Hanuman (
;
Hanumān in
IAST)
[1] is an ardent devotee of Sri
Rama. He is one of the central figures in the
Hindu epic Ramayana and its
various versions. As one of the
Chiranjivi, he is also mentioned in several other texts, including the
Mahabharata, the various
Puranas and some
Jain texts. Hanuman participated in Rama's war against the demon king
Ravana. Several later texts also present him as an incarnation of
Shiva. He is the son of
Anjana and
Kesari and is also described as the son of the wind-god
Pawan, who according to several stories, played a role in his birth.
Etymology and other names[edit]
Indonesian Balinese wooden statue of Hanuman
The Sanskrit texts mention several legends about how Hanuman got his name. One legend is that
Indra, the king of the gods, struck Hanuman's jaw during his childhood (
see below). The child received his name from the Sanskrit words
Hanu ("jaw") and
-man (or
-mant, "prominent" or "disfigured"). The name thus means "one with prominent or disfigured jaw". Another theory says the name derives from the Sanskrit words
Han ("killed" or "destroyed") and
maana (pride); the name implies "one whose pride was destroyed".
[2]:31–32 Some Jain texts mention that Hanuman spent his childhood on an island called
Hanuruha, which is the origin of his name.
[2]:189
According to another theory, the name "Hanuman" derives from the
proto-Dravidian word for male monkey (
ana-mandi), which was later Sanskritized to "Hanuman" (see
historical development below). Linguistic variations of "Hanuman" include
Hanumat, Anuman (
Tamil), Hanumantha (
Kannada), Hanumanthudu (
Telugu), Anoman (
Indonesian), Andoman (
Malay) and Hunlaman (
Lao). Other names of Hanuman include:
- Anjaneya,[3] Anjaniputra, 'Anjaneyar (Tamil), Anjaneyudu (Telugu), Anjanisuta all meaning "the son of Anjana".
- Kesari Nandan ("son of Kesari")
- Marutinandan, Pavanputra, Vaataatmaja: "the son of the wind-god Vayu"; the deity who carried Hanuman to Anjana's womb
- Bajrang Bali, "the strong one (bali), who had limbs (anga) as hard as a vajra (bajra)"; this name is widely used in rural North India.[2]:31–32
- Sang Kera Pemuja Dewa Rama, Hanuman, the Indonesian for "The mighty devotee ape of Rama, Hanuman"
In addition, Hanuman has received several epithets, including:
- Manojavam, the one who is swift as mind (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
- Maarutatulyavegam, the one who has a speed as the wind god (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
- Jitendriyam, the one who has complete control of his senses (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
- Buddhimataamvarishtham, the one who is most senior among intellectuals (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
- Vaanarayoothamukhyam, the one who is the chief of vanara army (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra). Similar in meaning to - Vaanaraanaamadheesham.
- Shreeraamadootam, the one who is the messenger of Rama (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra).
- Atulita Bala Dhaamam, the one who is the repository of incomparable strength.
- Hemshailaabha Deham, the one whose body resembles a golden mountain.
- Danujvana Krushanum, the one who is the destroyer of forces of demons.
- Gyaaninaam Agraganyam, the one who is considered foremost among knowledgeable beings.
- Sakala Guna Nidhaanam, the one who is the repository of all the virtues and good qualities.
- Raghupati Priya Bhaktam, the one who is the dearest of all devotees to Rama.
- Sankata Mochana, the one who liberates (moca) from dangers (sankata)[2]:31–32
In the 3rd chapter of Kishkindha Kaanda of
Valmiki Ramayana,
[4] Rama describes many attributes of Hanuman's personality. Summarized as follows:
- Ablest sentence maker.
- The knower of all Vedas and Scriptures.
- Scholar in nine schools of grammars.
- Possessing faultless speech and facial features
Historical development[edit]
Hanuman is mentioned in both the
Hindu epics,
Ramayana and
Mahabharata.
[5] The word "Vrsakapi" or "Vrishakapi", later used as an epithet for Hanuman,
[2]:40 is mentioned in the
Rigveda (X:86). Some writers, such as Nilakantha (author of
Mantra Ramayana) believe that the Vrishakapi of Rigveda alludes to Hanuman. However, other scholars believe that Hanuman is not mentioned in the
Vedic mythology: the "Vrsakapi" of Rigveda refers to another deity
[6] or is a common name for the monkeys.
[7]
The orientalist
F. E. Pargiter (1852-1927) theorized that Hanuman was a
proto-Dravidian deity, and the name "Hanuman" was a Sanskritization of the
Old Tamil word
Aan-mandhi or
An-manti ("male monkey"). A Hindi writer Ray Govindchandra (1976) influenced by Pargiter's opinion, suggested that the
proto-Indo-Aryans may have invented a Sanskrit etymology for the deity's name, after they accepted Hanuman in their pantheon.
[2]:40 This theory was also supported by other scholars, including linguist
Suniti Kumar Chatterji.
[8] However, the twentieth-century linguist
Murray Emeneau, specializing in Dravidian languages, criticized this theory, pointing out that the word
mandi, as attested in
Sangam literature, can refer only to a female monkey, and therefore, the word
ana-mandi makes no semantic sense.
[2]:40 A twentieth-century Jesuit missionary
Camille Bulcke, in his
Ramkatha: Utpatti Aur Vikas ("The tale of Rama: its origin and development"), expresses the belief that Hanuman worship had its basis in the cults of
aboriginal tribes of Central India.
[6] According to him, the
Ramayana may have been influenced by older tribal ballads.
[9]
Hanuman came to be regarded as an
avatar of the god
Shiva by the 10th century CE (this development possibly started as early as in the 8th century CE).
[6] Hanuman is mentioned as an avatar of Shiva or Rudra in the Sanskrit texts like the
Mahabhagvata Purana, the
Skanda Purana, the
Brhaddharma Purana and the
Mahanataka among others. This development might have been a result of the
Shavite attempts to insert their
ishta devata (cherished deity) in the
Vaishnavite texts, which were gaining popularity.
[6] The 17th century
Odia work
Rasavinoda by
Dinakrishnadasa goes on to mention that the
three gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – combined to take to the form of Hanuman.
[10]
Hanuman became more important in the medieval period and came to be portrayed as the ideal devotee (
bhakta) of Rama. His characterization as a lifelong
brahmachari (celibate) was another important development during this period.
[6] The belief that Hanuman's celibacy is the source of his strength became popular among the wrestlers in India.
[11] The celibacy or
brahmacharya aspect of Hanuman is not mentioned in the original Ramayana.
[2]:309 In Jain texts, Hanuman is depicted as the 17th of 24
Kamadevas, the one who is ultimately handsome.
[2]:330
Birth and childhood[edit]
Hanuman was born to anjan Dham Gumla his mother
Anjana was an
apsara who was born on
earth due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse on giving birth to a son. The
Valmiki Ramayana states that his father
Kesariwas the son of
Brihaspati, he was the King of a place named Sumeru.
[12] Anjana performed intense prayers lasting 12 long years to
Shiva to get a child. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva granted them the son they sought.
[13]Hanuman, in another interpretation, is the incarnation or reflection of Shiva himself.
[citation needed]
Hanuman is often called the son of the deity
Vayu (Wind God); several different traditions account for the Vayu's role in Hanuman's birth. One story mentioned in
Eknath's
Bhavartha Ramayana (16th century CE) states that when Anjana was worshiping Shiva, the King
Dasharatha of
Ayodhya was also performing the ritual of
Putrakama yagna in order to have children. As a result, he received some sacred pudding (
payasam) to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of
Rama,
Lakshmana,
Bharata, and
Shatrughna. By divine ordinance, a
kite snatched a fragment of that pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship.
Vayu, the
Hindu deity of the wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result.
[12][14] Another tradition says that Anjana and her husband Kesari prayed Shiva for a child. By Shiva's direction, Vayu transferred his male energy to Anjana's womb. Accordingly, Hanuman is identified as the son of the Vayu.
[citation needed]
Another story of Hanuman's origins is derived from the
Vishnu Purana and
Naradeya Purana.
Narada, infatuated with a princess, went to his lord
Vishnu, to make him look like Vishnu, so that the princess would garland him at
swayamvara (husband-choosing ceremony). He asked for
hari mukh (Hari is another name of Vishnu, and
mukh means face). Vishnu instead bestowed him with the face of a vanara. Unaware of this, Narada went to the princess, who burst into laughter at the sight of his ape-like face before all the king's court. Narada, unable to bear the humiliation, cursed Vishnu, that Vishnu would one day be dependent upon a
vanara. Vishnu replied that what he had done was for Narada's own good, as he would have undermined his own powers if he were to enter matrimony. Vishnu also noted that
Hari has the dual Sanskrit meaning of
vanara. Upon hearing this, Narada repented for cursing Vishnu. But Vishnu told him not to repent as the curse would act as a boon, for it would lead to the birth of Hanuman, an avatar of Shiva, without whose help Rama (Vishnu's avatar) could not kill Ravana.
[citation needed]
Birthplace[edit]
Multiple places in India are claimed as the birthplace of Hanuman.
- According to one theory, Hanuman was born on 'Anjaneya Hill', in Hampi, Karnataka.[15]
- Anjan, a small village about 18 km away from Gumla, houses "Anjan Dham", which is said to be the birthplace of Hanuman.[16] The name of the village is derived from the name of the goddess Anjani, the mother of Hanuman. Aanjani Gufa (cave), 4 km from the village, is believed to be the place where Anjani once lived. Many objects of archaeological importance obtained from this site are now held at the Patna Museum.[citation needed]
- The Anjaneri (or Anjneri) mountain, located 7 km from Trimbakeshwar in the Nasik district, is also claimed as the birthplace of Hanuman.[17]
- According to Anjan Dham, Hanuman was born on Lakshka Hill near Sujangarh in Churu district, Rajasthan.[18]
- According to Puri Dham, Hanuman met Sri Ram on dense forest of mountain hill near Khurda, Bhubaneshwar. It is believed that the mountain was once the kingdom of Bali (The Monkey King), where Bali defeated a Asura in a cave, fighting for fifteen days and fifteen nights.
Childhood[edit]
As a child, believing the
sun to be a ripe
mango, Hanuman pursued it in order to eat it.
Rahu, a Vedic planet corresponding to an eclipse, was at that time seeking out the sun as well, and he clashed with Hanuman. Hanuman thrashed Rahu and went to take the sun in his mouth.
[19] Rahu approached
Indra, king of
devas, and complained that a monkey child stopped him from taking on Sun, preventing the scheduled eclipse. This enraged Indra, who responded by throwing the
Vajra (thunderbolt) at Hanuman, which struck his jaw. He fell back down to the earth and became unconscious. A permanent mark was left on his chin (
हनुः hanuḥ "jaw" in
Sanskrit), due to impact of
Vajra, explaining his name.
[12][20] Upset over the attack, Hanuman's father figure Vayu deva (the deity of air) went into seclusion, withdrawing air along with him. As living beings began to asphyxiate, Indra withdrew the effect of his thunderbolt. The devas then revived Hanuman and blessed him with multiple boons to appease Vayu.
[12]
Hanuman fighting with Indra for Sun fruit
On ascertaining
Surya to be an all-knowing teacher, Hanuman raised his body into an orbit around the sun and requested to Surya to accept him as a student.
