For the monkey named after Hanuman, see Gray langur.

In Hinduism, Hanuman (Sanskrit: हनुमत् hanumat; nominative singular हनुमान् hanumān) is a vanara who aided Rama (an avatar of Vishnu) in rescuing his wife, Sita, from the Rakshasa king Ravana. He symbolizes the pinnacle of bhakti, and is seen by some to have also been an avatar of Shiva. He is more well-known as the son of Vayu deva, or the wind god. He is believed by some scholars to be a source for the Chinese mythological character Sun Wukong.

Hanuman epitomizes virtue, strength, humility, siddhi and courage. While outsiders might find it odd to worship "a monkey", for Hindus, the idea is to worship the astoundingly righteous attributes represented by Hanuman that even most humans find hard to practice, such as Brahmacharya and Bhakti. In this way, Hanuman is viewed as a saint.

He is symbolized in Hinduism for his unwavering dedication to righteousness, unstinting performance of entrusted duties, and unfailing talents in serving his master Rama. He is given the role of a guru in several South Indian traditions, for his uniting Rama with Sita is likened to that of a teacher helping an individual soul realize the divine.

Hanuman is the epitome of Knowledge, Bhakti, Valour, Righteousness and Strength. These qualities never mix with one another. Shri Hanuman is the personification of all the good in this Creation. He is easily reachable - Just by chanting the name - 'Ram'.

Birth

Hanuman is born in Treta Yuga as the son of an apsara (a celestial), named Punjisthala, who by a curse becomes Anjana, a female vanara. Hence Hanuman is also called Änjanèya (the son of Anjana). She is the wife of Kesari, a mighty vanara who once killed a mighty elephant that was troubling sages and hermits. He therefore got the name of Kesari, meaning a lion, and is also called Kunjara Südana, the elephant killer.

One day when Anjana was on a mountain peak, Vayu, the wind god, came by, and generated a forceful blow of air, and her clothes slipped off her body. Vayu was incited by her charm and possessed her, with her consent. She thus gave birth to Hanuman. Hence Hanuman is also known as Vayu-putra (son of the wind). Hanuman's birthday is celebrated as Hanuman Jayanti. Hanuman was named Maruti after his birth. During the course of his childhood, he was injured on the cheek by Indra, who named him Hanuman (see below).

Childhood

Maruti grew up and inherited his father's qualities of quick flying, forceful travel, and mighty strength. Soon after his birth he saw the sun, thought it to be a ripe fruit and took flight to catch hold of the sun to eat.

Indra, the king of devas and the upholder of universal laws, observed this. He hurled his weapon, the Vajra (thunderbolt), which struck Maruti on his chin. Maruti fell back down to earth and became unconscious. Vayu, the wind god, Maruti's father, was upset by this and went into seclusion. As living beings began to get asphyxiated, to pacify Vayu Deva, Indra withdrew the effect of his thunderbolt, and the devas revived him and blessed him with multiple boons. However, as the vajra had left a mark on Maruti's chin (hanuhH in Sanskrit), he was called Hanuman.

On ascertaining that Surya is an all-knowing teacher, Hanuman raised his body into an orbit around the sun and requested that Surya accept him as a student. But Surya declined to accept him claiming that he always had to be on the move

Hanuman was mischievous in his childhood, and sometimes teased the meditating sages by snatching their personal belongings and by disturbing their well-arranged articles of worship. Finding his antics intolerable, but realizing that Hanuman was still a child, yet invincible by the blessings of various celestials, the sages gave him a minor curse. By this curse Hanuman lost the ability to remember his own might, and only recollected it when others reminded him about it at the appropriate time. It is hypothesized that without this curse, the entire course of the Ramayana war might have been different, for he demonstrated phenomenal abilities during the war, despite the curse. Hanuman and Vinayaka are two gods who are not afflicted by Saturn. There is also a myth that all the planets are under control on his tail. Whoever worships Hanuman is granted with fortitude and strength.

Hanuman in the Ramayana War

Sundara Kanda, the fifth book in the Ramayana epic, focuses mainly on the adventures of Hanuman.

While in exile, Rama enlisted the help of the vanaras in his search for Sita. A group of vanaras sent on a search mission reached the southern seashore. Upon encountering the vast ocean, every vanara began to plead his inability to jump across the water. Hanuman too was saddened at the possible failure of his mission, until the other vanaras began to extol his virtues. Hanuman then recollected his own prowess, enlarged his body and jumped across the ocean. Hanuman then entered Lanka and found Sita. Hanuman's conveying the message of Rama to Sita is likened to that of a divine teacher, teaching a pupil about the Supreme God.

After meeting Sita, Hanuman began to gradually destroy the palaces and properties of Lanka. To subdue him, Ravana's son Indrajit used the Brahmāstra. Even though Brahma had blessed Hanuman with immunity against the astra, Hanuman, out of respect to Brahma, let himself be bound by the weapon. Brought before the court of Ravana, Hanuman used the opportunity to assess the strength of Ravana's army.

