibiscus flowers (Jaaswanti), Deity Shankar likes Bel while Deity Vishṇu likes tulsī. A story is then told to further elaborate this point. However, the superior Deities like Shankar, Vishnu and Shrī Gaṇēsh do not have any likes or dislikes. The reason underlying offering a specific thing to a specific Deity is described here. One of the objectives of ritualistic worship is creating Divine consciousness (Chaitanya) in the Idol we are worshipping. This helps us progress in our spiritual practice. The object which has the maximum capacity of creating Divine consciousness is offered to the Idol; hence Māruti is offered oil, sindoor and leaves of calotropis.