Surya refused and explained claiming that he always had to be on the move in his chariot, it would be impossible for Hanuman to learn well. Undeterred, Hanuman enlarged his form, with one leg on the eastern ranges and the other on the western ranges, and facing
Surya again pleaded. Pleased by his persistence, Surya agreed. Hanuman then learned all of the latter's knowledge. When Hanuman then requested Surya to quote his "guru-dakshina" (teacher's fee), the latter refused, saying that the pleasure of teaching one as dedicated as him was the fee in itself. Hanuman insisted, whereupon Surya asked him to help his (Surya's) spiritual son
Sugriva. Hanuman's choice of Surya as his teacher is said to signify Surya as a
Karma Saakshi, an eternal witness of all deeds. Hanuman later became
Sugriva's minister.
[12][20]
Hanuman was mischievous in his childhood, and sometimes teased the meditating sages in the forests by snatching their personal belongings and by disturbing their well-arranged articles of worship. Finding his antics unbearable, but realizing that Hanuman was but a child, (albeit invincible), the sages placed a mild curse on him by which he became unable to remember his own ability unless reminded by another person. The curse is highlighted in
Kishkindha Kandaand he was relieved from the curse by the end of
Kishkindha Kanda when
Jambavantha reminds Hanuman of his abilities and encourages him to go and find Sita and in
Sundara Kanda he used his Supernatural powers at his best.
[12]
Adventures in the Ramayana[edit]
The
Sundara Kanda, the fifth book in the Ramayana, focuses on the adventures of Hanuman.
Meeting with Rama[edit]
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa meeting Hanumān at Rishyamukha
Hanuman meets
Rama during the latter's 14-year exile.
[21] With his brother
Lakshmana, Rama is searching for his wife
Sita who had been abducted by
Ravana. Their search brings them to the vicinity of the mountain Rishyamukha, where
Sugriva, along with his followers and friends, are in hiding from his older brother
Vali.
Having seen Rama and Lakshmana, Sugriva sends Hanuman to ascertain their identities. Hanuman approaches the two brothers in the guise of a
brahmin. His first words to them are such that Rama says to Lakshmana that none could speak the way the brahmin did unless he or she had mastered the
Vedas. He notes that there is no defect in the brahmin's countenance, eyes, forehead, brows, or any limb. He points out to Lakshmana that his accent is captivating, adding that even an enemy with sword drawn would be moved. He praises the disguised Hanuman further, saying that sure success awaited the king whose emissaries were as accomplished as he was.
[21]
When Rama introduces himself, the brahman identifies himself as Hanuman and falls prostrate before Rama, who embraces him warmly. Thereafter, Hanuman's life becomes interwoven with that of Rama. Hanuman then brings about friendship and alliance between Rama and Sugriva; Rama helps Sugriva regain his honour and makes him king of Kishkindha. Sugriva and his vanaras, most notably Hanuman, help Rama defeat Raavana and reunite with Sita.
In their search for Sita, a group of Vanaras reaches the southern seashore. Upon encountering the vast ocean, every vanara begins to lament his inability to jump across the water. Hanuman too is saddened at the possible failure of his mission, until the other vanaras and the wise bear
Jambavantha begin to extol his virtues. Hanuman then recollects his own powers, enlarges his body, and flies across the ocean. On his way, he encounters
Mount Mainak that rises from the sea and offers him to rest on his mountain which had abundant fruits and berries. Mainak explains that Lord
Vayu had once saved him from
Indra's
Vajra. Not wanting to waste any time, Hanuman thanks the mountain, touches it briefly, and presses on. He then encounters a goddess disguised as a sea-monster,
Surasa, who challenges him to enter her mouth. When Hanuman outwits her, she admits that her challenge was merely a test of his courage. After killing Simhika, a
rakshasi, he reaches
Lanka.
Hanuman leapt with all his might from the top of Mahendra Hill
Finding Sita[edit]
Hanuman finds Sita in the ashoka grove, and shows her Rama's ring
Hanuman reaches Lanka through Air jump and marvels at its beauty. After he finds Sita in captivity in a garden, Hanuman reveals his identity to her, reassures her that Rama has been looking for her, and uplifts her spirits. He offers to carry her back to Rama, but she refuses his offer, saying it would be an insult to Rama as his honour is at stake. In order to give Sita faith, Hanuman gives her a ring that Rama wanted Hanuman to give her. After meeting Sita, Hanuman begins to wreak havoc, gradually destroying the palaces and properties of Lanka. He kills many rakshasas, including Jambumali and Aksha Kumar. To subdue him, Ravana's son
Indrajit uses the
Brahmastra. Though immune to the effects of this weapon Hanuman, out of respect to
Brahma, allows himself be bound. Deciding to use the opportunity to meet Ravana, and to assess the strength of Ravana's hordes, Hanuman allows the rakshasa warriors to parade him through the streets. He conveys Rama's message of warning and demands the safe return of Sita. He also informs Ravana that Rama would be willing to forgive him if he returns Sita honourably.
Enraged, Ravana orders Hanuman's execution, whereupon Ravana's brother
Vibhishana intervenes, pointing out that it is against the rules of engagement to kill a messenger. Ravana then orders Hanuman's tail be lit afire. As Ravana's forces attempted to wrap cloth around his tail, Hanuman begins to lengthen it. After frustrating them for a while, he allows it to burn, then escapes from his captors, and with his tail on fire he burns down large parts of Lanka. After extinguishing his flaming tail in the sea, he returns to Rama.
Shapeshifting[edit]
In the
Ramayana Hanuman changes shape several times. A time when he changed shape was while he searches for the kidnapped Sita in Ravana's palaces on Lanka, he contracts himself to the size of a cat, so that he will not be detected by the enemy. Later on, he takes on the size of a mountain, blazing with radiance, to show his true power to Sita.
[22]
Also he enlarges & immediately afterwards contracts his body to out-wit Surasa, a goddess (mother of nagas) disguised as a she-demon, who blocked his path while crossing the sea to reach Lanka. Again, he turns his body microscopically small to enter Lanka before outwitting and defeating Lankini, the she-demon guarding the gates of Lanka, in combat, who allows Hanuman passage into Lanka after recalling a prophecy that Ravana's end would come when she lost to a vanara.
He achieved this shape-shifting by the powers of two
siddhis;
Anima and
Garima bestowed upon him in his childhood by Sun-God,
Surya.
Mountain lifting[edit]
Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910s
When Lakshmana is badly wounded during the battle against
Indrajit, Hanuman is sent to fetch the
Sanjivani, a powerful life-restoring herb, from
Dronagiri mountain in the
Himalayas, to revive him. Ravana realises that if Lakshmana dies, a distraught Rama would probably give up, and so he dispatches the sorcerer Kalanemi to intercept Hanuman. Kalanemi, in the guise of a sage, deceives Hanuman, but Hanuman uncovers his plot with the help of an
apsara, whom he rescues from her accursed state as a crocodile.
[2]:147
Ravana, upon learning that Kalanemi has been slain by Hanuman, summons
Surya to rise before its appointed time because the
physician Sushena had said that Lakshmana would perish if untreated by daybreak. Hanuman realizes the danger, however, and, becoming many times his normal size, detains the Sun God to prevent the break of day. He traps Surya in his armpits and then resumes his search for the precious herb, but, when he finds himself unable to identify which herb it is, he lifts the entire mountain and delivers it to the battlefield in Lanka. Sushena then identifies and administers the herb, and
Lakshmana is saved. Rama embraces Hanuman, declaring him as dear to him as his own brother. Hanuman releases Surya from his armpit, and asks forgiveness, as the Sun was also his
Guru.
During the war, Rama and Lakshmana are captured by the rakshasa Mahiravana and
Ahiravan, brother of Ravana, who held them captive in their palace in
Patala (or Patalpuri) --the netherworld. Mahiravana keeps them as offerings to his deity. Searching for them, Hanuman reaches Patala, the gates of which are guarded by a young creature called
Makardhwaja (known also as Makar-Dhwaja or Magar Dhwaja), who is part reptile and part Vanara.
The story of Makardhwaja's birth is said to be that when Hanuman extinguished his burning tail in the ocean, a drop of his sweat fell into the waters, eventually becoming Makardhwaja, who perceives Hanuman as his father. When Hanuman introduces himself to Makardhwaja, the latter asks his blessings. Hanuman enters Patala.
Upon entering Patala, Hanuman discovers that to kill Mahiravana, he must simultaneously extinguish five lamps burning in different directions. Hanuman assumes the
Panchamukha or five-faced form of Sri
Varaha facing north, Sri
Narasimha facing south, Sri
Garuda facing west, Sri
Hayagriva facing the sky and his own facing the east, and blows out the lamps. Hanuman then rescues Rama and Lakshmana. Afterwards, Rama asks Hanuman to crown Makardhwaja king of Patala. Hanuman then instructs Makardhwaja to rule Patala with justice and wisdom.
To date Chandraloak Devpuri mandir is located at Dugana a small village 17 km from Laharpur, Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh. A divine place where Chakleswar Mahadev situated.
Honours[edit]
Hanuman showing Rama in His heart
Shortly after he is crowned Emperor upon his return to
Ayodhya, Rama decides to ceremoniously reward all his well-wishers. At a grand ceremony in his court, all his friends and allies take turns being honoured at the throne. Hanuman approaches without desiring a reward. Seeing Hanuman come up to him, an emotionally overwhelmed Rama embraces him warmly, declaring that he could never adequately honour or repay Hanuman for the help and services he received from the noble Vanara. Sita, however, insists that Hanuman deserved honour more than anyone else, and Sita gives him a necklace of precious stones adorning her neck.
When he receives it, Hanuman immediately takes it apart, and peers into each stone. Taken aback, many of those present demand to know why he is destroying the precious gift. Hanuman answers that he was looking into the stones to make sure that Rama and Sita are in them, because if they are not, the necklace is of no value to him. At this, a few mock Hanuman, saying his reverence and love for Rama and Sita could not possibly be as deep as he implies. In response, Hanuman tears his chest open, and everyone is stunned to see Rama and Sita literally in his heart.
Hanuman Ramayana[edit]
After the victory of Rama over
Ravana, Hanuman went to the Himalayas. There he scripted a version of the Ramayana on the Himalayan mountains using his nails, recording every detail of Rama's deeds. When Maharishi
Valmikivisited him to show him his own version of the Ramayana, he saw Hanuman's version and became very disappointed.
When Hanuman asked Valmiki the cause of his sorrow, the sage said that his version, which he had created very laboriously, was no match for the splendour of Hanuman's, and would therefore go ignored. At this, Hanuman discarded his own version, which is called the Hanumad Ramayana. Maharishi Valmiki was so taken aback that he said he would take another birth to sing the glory of Hanuman which he had understated in his version.
Later, one tablet is said to have floated ashore during the period of Mahakavi
Kalidasa, and hung at a public place to be deciphered by scholars. Kalidasa is said to have deciphered it and recognised that it was from the Hanumad Ramayana recorded by Hanuman in an extinct script, and considered himself very fortunate to see at least one
pada of the stanza.
After the Ramayana war[edit]
After the war, and after reigning for several years, the time arrived for
Rama to depart to his supreme abode
Vaikuntha..Many of Rama's entourage, including Sugriva, decided to depart with him. Hanuman, however, requested from Rama that he will remain on
earth as long as Rama's name was venerated by people. Rama accorded Hanuman that desire, and granted that his image would be installed at various public places, so he could listen to people chanting Rama's name. He is one of the
immortals (
Chiranjivi) of
Hinduism.
[23]
Appearance in the Mahabharata[edit]
Hanuman is also considered to be the brother of
Bhima, on the basis of their having the same father,
Vayu. During the
Pandavas' exile, he appears disguised as a weak and aged monkey to Bhima in order to subdue his arrogance. Bhima enters a field where Hanuman is lying with his tail blocking the way. Bhima, unaware of his identity, tells him to move it out of the way. Hanuman, incognito, refuses. Bhima then tries to move the tail himself but he is unable, despite his great strength. Realising he is no ordinary monkey, he inquires as to Hanuman's identity, which is then revealed. At Bhima's request, Hanuman is also said to have enlarged himself to demonstrate the proportions he had assumed in his crossing of the sea as he journeyed to Lanka and also said that when the war came, he would be there to protect the
Pandavas.
Pandupole is claimed as the place where this meeting happened.
During the great battle of
Kurukshetra,
Arjuna entered the battlefield with a flag displaying Hanuman on his
chariot.
[23] The incident that led to this was an earlier encounter between Hanuman and Arjuna, wherein Hanuman appeared as a small talking monkey before Arjuna at
Rameshwaram, where Rama had built the
great bridge to cross over to Lanka to rescue Sita. Upon Arjuna's wondering aloud at Rama's taking the help of monkeys rather than building a bridge of arrows, Hanuman challenged him to build a bridge capable of bearing him alone; Arjuna, unaware of the vanara's true identity, accepted. Hanuman then proceeded to repeatedly destroy the bridges made by Arjuna, who decided to take his own life. Krishna smiled and placed his divine discus beneath the bridge, and this time Hanuman could no longer break it.
Vishnu then appeared before them both after originally coming in the form of a
tortoise, chiding Arjuna for his vanity and Hanuman for making Arjuna feel incompetent. As an act of penitence, Hanuman decided to help Arjuna by stabilizing and strengthening his chariot during the imminent great battle. After, the battle of
Kurukshetra was over,
Krishna asked Arjuna, that today you step down the chariot before me. After Arjuna got down, Krishna followed him and thanked Hanuman for staying with them during the whole fight in the form of a flag on the chariot. Hanuman came in his original form, bowed to Krishna and left the flag, flying away into the sky. As soon as he left the flag, the chariot began to burn and turned into ashes. Arjuna was shocked to see this, then Krishna told Arjuna, that the only reason his chariot was still standing was because of the presence of Himself and Hanuman, otherwise, it would have burnt many days ago due to effects of celestial weapons thrown at it in the war.
Hanuman in Other Indian Texts[edit]
In Other Hindu Scriptures[edit]
Hanuman is characterized as a celibate in most Indian texts. However, in the Khmer
Reamker and Thai
Ramakien, Hanuman falls in love with the pretty mermaid
Suvannamaccha.
[24]
Apart from Ramayana and Mahabharata, Hanuman is mentioned in several other texts. Some of these stories add to his adventures mentioned in the earlier epics, while others tell alternative stories of his life.
The
Brahma Purana mentions that the vanaras built several Shiva
lingams in
Kishkindha. After his return to Ayodhya, Rama asks Hanuman to destroy these lingams, as they are no longer required. However, when Hanuman is unable to uproot these lingams, Rama orders them to worshipped permanently. The
Skanda Purana mentions a variant of this story, which happens in
Rameswaram.
[25] The
Narada Purana describes Hanuman as a master of vocal music, and as an embodiment of the combined power of Shiva and Vishnu.
Apart from the
Puranas, the
Agama Saunaka Samhitha, and
Agastya Sara Samhitha explains certain stories which are not mentioned in other Hindu texts along with the worship rituals of Hanuman.
The 16th-century Indian poet
Tulsidas wrote
Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional song dedicated to Hanuman. He claimed to have visions where he met face to face with Hanuman. Based on these meetings, he wrote
Ramcharitmanas, an
Awadhi language version of Ramayana.
[26] The
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple (Varanasi) is said to be located on the spot where Tulsidas had these visions. The works of Tulsidas played an important role in increasing the popularity of Hanuman worship in North India.
Durga Chalisa mentions that Hanuman leads and welcomes the procession of the ferocious lion-riding
Bhavani.
In the Jain versions of the Ramayana[edit]
Paumacariya (also known as
Pauma Chariu or
Padmacharit), the
Jain version of Ramayana written by
Vimalasuri, mentions Hanuman as a
Vidyadhara (a supernatural being), who is the son of
Pavangati and
Anjana Sundari. Anjana gives birth to Hanuman in a forest cave, after being banished by her in-laws. Her maternal uncle rescues her from the forest; while boarding his
vimana, Anjana accidentally drops her baby on a rock. However, the baby remains uninjured while the rock is shattered. The baby is raised in
Hanuruha, his great uncle's island kingdom, from which Hanuman gets his name. In this version, Hanuman is not
celibate. He marries princess
Anangakusuma, the daughter of
Kharadushana and
Ravana's sister
Chandranakha. Ravana also presents Hanuman one of his nieces as a second wife. After becoming an ally of
Sugriva, Hanuman acquires a hundred more wives. Hanuman is originally enraged at
Rama for murdering his father-in-law Kharadushana. However, he becomes a supporter of Rama after meeting him and learning about
Sita's kidnapping by Ravana. He goes to
Lanka on Rama's behalf, but is unable to convince Ravana to surrender. Ultimately, he joins Rama in the war against Ravana and performs several heroic deeds. After the victory and subsequent celebrations, both Rama and Hanuman take Jaineshwari
Dikshaand become
Jain Munis and achieve
salvation.
[2]:50–51 Later Jain texts such as
Uttarapurana (9th century CE) by
Gunabhadra and
Anjana-Pavananjaya (12th century CE) tell the same story.
The non-Indian versions of Ramayana, such as the Thai
Ramakien, mention that Hanuman had relationships with multiple women, including Svayamprabha,
Benjakaya (Vibhisana's daughter),
Suvannamaccha and even Ravana's wife
Mandodari.
[6] According to these
versions of the Ramayana,
Macchanu is son of Hanuman borne by Suvannamaccha, daughter of
Ravana.
[27][28][29] The Jain text
Paumacariya also mentions that Hanuman married Lankasundari, the daughter of Lanka's chief defender Bajramukha.
[30] Another legend says that a demigod named Matsyaraja (also known as
Makardhwaja or Matsyagarbha) claimed to be his son. Matsyaraja's birth is explained as follows: a fish (
matsya) was impregnated by the drops of Hanuman's sweat, while he was bathing in the ocean.
[6] According to
Parasara Samhita, Hanuman married Suvarchala, the daughter of
Surya (the Sun God).
[31]
Immortality and Afterlife[edit]
Hanuman's cultural impact extends beyond the epic in which his deeds are celebrated. Hanuman is widely believed to be immortal;
[32] thus, although he is a principal figure in the great epic
Ramayana, he also makes an appearance in the (historically later, but equally famous) epic
Mahabharata, where he meets the hero Bhima.
It is traditionally claimed that Hanuman is present wherever the Ramayana is read:
[33]
अमलकमलवर्णं प्रज्ज्वलत्पावकाक्षं सरसिजनिभवक्त्रं सर्वदा सुप्रसन्नम् |
पटुतरघनगात्रं कुण्डलालङ्कृताङ्गं रणजयकरवालं वानरेशं नमामि ||
यत्र यत्र रघुनाथकीर्तनं तत्र तत्र कृतमस्तकाञ्जलिम् ।
बाष्पवारिपरिपूर्णलोचनं मारुतिं नमत राक्षसान्तकम् ॥
yatra yatra raghunāthakīrtanaṃ tatra tatra kṛta mastakāñjalim ।
bāṣpavāriparipūrṇalocanaṃ mārutiṃ namata rākṣasāntakam ॥
| “ | Bow down to Hanumān, who is the slayer of demons, and who is present with head bowed and eyes full of flowing tears wherever the fame of Rāma is sung. | ” |
[citation needed]
Similar claims can be found in other texts, such as the
Vinaya Patrika by
Tulsidas, with only slight variations in language. During readings of the
Ramayana, a special
puja and space ("asana", or seat) are reserved for Hanuman.
Temples & Shrines[edit]
Hanuman temple, Nurawa Eliya, Sri Lanka
Hanuman is worshipped by villagers as a boundary guardian, by
Shaiva ascetics as a
Yogi, and by wrestlers for his strength.
[34] There are numerous temples for Hanuman, and his images are usually installed at all temples where images of avatars of
Vishnu are installed.
Hanuman temples are believed to keep the area and surroundings free of
rakshasas (demons) and other evil beings. Hanuman idols are found on mountain roads because it is believed that he protects people from accidents.
Jakhu temple is a famous temple at
Shimla, the capital of
Himachal Pradesh. The word "Jakhu" is derived from "Yaku"/"Yaksha". The hill is the legendary abode of Yaksha, Kinners Nagas and Asuras. The temple was founded on a plain where, according to legend, Hanuman's sudden landing flattened a hill. A 108-foot (33-metre) statue of Hanuman has been erected at the top of the 8,500-foot (2,591-metre) tall Jakhu Hill, the highest point in
Shimla.
[35]
According to the
Ramayana, during the battle between Rama and Ravana at Lanka, Lakshmana, brother of Rama, was mortally wounded by an arrow. To save his life, Hanuman journeyed to the Himalayas to retrieve the
Sanjeevaniherb. En route, he encountered a meditating sage on Jakhu mountain; as he paused to inquire about the herb, Hanuman's landing on the mountain compressed the earth, changing the shape of the mountain to its present state. In his haste to depart, Hanuman is said to have left his friends behind, and they are said to continue to roam the area even today. A temple honoring Hanuman was constructed by the Jakhu sage.
The oldest known independent Hanuman statue is the one at
Khajuraho, which has an inscription dated Sam. 940 (AD 883) mentioning that it was erected by Gahil's son Gollak.
[2][36]
Rock cut idol of Veer hanuman is found on almost on all the forts in Maharashtra during the Maratha regime. It was worshipped as a god of strength, luck and of invincible powers. the idols on the
Visapur fort,
Tikona,
Mahipatgad are some of them.
Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple is located in the town of
Namakkal,
Tamil Nadu. There is an 18-feet idol of Hanuman in the temple facing east, worshipping Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami (one of the avatar of god Vishnu) in this temple. Anjenayar idol is
Swayambu, believed to be growing in height; thus, temple has no roof enclosing.
Sholinghur Sri Yoga Narasimha swami temple and Sri Yoga Anjaneyar temple, located in Sholinghur, a town which is about 30 km from
Arakkonam of
Vellore District. Sri yoga Anjaneyar temple located over small hill containing 480 steps from ground. Lord Anjaneyar with Sathurpujam (sathur=four, pujam=arms) Sri Sangu and Sri Chakaram 2 hands and Jabba Malai and Jaba Shankaram in other two respectively facing Sri yoga Narasimha swami and Yoga Amurthavalli Thayar present over hill (periya malai= big hill) with 1305 steps from ground. Sholinghur shetram one among 108 divya desams also one of the most famous temple of our Lord Anjaneya.
Ragigudda Anjaneya temple is a Hanuman temple located in JP Nagar Bangalore. The temple is located on a hillock. The Hanuman temple at Nerul, Navi Mumbai,
Maharashtra,
India is situated inside SIES complex. The Hanuman idol is 33 feet (10 m) tall and is installed on a pedestal of height 12 feet (4 m), bringing the total height to 45 feet (14 m). In the picture shown, Hanuman has silver coverings (Silver Kavasam). The 33 feet Hanuman idol is carved out of single granite stone. This is the tallest single granite stone Hanuman idol in India as per the temple.
Similarly, a 32 feet (10 m) idol of Sri Anjaneyar was entrenched in 1989 at
Nanganallur in Chennai,
India. The distinguishing factor of the idol is that it was molded out of a single rock.
Hanuman Vatika in Rourkela, Odisha has a 75-foot (23 m) statue of Hanuman.Other temples inside the premises are 12 Jyotirlingas, Batta Mangala Devi, Sarala Devi Temple, Jagannath Temple, Lakshmi, and Santoshi Mata Temple.
Suchindram temple is a pious place lying about 14 km from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. The temple is famous for its 18 feet tall Hanuman idol. This idol is decorated fully with butter (Vennai kappu in Tamil) and Sandalwood paste (Chandana kappu in Tamil).
In Rajasthan, Hanuman Temples at Mehendipur Balaji in Dausa district (80 km from Jaipur) and Salasar dhaam in Churu district (160 km from Jaipur) attract a large number of devotees from all over India. The idol of Hanumanji at Hanuman Temple, Mehendipur Balaji is Svayambhu and attracts many devotees for getting rid of evil spirits. Apart from this Sri Balaji Maharaj(Bal-Hanuman) of Mehndipur Balaji give blessings and grants wishes to his devotees. [{Chandraloak Devpuri Balaji}] is located in Dugana 17 km from Laharpur district, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh.
Bhaktha Anjaneyar is Temple is located in Vedasandur, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.
Ashtamsa Varadha Anjaneyar Temple is located in
Coimbatore. The idol of the deity is made of
Salagrama stone. In the temple, goddess
Lakshmi graces the devotees from the right palm of Hanuman whose tail faces North, direction of
Kubera, god of wealth. The main deity faces west, is seen posing Abhaya Mudra with his right hand and holding a club with the other hand.
[38] During the
Tamil New Year, an offering of 10,008 fruits is made to the deity. Raja Maruthi Alankaram, Vennai Alankaram and Vadamalai offerings are the regular Sevas here on Saturdays. In the Tamil month of
Purattasi, Vadai Malai, Swaya Roopam, Chenduram, Swarnamayam and Muthangi Sevai are offered to god on Saturdays.
[39]
Kaviyoor is a small village about 5–6 km from the town of Thiruvalla, Kerala The
Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple here is about 100 years old and the Hanuman temple inside the Shiva temple is considered as very auspicious by devotees. Hanuman idol consecrated here is made of Panchaloha and is depicting him telling the story of Ramayana to Sita in the Asoka Vana.
Yalagur, a small village about 30–35 km from the town of Bagalkot in Karnataka, also has a temple dedicated to Hanuman.
Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple, at Ramboda in
Sri Lanka is known to be a place where Hanuman was searching for Sita Devi.
Worship[edit]
Some of the prayers, songs,
mantras,
shlokas, devoted to Hanuman include
Hanuman Chalisa,
Bajranga Baan,
Maruti Strotam,
Anjaneya Dandakam ,
Vadvanal Strotam,
Hanuman Sathhika,
Hanuman Bahuk,
Hanuman Dwadesha,
Bhimrupi Strotam,
Sundara Kanda,
Maruti Gayatri Mantra,
Hanumansahasranam stotra (
Stotra of thousand names of Hanuman),
Ek-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham,
Pancha-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham and
Sapta-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham.
Panchamukhi Hanuman[edit]
Hanuman assumed Panchamukhi or five-faced form to kill
Ahiravana, a powerful
rakshasa black-magician and practitioner of the dark arts during the
Ramayana war. Ahiravana, brother of
Ravana, had taken Lord
Rama and
Lakshmana to netherworld as captive, and the only way to kill him was to extinguish five lamps burning in different directions, all at the same instant. Hanuman assumed His
Panchamukha form and accomplished the task, thus killing the
rakshasa, and freeing
Rama and
Lakshmana.
| Face | Direction | Significance |
|---|
| Sri Hanuman (Original) | East | This face removes all blemishes of sin and confers purity of mind. |
| Narasimha | South | Removes fear of enemies and confers victory. Narasimha is the Lion-Man avatar of Lord Vishnu, who took the form to protect his devotee Prahlad from his evil father, Hiranyakashipu. Hanuman may have had this face during the burning of Lanka and fighting in the war. |
| Garuda | West | Drives away evil spells, black magic influences, negative spirits and removes all poisonous effects in one's body. Garuda is Lord Vishnu's vehicle, as the King of birds he knows the secrets of death and the beyond. The Garuda Purana is a Hindu text based on this knowledge. |
| Varaha | North | Wards off the troubles caused by bad influences of the planets and confers all eight types prosperity (Ashta Aishwarya). Varaha is another Lord Vishnu avatar, he took this form and dug up land, Hanuman may have had this face whilst collecting the Sanjeev mountain. |
| Hayagriva | Upwards | (Urddha Mukha) face confers knowledge, victory, good wife and progeny. |
This form of Hanuman (five faced hanuman) is described in Parashara Samhitha ( an Agama text). This form of Hanuman is very popular, and is also known as Panchamukha Anjaneya and Panchamukhi Anjaneya. (
Anjaneya, which means "son of Anjana", is another name of Hanuman). These faces show there is nothing in the world which does not come under any the influence of any of the five faces, symbolic of his all around security to all devotees.
[citation needed]
There are five ways of prayer, Naman, Smaran, Keerthanam, Yachanam and Arpanam. The five faces depict these five forms. Lord Hanuman always used to Naman, Smaran and Keerthanam of Lord Sri Rama. He totally surrendered (Arpanam) to his Master Sri Rama. He also begged (yachanam) Sri Rama to bless him the undivided love.
Chitrakoot in Central India is claimed to be the resting place of Hanuman. The Hanuman Dhara Temple is situated on the peak of mountain where there is natural rock formation image of Shri Hanuman inside the cave and a natural stream of water falling on the tail. It is believed that after the coronation of Lord
Rama, Hanuman requested for a permanent place to settle in the Kingdom of Lord Rama, where his Injury of burns on his tails will be cured. Lord Rama, then with his arrow, spurred a stream of water on the tip of mountain and asked Hanuman to rest there with water of the stream falling on his tail to cool down burning sensation in his tail. The access to the cave temple is through stairs starting from bottom of the mountain to its top. It takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes to reach the temple. Over time the temple has gained a new name, namely Hanuman Dhara.
[citation needed]
Sri
Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami was the main deity of Sri
Raghavendra Swami. The
place where he meditated on this five-faced form of Hanuman is now known as
Panchamukhi, wherein a temple for him has been built. There is also a shrine for Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami at
Kumbakonam in
Tamil Nadu,
India. A 40 feet (12 m) tall monolithic green granite
murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed in
Thiruvallur, also in Tamil Nadu. This place was known as Rudravanam in olden times when many saints and seers had blessed this place with their presence. The Panchamukha Hanuman Ashram itself was established by a saint called Venkatesa Battar.
[citation needed] A four-foot image of Panchmukha Hanuman has been consecrated West of Lusaka, Zambia in Oye Kapi farm.
[citation needed]
Relation with Shani[edit]
In Hinduism, Hanuman is one of the few persons — human or divine — who cannot be adversely affected by
Shani, the astrological
personification of the planet
Saturn. Legend has it that Shani, a planet believed to have a highly negative influence,
[40] could not cast his malefic spell over Hanuman. As a result, people worship Hanuman to get rid of the adverse effects that Shani inflicts on people's lives.
In the
Ramayana, Hanuman is said to have rescued Shani from the clutches of
Ravana. In gratitude, Shani promised that those who prayed to Hanuman would be rescued from Shani's painful effects.
[41]
According to another version of the story,
[42] Lord Shani once climbed onto Hanuman's shoulders, indicating that he (Hanuman) was about to come under the malefic influence of the planet Saturn. Hanuman immediately assumed such a large size that Shani was caught painfully between Hanuman's shoulders and the ceiling of the room they were in. As the pain was unbearable, Shani asked Hanuman to release him, promising that he would moderate the malefic effects of his influence on any person who prayed to Hanuman. At this point, Hanuman released Shani.
In the hymn "The Thousand Names of Hanuman" (Hanumansahasranam Stotra), Shani is one of the names of Hanuman; and in some regions of India, Hanuman is depicted sporting an iron whip like that of Shani.
Hanuman statue at Bali, Indonesia
Hanuman and negative energies[edit]
Hanuman is worshiped also to get rid or win over demons (like
daitya,
danava), demi-gods (like
Yaksha,
kinnara,
Gandharvas,
Nāga-
Nāginī), evil spirits (like
Bhutam,
Preta,
Pishacha,
Churela,
Vetala,
Brahmrakshasa) and other powerful negative energies (like
Dakini,
Shakini,
Kakini,
Kamini), which find their mention in
Hinduism.
[43][44][45][46]
Hanuman in Southeast Asia[edit]
In Southeast Asian Versions of Ramayana[edit]
Khmer Hanuman[edit]
Hanuman is a godlike figure in Cambodia history from the Angkor period. He features predominantly in the
Reamker, a Cambodian epic poem, based on the Sanskrit's Ramayana epic.
[47] The original Ramayana arrived to Southeast Asia from South India along with Hinduism, but its retelling there suggests Buddhist influence. Intricate carvings on the walls of Angkor Wat depict a scene from the Ramayana dating back nearly a millennium.
[48] Statues of the poem's heroes were worshiped in temple sanctuaries, akin to the wall paintings at Cambodia's Royal Palace and Wat Bo. The Thai Hanuman stems from the same origins, during a time when it was part of the Angkor Empire.
Thai Hanuman[edit]
The Thai Hanuman was adapted from the origin of
Ramakien in the Hindu Hanuman. In
Thailand culture, Hanuman appears wearing crown on his head and
armor to protect him from
demons. In addition, the Thai Hanuman was derived from the
Lopburi monkey in Thailand. According in Thai mythology, Hanuman was created by
Lord Shiva as a main weapon. Hanuman's appearance has
crystal teeth,
diamond fur, and a long tail that can surround a whole mountain. Moreover, Hanuman's mother is
Anjana who was paralyzed for many months until the god of wind
Vayu blew air into her mouth, and then she gave birth from her mouth the white monkey Hanuman who was already seven years old when he was born.
In
Ramkien, Hanuman is a devoted soldier of
Rama, and a very strong monkey that could kill millions of King Toskaka's
Demon armies. Unlike in Indian adaptations, he is not a celibate, and meets the
mermaid Suvannamacchawhile on a mission for
Rama. The couple have a son: the half
monkey, half
fish Macchanu. Moreover, Hanuman had another son with a beautiful female
demon.
[49]
See also[edit]
Hanuman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hanuman (
;
Hanumān in
IAST)
[1] is an ardent devotee of Sri
Rama. He is one of the central figures in the
Hindu epic Ramayana and its
various versions. As one of the
Chiranjivi, he is also mentioned in several other texts, including the
Mahabharata, the various
Puranas and some
Jain texts. Hanuman participated in Rama's war against the demon king
Ravana. Several later texts also present him as an incarnation of
Shiva. He is the son of
Anjana and
Kesari and is also described as the son of the wind-god
Pawan, who according to several stories, played a role in his birth.
Etymology and other names[edit]
Indonesian Balinese wooden statue of Hanuman
The Sanskrit texts mention several legends about how Hanuman got his name. One legend is that
Indra, the king of the gods, struck Hanuman's jaw during his childhood (
see below). The child received his name from the Sanskrit words
Hanu ("jaw") and
-man (or
-mant, "prominent" or "disfigured"). The name thus means "one with prominent or disfigured jaw". Another theory says the name derives from the Sanskrit words
Han ("killed" or "destroyed") and
maana (pride); the name implies "one whose pride was destroyed".
[2]:31–32 Some Jain texts mention that Hanuman spent his childhood on an island called
Hanuruha, which is the origin of his name.
[2]:189
According to another theory, the name "Hanuman" derives from the
proto-Dravidian word for male monkey (
ana-mandi), which was later Sanskritized to "Hanuman" (see
historical development below). Linguistic variations of "Hanuman" include
Hanumat, Anuman (
Tamil), Hanumantha (
Kannada), Hanumanthudu (
Telugu), Anoman (
Indonesian), Andoman (
Malay) and Hunlaman (
Lao). Other names of Hanuman include:
- Anjaneya,[3] Anjaniputra, 'Anjaneyar (Tamil), Anjaneyudu (Telugu), Anjanisuta all meaning "the son of Anjana".
- Kesari Nandan ("son of Kesari")
- Marutinandan, Pavanputra, Vaataatmaja: "the son of the wind-god Vayu"; the deity who carried Hanuman to Anjana's womb
- Bajrang Bali, "the strong one (bali), who had limbs (anga) as hard as a vajra (bajra)"; this name is widely used in rural North India.[2]:31–32
- Sang Kera Pemuja Dewa Rama, Hanuman, the Indonesian for "The mighty devotee ape of Rama, Hanuman"
In addition, Hanuman has received several epithets, including:
- Manojavam, the one who is swift as mind (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
- Maarutatulyavegam, the one who has a speed as the wind god (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
- Jitendriyam, the one who has complete control of his senses (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
- Buddhimataamvarishtham, the one who is most senior among intellectuals (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra)
- Vaanarayoothamukhyam, the one who is the chief of vanara army (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra). Similar in meaning to - Vaanaraanaamadheesham.
- Shreeraamadootam, the one who is the messenger of Rama (appears in Ram Raksha Stotra).
- Atulita Bala Dhaamam, the one who is the repository of incomparable strength.
- Hemshailaabha Deham, the one whose body resembles a golden mountain.
- Danujvana Krushanum, the one who is the destroyer of forces of demons.
- Gyaaninaam Agraganyam, the one who is considered foremost among knowledgeable beings.
- Sakala Guna Nidhaanam, the one who is the repository of all the virtues and good qualities.
- Raghupati Priya Bhaktam, the one who is the dearest of all devotees to Rama.
- Sankata Mochana, the one who liberates (moca) from dangers (sankata)[2]:31–32
In the 3rd chapter of Kishkindha Kaanda of
Valmiki Ramayana,
[4] Rama describes many attributes of Hanuman's personality. Summarized as follows:
- Ablest sentence maker.
- The knower of all Vedas and Scriptures.
- Scholar in nine schools of grammars.
- Possessing faultless speech and facial features
Historical development[edit]
Hanuman is mentioned in both the
Hindu epics,
Ramayana and
Mahabharata.
[5] The word "Vrsakapi" or "Vrishakapi", later used as an epithet for Hanuman,
[2]:40 is mentioned in the
Rigveda (X:86). Some writers, such as Nilakantha (author of
Mantra Ramayana) believe that the Vrishakapi of Rigveda alludes to Hanuman. However, other scholars believe that Hanuman is not mentioned in the
Vedic mythology: the "Vrsakapi" of Rigveda refers to another deity
[6] or is a common name for the monkeys.
[7]
The orientalist
F. E. Pargiter (1852-1927) theorized that Hanuman was a
proto-Dravidian deity, and the name "Hanuman" was a Sanskritization of the
Old Tamil word
Aan-mandhi or
An-manti ("male monkey"). A Hindi writer Ray Govindchandra (1976) influenced by Pargiter's opinion, suggested that the
proto-Indo-Aryans may have invented a Sanskrit etymology for the deity's name, after they accepted Hanuman in their pantheon.
[2]:40 This theory was also supported by other scholars, including linguist
Suniti Kumar Chatterji.
[8] However, the twentieth-century linguist
Murray Emeneau, specializing in Dravidian languages, criticized this theory, pointing out that the word
mandi, as attested in
Sangam literature, can refer only to a female monkey, and therefore, the word
ana-mandi makes no semantic sense.
[2]:40 A twentieth-century Jesuit missionary
Camille Bulcke, in his
Ramkatha: Utpatti Aur Vikas ("The tale of Rama: its origin and development"), expresses the belief that Hanuman worship had its basis in the cults of
aboriginal tribes of Central India.
[6] According to him, the
Ramayana may have been influenced by older tribal ballads.
[9]
Hanuman came to be regarded as an
avatar of the god
Shiva by the 10th century CE (this development possibly started as early as in the 8th century CE).
[6] Hanuman is mentioned as an avatar of Shiva or Rudra in the Sanskrit texts like the
Mahabhagvata Purana, the
Skanda Purana, the
Brhaddharma Purana and the
Mahanataka among others. This development might have been a result of the
Shavite attempts to insert their
ishta devata (cherished deity) in the
Vaishnavite texts, which were gaining popularity.
[6] The 17th century
Odia work
Rasavinoda by
Dinakrishnadasa goes on to mention that the
three gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – combined to take to the form of Hanuman.
[10]
Hanuman became more important in the medieval period and came to be portrayed as the ideal devotee (
bhakta) of Rama. His characterization as a lifelong
brahmachari (celibate) was another important development during this period.
[6] The belief that Hanuman's celibacy is the source of his strength became popular among the wrestlers in India.
[11] The celibacy or
brahmacharya aspect of Hanuman is not mentioned in the original Ramayana.
[2]:309 In Jain texts, Hanuman is depicted as the 17th of 24
Kamadevas, the one who is ultimately handsome.
[2]:330
Birth and childhood[edit]
Hanuman was born to anjan Dham Gumla his mother
Anjana was an
apsara who was born on
earth due to a curse. She was redeemed from this curse on giving birth to a son. The
Valmiki Ramayana states that his father
Kesariwas the son of
Brihaspati, he was the King of a place named Sumeru.
[12] Anjana performed intense prayers lasting 12 long years to
Shiva to get a child. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva granted them the son they sought.
[13]Hanuman, in another interpretation, is the incarnation or reflection of Shiva himself.
[citation needed]
Hanuman is often called the son of the deity
Vayu (Wind God); several different traditions account for the Vayu's role in Hanuman's birth. One story mentioned in
Eknath's
Bhavartha Ramayana (16th century CE) states that when Anjana was worshiping Shiva, the King
Dasharatha of
Ayodhya was also performing the ritual of
Putrakama yagna in order to have children. As a result, he received some sacred pudding (
payasam) to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of
Rama,
Lakshmana,
Bharata, and
Shatrughna. By divine ordinance, a
kite snatched a fragment of that pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship.
Vayu, the
Hindu deity of the wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result.
[12][14] Another tradition says that Anjana and her husband Kesari prayed Shiva for a child. By Shiva's direction, Vayu transferred his male energy to Anjana's womb. Accordingly, Hanuman is identified as the son of the Vayu.
[citation needed]
Another story of Hanuman's origins is derived from the
Vishnu Purana and
Naradeya Purana.
Narada, infatuated with a princess, went to his lord
Vishnu, to make him look like Vishnu, so that the princess would garland him at
swayamvara (husband-choosing ceremony). He asked for
hari mukh (Hari is another name of Vishnu, and
mukh means face). Vishnu instead bestowed him with the face of a vanara. Unaware of this, Narada went to the princess, who burst into laughter at the sight of his ape-like face before all the king's court. Narada, unable to bear the humiliation, cursed Vishnu, that Vishnu would one day be dependent upon a
vanara. Vishnu replied that what he had done was for Narada's own good, as he would have undermined his own powers if he were to enter matrimony. Vishnu also noted that
Hari has the dual Sanskrit meaning of
vanara. Upon hearing this, Narada repented for cursing Vishnu. But Vishnu told him not to repent as the curse would act as a boon, for it would lead to the birth of Hanuman, an avatar of Shiva, without whose help Rama (Vishnu's avatar) could not kill Ravana.
[citation needed]
Birthplace[edit]
Multiple places in India are claimed as the birthplace of Hanuman.
- According to one theory, Hanuman was born on 'Anjaneya Hill', in Hampi, Karnataka.[15]
- Anjan, a small village about 18 km away from Gumla, houses "Anjan Dham", which is said to be the birthplace of Hanuman.[16] The name of the village is derived from the name of the goddess Anjani, the mother of Hanuman. Aanjani Gufa (cave), 4 km from the village, is believed to be the place where Anjani once lived. Many objects of archaeological importance obtained from this site are now held at the Patna Museum.[citation needed]
- The Anjaneri (or Anjneri) mountain, located 7 km from Trimbakeshwar in the Nasik district, is also claimed as the birthplace of Hanuman.[17]
- According to Anjan Dham, Hanuman was born on Lakshka Hill near Sujangarh in Churu district, Rajasthan.[18]
- According to Puri Dham, Hanuman met Sri Ram on dense forest of mountain hill near Khurda, Bhubaneshwar. It is believed that the mountain was once the kingdom of Bali (The Monkey King), where Bali defeated a Asura in a cave, fighting for fifteen days and fifteen nights.
Childhood[edit]
As a child, believing the
sun to be a ripe
mango, Hanuman pursued it in order to eat it.
Rahu, a Vedic planet corresponding to an eclipse, was at that time seeking out the sun as well, and he clashed with Hanuman. Hanuman thrashed Rahu and went to take the sun in his mouth.
[19] Rahu approached
Indra, king of
devas, and complained that a monkey child stopped him from taking on Sun, preventing the scheduled eclipse. This enraged Indra, who responded by throwing the
Vajra (thunderbolt) at Hanuman, which struck his jaw. He fell back down to the earth and became unconscious. A permanent mark was left on his chin (
हनुः hanuḥ "jaw" in
Sanskrit), due to impact of
Vajra, explaining his name.
[12][20] Upset over the attack, Hanuman's father figure Vayu deva (the deity of air) went into seclusion, withdrawing air along with him. As living beings began to asphyxiate, Indra withdrew the effect of his thunderbolt. The devas then revived Hanuman and blessed him with multiple boons to appease Vayu.
[12]
Hanuman fighting with Indra for Sun fruit
On ascertaining
Surya to be an all-knowing teacher, Hanuman raised his body into an orbit around the sun and requested to Surya to accept him as a student.
Surya refused and explained claiming that he always had to be on the move in his chariot, it would be impossible for Hanuman to learn well. Undeterred, Hanuman enlarged his form, with one leg on the eastern ranges and the other on the western ranges, and facing
Surya again pleaded. Pleased by his persistence, Surya agreed. Hanuman then learned all of the latter's knowledge. When Hanuman then requested Surya to quote his "guru-dakshina" (teacher's fee), the latter refused, saying that the pleasure of teaching one as dedicated as him was the fee in itself. Hanuman insisted, whereupon Surya asked him to help his (Surya's) spiritual son
Sugriva. Hanuman's choice of Surya as his teacher is said to signify Surya as a
Karma Saakshi, an eternal witness of all deeds. Hanuman later became
Sugriva's minister.
[12][20]
Hanuman was mischievous in his childhood, and sometimes teased the meditating sages in the forests by snatching their personal belongings and by disturbing their well-arranged articles of worship. Finding his antics unbearable, but realizing that Hanuman was but a child, (albeit invincible), the sages placed a mild curse on him by which he became unable to remember his own ability unless reminded by another person. The curse is highlighted in
Kishkindha Kandaand he was relieved from the curse by the end of
Kishkindha Kanda when
Jambavantha reminds Hanuman of his abilities and encourages him to go and find Sita and in
Sundara Kanda he used his Supernatural powers at his best.
[12]
Adventures in the Ramayana[edit]
The
Sundara Kanda, the fifth book in the Ramayana, focuses on the adventures of Hanuman.
Meeting with Rama[edit]
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa meeting Hanumān at Rishyamukha
Hanuman meets
Rama during the latter's 14-year exile.
[21] With his brother
Lakshmana, Rama is searching for his wife
Sita who had been abducted by
Ravana. Their search brings them to the vicinity of the mountain Rishyamukha, where
Sugriva, along with his followers and friends, are in hiding from his older brother
Vali.
Having seen Rama and Lakshmana, Sugriva sends Hanuman to ascertain their identities. Hanuman approaches the two brothers in the guise of a
brahmin. His first words to them are such that Rama says to Lakshmana that none could speak the way the brahmin did unless he or she had mastered the
Vedas. He notes that there is no defect in the brahmin's countenance, eyes, forehead, brows, or any limb. He points out to Lakshmana that his accent is captivating, adding that even an enemy with sword drawn would be moved. He praises the disguised Hanuman further, saying that sure success awaited the king whose emissaries were as accomplished as he was.
[21]
When Rama introduces himself, the brahman identifies himself as Hanuman and falls prostrate before Rama, who embraces him warmly. Thereafter, Hanuman's life becomes interwoven with that of Rama. Hanuman then brings about friendship and alliance between Rama and Sugriva; Rama helps Sugriva regain his honour and makes him king of Kishkindha. Sugriva and his vanaras, most notably Hanuman, help Rama defeat Raavana and reunite with Sita.
In their search for Sita, a group of Vanaras reaches the southern seashore. Upon encountering the vast ocean, every vanara begins to lament his inability to jump across the water. Hanuman too is saddened at the possible failure of his mission, until the other vanaras and the wise bear
Jambavantha begin to extol his virtues. Hanuman then recollects his own powers, enlarges his body, and flies across the ocean. On his way, he encounters
Mount Mainak that rises from the sea and offers him to rest on his mountain which had abundant fruits and berries. Mainak explains that Lord
Vayu had once saved him from
Indra's
Vajra. Not wanting to waste any time, Hanuman thanks the mountain, touches it briefly, and presses on. He then encounters a goddess disguised as a sea-monster,
Surasa, who challenges him to enter her mouth. When Hanuman outwits her, she admits that her challenge was merely a test of his courage. After killing Simhika, a
rakshasi, he reaches
Lanka.
Hanuman leapt with all his might from the top of Mahendra Hill
Finding Sita[edit]
Hanuman finds Sita in the ashoka grove, and shows her Rama's ring
Hanuman reaches Lanka through Air jump and marvels at its beauty. After he finds Sita in captivity in a garden, Hanuman reveals his identity to her, reassures her that Rama has been looking for her, and uplifts her spirits. He offers to carry her back to Rama, but she refuses his offer, saying it would be an insult to Rama as his honour is at stake. In order to give Sita faith, Hanuman gives her a ring that Rama wanted Hanuman to give her. After meeting Sita, Hanuman begins to wreak havoc, gradually destroying the palaces and properties of Lanka. He kills many rakshasas, including Jambumali and Aksha Kumar. To subdue him, Ravana's son
Indrajit uses the
Brahmastra. Though immune to the effects of this weapon Hanuman, out of respect to
Brahma, allows himself be bound. Deciding to use the opportunity to meet Ravana, and to assess the strength of Ravana's hordes, Hanuman allows the rakshasa warriors to parade him through the streets. He conveys Rama's message of warning and demands the safe return of Sita. He also informs Ravana that Rama would be willing to forgive him if he returns Sita honourably.
Enraged, Ravana orders Hanuman's execution, whereupon Ravana's brother
Vibhishana intervenes, pointing out that it is against the rules of engagement to kill a messenger. Ravana then orders Hanuman's tail be lit afire. As Ravana's forces attempted to wrap cloth around his tail, Hanuman begins to lengthen it. After frustrating them for a while, he allows it to burn, then escapes from his captors, and with his tail on fire he burns down large parts of Lanka. After extinguishing his flaming tail in the sea, he returns to Rama.
Shapeshifting[edit]
In the
Ramayana Hanuman changes shape several times. A time when he changed shape was while he searches for the kidnapped Sita in Ravana's palaces on Lanka, he contracts himself to the size of a cat, so that he will not be detected by the enemy. Later on, he takes on the size of a mountain, blazing with radiance, to show his true power to Sita.
[22]
Also he enlarges & immediately afterwards contracts his body to out-wit Surasa, a goddess (mother of nagas) disguised as a she-demon, who blocked his path while crossing the sea to reach Lanka. Again, he turns his body microscopically small to enter Lanka before outwitting and defeating Lankini, the she-demon guarding the gates of Lanka, in combat, who allows Hanuman passage into Lanka after recalling a prophecy that Ravana's end would come when she lost to a vanara.
He achieved this shape-shifting by the powers of two
siddhis;
Anima and
Garima bestowed upon him in his childhood by Sun-God,
Surya.
Mountain lifting[edit]
Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910s
When Lakshmana is badly wounded during the battle against
Indrajit, Hanuman is sent to fetch the
Sanjivani, a powerful life-restoring herb, from
Dronagiri mountain in the
Himalayas, to revive him. Ravana realises that if Lakshmana dies, a distraught Rama would probably give up, and so he dispatches the sorcerer Kalanemi to intercept Hanuman. Kalanemi, in the guise of a sage, deceives Hanuman, but Hanuman uncovers his plot with the help of an
apsara, whom he rescues from her accursed state as a crocodile.
[2]:147
Ravana, upon learning that Kalanemi has been slain by Hanuman, summons
Surya to rise before its appointed time because the
physician Sushena had said that Lakshmana would perish if untreated by daybreak. Hanuman realizes the danger, however, and, becoming many times his normal size, detains the Sun God to prevent the break of day. He traps Surya in his armpits and then resumes his search for the precious herb, but, when he finds himself unable to identify which herb it is, he lifts the entire mountain and delivers it to the battlefield in Lanka. Sushena then identifies and administers the herb, and
Lakshmana is saved. Rama embraces Hanuman, declaring him as dear to him as his own brother. Hanuman releases Surya from his armpit, and asks forgiveness, as the Sun was also his
Guru.
During the war, Rama and Lakshmana are captured by the rakshasa Mahiravana and
Ahiravan, brother of Ravana, who held them captive in their palace in
Patala (or Patalpuri) --the netherworld. Mahiravana keeps them as offerings to his deity. Searching for them, Hanuman reaches Patala, the gates of which are guarded by a young creature called
Makardhwaja (known also as Makar-Dhwaja or Magar Dhwaja), who is part reptile and part Vanara.
The story of Makardhwaja's birth is said to be that when Hanuman extinguished his burning tail in the ocean, a drop of his sweat fell into the waters, eventually becoming Makardhwaja, who perceives Hanuman as his father. When Hanuman introduces himself to Makardhwaja, the latter asks his blessings. Hanuman enters Patala.
Upon entering Patala, Hanuman discovers that to kill Mahiravana, he must simultaneously extinguish five lamps burning in different directions. Hanuman assumes the
Panchamukha or five-faced form of Sri
Varaha facing north, Sri
Narasimha facing south, Sri
Garuda facing west, Sri
Hayagriva facing the sky and his own facing the east, and blows out the lamps. Hanuman then rescues Rama and Lakshmana. Afterwards, Rama asks Hanuman to crown Makardhwaja king of Patala. Hanuman then instructs Makardhwaja to rule Patala with justice and wisdom.
To date Chandraloak Devpuri mandir is located at Dugana a small village 17 km from Laharpur, Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh. A divine place where Chakleswar Mahadev situated.
Honours[edit]
Hanuman showing Rama in His heart
Shortly after he is crowned Emperor upon his return to
Ayodhya, Rama decides to ceremoniously reward all his well-wishers. At a grand ceremony in his court, all his friends and allies take turns being honoured at the throne. Hanuman approaches without desiring a reward. Seeing Hanuman come up to him, an emotionally overwhelmed Rama embraces him warmly, declaring that he could never adequately honour or repay Hanuman for the help and services he received from the noble Vanara. Sita, however, insists that Hanuman deserved honour more than anyone else, and Sita gives him a necklace of precious stones adorning her neck.
When he receives it, Hanuman immediately takes it apart, and peers into each stone. Taken aback, many of those present demand to know why he is destroying the precious gift. Hanuman answers that he was looking into the stones to make sure that Rama and Sita are in them, because if they are not, the necklace is of no value to him. At this, a few mock Hanuman, saying his reverence and love for Rama and Sita could not possibly be as deep as he implies. In response, Hanuman tears his chest open, and everyone is stunned to see Rama and Sita literally in his heart.
Hanuman Ramayana[edit]
After the victory of Rama over
Ravana, Hanuman went to the Himalayas. There he scripted a version of the Ramayana on the Himalayan mountains using his nails, recording every detail of Rama's deeds. When Maharishi
Valmikivisited him to show him his own version of the Ramayana, he saw Hanuman's version and became very disappointed.
When Hanuman asked Valmiki the cause of his sorrow, the sage said that his version, which he had created very laboriously, was no match for the splendour of Hanuman's, and would therefore go ignored. At this, Hanuman discarded his own version, which is called the Hanumad Ramayana. Maharishi Valmiki was so taken aback that he said he would take another birth to sing the glory of Hanuman which he had understated in his version.
Later, one tablet is said to have floated ashore during the period of Mahakavi
Kalidasa, and hung at a public place to be deciphered by scholars. Kalidasa is said to have deciphered it and recognised that it was from the Hanumad Ramayana recorded by Hanuman in an extinct script, and considered himself very fortunate to see at least one
pada of the stanza.
After the Ramayana war[edit]
After the war, and after reigning for several years, the time arrived for
Rama to depart to his supreme abode
Vaikuntha..Many of Rama's entourage, including Sugriva, decided to depart with him. Hanuman, however, requested from Rama that he will remain on
earth as long as Rama's name was venerated by people. Rama accorded Hanuman that desire, and granted that his image would be installed at various public places, so he could listen to people chanting Rama's name. He is one of the
immortals (
Chiranjivi) of
Hinduism.
[23]
Appearance in the Mahabharata[edit]
Hanuman is also considered to be the brother of
Bhima, on the basis of their having the same father,
Vayu. During the
Pandavas' exile, he appears disguised as a weak and aged monkey to Bhima in order to subdue his arrogance. Bhima enters a field where Hanuman is lying with his tail blocking the way. Bhima, unaware of his identity, tells him to move it out of the way. Hanuman, incognito, refuses. Bhima then tries to move the tail himself but he is unable, despite his great strength. Realising he is no ordinary monkey, he inquires as to Hanuman's identity, which is then revealed. At Bhima's request, Hanuman is also said to have enlarged himself to demonstrate the proportions he had assumed in his crossing of the sea as he journeyed to Lanka and also said that when the war came, he would be there to protect the
Pandavas.
Pandupole is claimed as the place where this meeting happened.
During the great battle of
Kurukshetra,
Arjuna entered the battlefield with a flag displaying Hanuman on his
chariot.
[23] The incident that led to this was an earlier encounter between Hanuman and Arjuna, wherein Hanuman appeared as a small talking monkey before Arjuna at
Rameshwaram, where Rama had built the
great bridge to cross over to Lanka to rescue Sita. Upon Arjuna's wondering aloud at Rama's taking the help of monkeys rather than building a bridge of arrows, Hanuman challenged him to build a bridge capable of bearing him alone; Arjuna, unaware of the vanara's true identity, accepted. Hanuman then proceeded to repeatedly destroy the bridges made by Arjuna, who decided to take his own life. Krishna smiled and placed his divine discus beneath the bridge, and this time Hanuman could no longer break it.
Vishnu then appeared before them both after originally coming in the form of a
tortoise, chiding Arjuna for his vanity and Hanuman for making Arjuna feel incompetent. As an act of penitence, Hanuman decided to help Arjuna by stabilizing and strengthening his chariot during the imminent great battle. After, the battle of
Kurukshetra was over,
Krishna asked Arjuna, that today you step down the chariot before me. After Arjuna got down, Krishna followed him and thanked Hanuman for staying with them during the whole fight in the form of a flag on the chariot. Hanuman came in his original form, bowed to Krishna and left the flag, flying away into the sky. As soon as he left the flag, the chariot began to burn and turned into ashes. Arjuna was shocked to see this, then Krishna told Arjuna, that the only reason his chariot was still standing was because of the presence of Himself and Hanuman, otherwise, it would have burnt many days ago due to effects of celestial weapons thrown at it in the war.
Hanuman in Other Indian Texts[edit]
In Other Hindu Scriptures[edit]
Hanuman is characterized as a celibate in most Indian texts. However, in the Khmer
Reamker and Thai
Ramakien, Hanuman falls in love with the pretty mermaid
Suvannamaccha.
[24]
Apart from Ramayana and Mahabharata, Hanuman is mentioned in several other texts. Some of these stories add to his adventures mentioned in the earlier epics, while others tell alternative stories of his life.
The
Brahma Purana mentions that the vanaras built several Shiva
lingams in
Kishkindha. After his return to Ayodhya, Rama asks Hanuman to destroy these lingams, as they are no longer required. However, when Hanuman is unable to uproot these lingams, Rama orders them to worshipped permanently. The
Skanda Purana mentions a variant of this story, which happens in
Rameswaram.
[25] The
Narada Purana describes Hanuman as a master of vocal music, and as an embodiment of the combined power of Shiva and Vishnu.
Apart from the
Puranas, the
Agama Saunaka Samhitha, and
Agastya Sara Samhitha explains certain stories which are not mentioned in other Hindu texts along with the worship rituals of Hanuman.
The 16th-century Indian poet
Tulsidas wrote
Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional song dedicated to Hanuman. He claimed to have visions where he met face to face with Hanuman. Based on these meetings, he wrote
Ramcharitmanas, an
Awadhi language version of Ramayana.
[26] The
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple (Varanasi) is said to be located on the spot where Tulsidas had these visions. The works of Tulsidas played an important role in increasing the popularity of Hanuman worship in North India.
Durga Chalisa mentions that Hanuman leads and welcomes the procession of the ferocious lion-riding
Bhavani.
In the Jain versions of the Ramayana[edit]
Paumacariya (also known as
Pauma Chariu or
Padmacharit), the
Jain version of Ramayana written by
Vimalasuri, mentions Hanuman as a
Vidyadhara (a supernatural being), who is the son of
Pavangati and
Anjana Sundari. Anjana gives birth to Hanuman in a forest cave, after being banished by her in-laws. Her maternal uncle rescues her from the forest; while boarding his
vimana, Anjana accidentally drops her baby on a rock. However, the baby remains uninjured while the rock is shattered. The baby is raised in
Hanuruha, his great uncle's island kingdom, from which Hanuman gets his name. In this version, Hanuman is not
celibate. He marries princess
Anangakusuma, the daughter of
Kharadushana and
Ravana's sister
Chandranakha. Ravana also presents Hanuman one of his nieces as a second wife. After becoming an ally of
Sugriva, Hanuman acquires a hundred more wives. Hanuman is originally enraged at
Rama for murdering his father-in-law Kharadushana. However, he becomes a supporter of Rama after meeting him and learning about
Sita's kidnapping by Ravana. He goes to
Lanka on Rama's behalf, but is unable to convince Ravana to surrender. Ultimately, he joins Rama in the war against Ravana and performs several heroic deeds. After the victory and subsequent celebrations, both Rama and Hanuman take Jaineshwari
Dikshaand become
Jain Munis and achieve
salvation.
[2]:50–51 Later Jain texts such as
Uttarapurana (9th century CE) by
Gunabhadra and
Anjana-Pavananjaya (12th century CE) tell the same story.
The non-Indian versions of Ramayana, such as the Thai
Ramakien, mention that Hanuman had relationships with multiple women, including Svayamprabha,
Benjakaya (Vibhisana's daughter),
Suvannamaccha and even Ravana's wife
Mandodari.
[6] According to these
versions of the Ramayana,
Macchanu is son of Hanuman borne by Suvannamaccha, daughter of
Ravana.
[27][28][29] The Jain text
Paumacariya also mentions that Hanuman married Lankasundari, the daughter of Lanka's chief defender Bajramukha.
[30] Another legend says that a demigod named Matsyaraja (also known as
Makardhwaja or Matsyagarbha) claimed to be his son. Matsyaraja's birth is explained as follows: a fish (
matsya) was impregnated by the drops of Hanuman's sweat, while he was bathing in the ocean.
[6] According to
Parasara Samhita, Hanuman married Suvarchala, the daughter of
Surya (the Sun God).
[31]
Immortality and Afterlife[edit]
Hanuman's cultural impact extends beyond the epic in which his deeds are celebrated. Hanuman is widely believed to be immortal;
[32] thus, although he is a principal figure in the great epic
Ramayana, he also makes an appearance in the (historically later, but equally famous) epic
Mahabharata, where he meets the hero Bhima.
It is traditionally claimed that Hanuman is present wherever the Ramayana is read:
[33]
अमलकमलवर्णं प्रज्ज्वलत्पावकाक्षं सरसिजनिभवक्त्रं सर्वदा सुप्रसन्नम् |
पटुतरघनगात्रं कुण्डलालङ्कृताङ्गं रणजयकरवालं वानरेशं नमामि ||
यत्र यत्र रघुनाथकीर्तनं तत्र तत्र कृतमस्तकाञ्जलिम् ।
बाष्पवारिपरिपूर्णलोचनं मारुतिं नमत राक्षसान्तकम् ॥
yatra yatra raghunāthakīrtanaṃ tatra tatra kṛta mastakāñjalim ।
bāṣpavāriparipūrṇalocanaṃ mārutiṃ namata rākṣasāntakam ॥
| “ | Bow down to Hanumān, who is the slayer of demons, and who is present with head bowed and eyes full of flowing tears wherever the fame of Rāma is sung. | ” |
[citation needed]
Similar claims can be found in other texts, such as the
Vinaya Patrika by
Tulsidas, with only slight variations in language. During readings of the
Ramayana, a special
puja and space ("asana", or seat) are reserved for Hanuman.
Temples & Shrines[edit]
Hanuman temple, Nurawa Eliya, Sri Lanka
Hanuman is worshipped by villagers as a boundary guardian, by
Shaiva ascetics as a
Yogi, and by wrestlers for his strength.
[34] There are numerous temples for Hanuman, and his images are usually installed at all temples where images of avatars of
Vishnu are installed.
Hanuman temples are believed to keep the area and surroundings free of
rakshasas (demons) and other evil beings. Hanuman idols are found on mountain roads because it is believed that he protects people from accidents.
Jakhu temple is a famous temple at
Shimla, the capital of
Himachal Pradesh. The word "Jakhu" is derived from "Yaku"/"Yaksha". The hill is the legendary abode of Yaksha, Kinners Nagas and Asuras. The temple was founded on a plain where, according to legend, Hanuman's sudden landing flattened a hill. A 108-foot (33-metre) statue of Hanuman has been erected at the top of the 8,500-foot (2,591-metre) tall Jakhu Hill, the highest point in
Shimla.
[35]
According to the
Ramayana, during the battle between Rama and Ravana at Lanka, Lakshmana, brother of Rama, was mortally wounded by an arrow. To save his life, Hanuman journeyed to the Himalayas to retrieve the
Sanjeevaniherb. En route, he encountered a meditating sage on Jakhu mountain; as he paused to inquire about the herb, Hanuman's landing on the mountain compressed the earth, changing the shape of the mountain to its present state. In his haste to depart, Hanuman is said to have left his friends behind, and they are said to continue to roam the area even today. A temple honoring Hanuman was constructed by the Jakhu sage.
The oldest known independent Hanuman statue is the one at
Khajuraho, which has an inscription dated Sam. 940 (AD 883) mentioning that it was erected by Gahil's son Gollak.
[2][36]
Rock cut idol of Veer hanuman is found on almost on all the forts in Maharashtra during the Maratha regime. It was worshipped as a god of strength, luck and of invincible powers. the idols on the
Visapur fort,
Tikona,
Mahipatgad are some of them.
Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple is located in the town of
Namakkal,
Tamil Nadu. There is an 18-feet idol of Hanuman in the temple facing east, worshipping Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami (one of the avatar of god Vishnu) in this temple. Anjenayar idol is
Swayambu, believed to be growing in height; thus, temple has no roof enclosing.
Sholinghur Sri Yoga Narasimha swami temple and Sri Yoga Anjaneyar temple, located in Sholinghur, a town which is about 30 km from
Arakkonam of
Vellore District. Sri yoga Anjaneyar temple located over small hill containing 480 steps from ground. Lord Anjaneyar with Sathurpujam (sathur=four, pujam=arms) Sri Sangu and Sri Chakaram 2 hands and Jabba Malai and Jaba Shankaram in other two respectively facing Sri yoga Narasimha swami and Yoga Amurthavalli Thayar present over hill (periya malai= big hill) with 1305 steps from ground. Sholinghur shetram one among 108 divya desams also one of the most famous temple of our Lord Anjaneya.
Ragigudda Anjaneya temple is a Hanuman temple located in JP Nagar Bangalore. The temple is located on a hillock. The Hanuman temple at Nerul, Navi Mumbai,
Maharashtra,
India is situated inside SIES complex. The Hanuman idol is 33 feet (10 m) tall and is installed on a pedestal of height 12 feet (4 m), bringing the total height to 45 feet (14 m). In the picture shown, Hanuman has silver coverings (Silver Kavasam). The 33 feet Hanuman idol is carved out of single granite stone. This is the tallest single granite stone Hanuman idol in India as per the temple.
Similarly, a 32 feet (10 m) idol of Sri Anjaneyar was entrenched in 1989 at
Nanganallur in Chennai,
India. The distinguishing factor of the idol is that it was molded out of a single rock.
Hanuman Vatika in Rourkela, Odisha has a 75-foot (23 m) statue of Hanuman.Other temples inside the premises are 12 Jyotirlingas, Batta Mangala Devi, Sarala Devi Temple, Jagannath Temple, Lakshmi, and Santoshi Mata Temple.
Suchindram temple is a pious place lying about 14 km from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. The temple is famous for its 18 feet tall Hanuman idol. This idol is decorated fully with butter (Vennai kappu in Tamil) and Sandalwood paste (Chandana kappu in Tamil).
In Rajasthan, Hanuman Temples at Mehendipur Balaji in Dausa district (80 km from Jaipur) and Salasar dhaam in Churu district (160 km from Jaipur) attract a large number of devotees from all over India. The idol of Hanumanji at Hanuman Temple, Mehendipur Balaji is Svayambhu and attracts many devotees for getting rid of evil spirits. Apart from this Sri Balaji Maharaj(Bal-Hanuman) of Mehndipur Balaji give blessings and grants wishes to his devotees. [{Chandraloak Devpuri Balaji}] is located in Dugana 17 km from Laharpur district, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh.
Bhaktha Anjaneyar is Temple is located in Vedasandur, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.
Ashtamsa Varadha Anjaneyar Temple is located in
Coimbatore. The idol of the deity is made of
Salagrama stone. In the temple, goddess
Lakshmi graces the devotees from the right palm of Hanuman whose tail faces North, direction of
Kubera, god of wealth. The main deity faces west, is seen posing Abhaya Mudra with his right hand and holding a club with the other hand.
[38] During the
Tamil New Year, an offering of 10,008 fruits is made to the deity. Raja Maruthi Alankaram, Vennai Alankaram and Vadamalai offerings are the regular Sevas here on Saturdays. In the Tamil month of
Purattasi, Vadai Malai, Swaya Roopam, Chenduram, Swarnamayam and Muthangi Sevai are offered to god on Saturdays.
[39]
Kaviyoor is a small village about 5–6 km from the town of Thiruvalla, Kerala The
Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple here is about 100 years old and the Hanuman temple inside the Shiva temple is considered as very auspicious by devotees. Hanuman idol consecrated here is made of Panchaloha and is depicting him telling the story of Ramayana to Sita in the Asoka Vana.
Yalagur, a small village about 30–35 km from the town of Bagalkot in Karnataka, also has a temple dedicated to Hanuman.
Sri Baktha Hanuman Temple, at Ramboda in
Sri Lanka is known to be a place where Hanuman was searching for Sita Devi.
Worship[edit]
Some of the prayers, songs,
mantras,
shlokas, devoted to Hanuman include
Hanuman Chalisa,
Bajranga Baan,
Maruti Strotam,
Anjaneya Dandakam ,
Vadvanal Strotam,
Hanuman Sathhika,
Hanuman Bahuk,
Hanuman Dwadesha,
Bhimrupi Strotam,
Sundara Kanda,
Maruti Gayatri Mantra,
Hanumansahasranam stotra (
Stotra of thousand names of Hanuman),
Ek-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham,
Pancha-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham and
Sapta-mukhi Hanuman Raksha Kavacham.
Panchamukhi Hanuman[edit]
Hanuman assumed Panchamukhi or five-faced form to kill
Ahiravana, a powerful
rakshasa black-magician and practitioner of the dark arts during the
Ramayana war. Ahiravana, brother of
Ravana, had taken Lord
Rama and
Lakshmana to netherworld as captive, and the only way to kill him was to extinguish five lamps burning in different directions, all at the same instant. Hanuman assumed His
Panchamukha form and accomplished the task, thus killing the
rakshasa, and freeing
Rama and
Lakshmana.
| Face | Direction | Significance |
|---|
| Sri Hanuman (Original) | East | This face removes all blemishes of sin and confers purity of mind. |
| Narasimha | South | Removes fear of enemies and confers victory. Narasimha is the Lion-Man avatar of Lord Vishnu, who took the form to protect his devotee Prahlad from his evil father, Hiranyakashipu. Hanuman may have had this face during the burning of Lanka and fighting in the war. |
| Garuda | West | Drives away evil spells, black magic influences, negative spirits and removes all poisonous effects in one's body. Garuda is Lord Vishnu's vehicle, as the King of birds he knows the secrets of death and the beyond. The Garuda Purana is a Hindu text based on this knowledge. |
| Varaha | North | Wards off the troubles caused by bad influences of the planets and confers all eight types prosperity (Ashta Aishwarya). Varaha is another Lord Vishnu avatar, he took this form and dug up land, Hanuman may have had this face whilst collecting the Sanjeev mountain. |
| Hayagriva | Upwards | (Urddha Mukha) face confers knowledge, victory, good wife and progeny. |
This form of Hanuman (five faced hanuman) is described in Parashara Samhitha ( an Agama text). This form of Hanuman is very popular, and is also known as Panchamukha Anjaneya and Panchamukhi Anjaneya. (
Anjaneya, which means "son of Anjana", is another name of Hanuman). These faces show there is nothing in the world which does not come under any the influence of any of the five faces, symbolic of his all around security to all devotees.
[citation needed]
There are five ways of prayer, Naman, Smaran, Keerthanam, Yachanam and Arpanam. The five faces depict these five forms. Lord Hanuman always used to Naman, Smaran and Keerthanam of Lord Sri Rama. He totally surrendered (Arpanam) to his Master Sri Rama. He also begged (yachanam) Sri Rama to bless him the undivided love.
Chitrakoot in Central India is claimed to be the resting place of Hanuman. The Hanuman Dhara Temple is situated on the peak of mountain where there is natural rock formation image of Shri Hanuman inside the cave and a natural stream of water falling on the tail. It is believed that after the coronation of Lord
Rama, Hanuman requested for a permanent place to settle in the Kingdom of Lord Rama, where his Injury of burns on his tails will be cured. Lord Rama, then with his arrow, spurred a stream of water on the tip of mountain and asked Hanuman to rest there with water of the stream falling on his tail to cool down burning sensation in his tail. The access to the cave temple is through stairs starting from bottom of the mountain to its top. It takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes to reach the temple. Over time the temple has gained a new name, namely Hanuman Dhara.
[citation needed]
Sri
Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami was the main deity of Sri
Raghavendra Swami. The
place where he meditated on this five-faced form of Hanuman is now known as
Panchamukhi, wherein a temple for him has been built. There is also a shrine for Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami at
Kumbakonam in
Tamil Nadu,
India. A 40 feet (12 m) tall monolithic green granite
murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed in
Thiruvallur, also in Tamil Nadu. This place was known as Rudravanam in olden times when many saints and seers had blessed this place with their presence. The Panchamukha Hanuman Ashram itself was established by a saint called Venkatesa Battar.
[citation needed] A four-foot image of Panchmukha Hanuman has been consecrated West of Lusaka, Zambia in Oye Kapi farm.
[citation needed]
Relation with Shani[edit]
In Hinduism, Hanuman is one of the few persons — human or divine — who cannot be adversely affected by
Shani, the astrological
personification of the planet
Saturn. Legend has it that Shani, a planet believed to have a highly negative influence,
[40] could not cast his malefic spell over Hanuman. As a result, people worship Hanuman to get rid of the adverse effects that Shani inflicts on people's lives.
In the
Ramayana, Hanuman is said to have rescued Shani from the clutches of
Ravana. In gratitude, Shani promised that those who prayed to Hanuman would be rescued from Shani's painful effects.
[41]
According to another version of the story,
[42] Lord Shani once climbed onto Hanuman's shoulders, indicating that he (Hanuman) was about to come under the malefic influence of the planet Saturn. Hanuman immediately assumed such a large size that Shani was caught painfully between Hanuman's shoulders and the ceiling of the room they were in. As the pain was unbearable, Shani asked Hanuman to release him, promising that he would moderate the malefic effects of his influence on any person who prayed to Hanuman. At this point, Hanuman released Shani.
In the hymn "The Thousand Names of Hanuman" (Hanumansahasranam Stotra), Shani is one of the names of Hanuman; and in some regions of India, Hanuman is depicted sporting an iron whip like that of Shani.
Hanuman statue at Bali, Indonesia
Hanuman and negative energies[edit]
Hanuman is worshiped also to get rid or win over demons (like
daitya,
danava), demi-gods (like
Yaksha,
kinnara,
Gandharvas,
Nāga-
Nāginī), evil spirits (like
Bhutam,
Preta,
Pishacha,
Churela,
Vetala,
Brahmrakshasa) and other powerful negative energies (like
Dakini,
Shakini,
Kakini,
Kamini), which find their mention in
Hinduism.
[43][44][45][46]
Hanuman in Southeast Asia[edit]
In Southeast Asian Versions of Ramayana[edit]
Khmer Hanuman[edit]
Hanuman is a godlike figure in Cambodia history from the Angkor period. He features predominantly in the
Reamker, a Cambodian epic poem, based on the Sanskrit's Ramayana epic.
[47] The original Ramayana arrived to Southeast Asia from South India along with Hinduism, but its retelling there suggests Buddhist influence. Intricate carvings on the walls of Angkor Wat depict a scene from the Ramayana dating back nearly a millennium.
[48] Statues of the poem's heroes were worshiped in temple sanctuaries, akin to the wall paintings at Cambodia's Royal Palace and Wat Bo. The Thai Hanuman stems from the same origins, during a time when it was part of the Angkor Empire.
Thai Hanuman[edit]
The Thai Hanuman was adapted from the origin of
Ramakien in the Hindu Hanuman. In
Thailand culture, Hanuman appears wearing crown on his head and
armor to protect him from
demons. In addition, the Thai Hanuman was derived from the
Lopburi monkey in Thailand. According in Thai mythology, Hanuman was created by
Lord Shiva as a main weapon. Hanuman's appearance has
crystal teeth,
diamond fur, and a long tail that can surround a whole mountain. Moreover, Hanuman's mother is
Anjana who was paralyzed for many months until the god of wind
Vayu blew air into her mouth, and then she gave birth from her mouth the white monkey Hanuman who was already seven years old when he was born.
In
Ramkien, Hanuman is a devoted soldier of
Rama, and a very strong monkey that could kill millions of King Toskaka's
Demon armies. Unlike in Indian adaptations, he is not a celibate, and meets the
mermaid Suvannamacchawhile on a mission for
Rama. The couple have a son: the half
monkey, half
fish Macchanu. Moreover, Hanuman had another son with a beautiful female
demon.
[49]
See also[edit]
- Hanuman temples
- Hanuman Chalisa
- Hanuman Jayanti
- Hanumanasana, an asana named after Hanuman
- Sun Wukong, a Chinese literary character in Wu Cheng'en's masterpiece Journey to the West
- The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army
- Hanuman and the Five Riders
- Gray langur, also known as the Hanuman langur
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