As a punishment to Hanuman, Ravana ordered his tail to be lit. As the attendants attempted to wrap cloth around his tail, Hanuman began to lengthen his tail. After frustrating Ravana's attendants for a while, Hanuman allowed his tail to be lit, but escaped from his captors while his tail was on fire. He then burnt down much of Lanka before heading back to Rama.

During the war, when Lakshmana, the brother of Rama, is severely wounded, Hanuman was sent to fetch the Sanjivani, a powerful life-restoring herb to revive him. Ravana realised that if Lakshman died, the war would be lost, and so had his uncle tempt Hanuman with luxury. However, Hanuman was tipped off by a crocodile and killed the evil demon. Unable to find the specific herb before nightfall, Hanuman again displayed his prowess by lifting the entire mountain Dronagiri and bringing it to the battle field, thus helping others find the herb to revive Lakshmana.

In another incident during the war, Rama and Lakshmana are captured by Mahiravana (also called Ahiravana), and are held captive in his palace in Patalpuri or Patala (the nether world). In search of them, Hanuman entered Patala. The gates to Patalpuri were guarded by a very young boy called Makardhwaja or Makar Dhwaja or Magar Dhwaja. The story of Makardhwaja is interesting – Although Hanuman remained celibate all his life, he had a son called Makardhwaja. Makardhwaja was half fish and half monkey - when Hanuman was in Lanka trying to extinguish his burning tail in the ocean, unknown to him, a drop of his sweat fell into the ocean which was swallowed by

After entering Patala, Hanuman discovered that he had to extinguish five lamps at once to kill Mahiravana. Hanuman took the Panchamukha (Pancha - five, mukha - faced) form with faces of Varaha, Narasimha, Garuda, Hayagriva, and his own, and blew out the lamps. Thus killing Mahiravana, Hanuman rescued Rama and Lakshmana. After Mahiravana was vanquished, Rama asked Hanuman to crown Makardhwaja the king of Patalpuri.

After the Ramayana War

After the war, and after reigning for several years, the time arrived for Rama to depart to his heavenly abode. Many of Rama's entourage, decided to depart with him including vanaras like Sugriva. However, shunning the heavens, Hanuman requested to remain on earth for as long as Rama's name is venerated by people. Sita accorded Hanuman that wish, and granted that his image will be installed at various public places, so he could listen to people chanting Rama's name. He is thus one of the chiranjeevis (immortals) in Hinduism.

Thus Hanuman is considered to be alive even today. This is also reflected in the Mahabharata, when Bhima, who believed himself to be the strongest, encounters an old monkey whose tail he attempts to lift in vain. This incident is considered an effort by Hanuman to control the ego of Bhima, who is a younger brother to him, being also sired by Vayu.

Eager to be of service to another avatar of Vishnu, Hanuman attached himself to the flag of Arjuna's chariot, whose charioteer in the Mahabharatha war was Krishna. He thus had the fortune of hearing the Gita as recited by Sri Krishna himself, the only other people having the opportunity being Arjuna, Sanjaya and Dhritarashtra.

Presence of Hanuman

There have been numerous saints who have seen Hanuman in modern times, notably Tulsidas (16th century), Sri Ramdas Swami (17th century), and Raghavendra Swami (17th century).

Others have also testified to his presence wherever the Ramayana is read:(in Sanskrit, not transliterated)

यत्र यत्र रघुनाथ कीर्तनम् तत्र तत्र क्रित मस्तक अन्जलिं बष्पावरी परीपूर्ण लोचनम् मारुतिं नमश्च राक्षस अंतकम्।

Yatra Yatra Raghunath Kirtanam Tatra Tatra Krita Mastaka anjalim Bashpawari Pari purna lochanam Marutim nammascha rakshas antakam

Which means:

That wherever the deeds of Sri Rama are sung, At all such places does Hanuman cry tears of devotion and joy, At all such places does his presence remove the fear of demons.

Hanumad Ramayana

It is considered that after the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana,Hanumanji went to the Himalayas for continuing His worship pf the lord.There He originally scripted a version of the Ramayana on himalayan mountains by his nails, recording every detail of Rama's deeds. When Maharishi Valmiki visited Him to show Him his version of the Ramayana,he also saw the Lord's version.So the saint was depressed. When the Master asked him the cause of his sorrow,he said that nobody would see his version which he had created so laboriusly.At this, the Master took those rocks on one shoulder and Maharishi on the other shoulder and went to the sea. There He threw His version into the sea ,offering them to Lord Rama.It is this version that is called the Hanumad Ramayana and is unavailable since then.

Maharishi was so much taken aback at the incident that he said he would take another birth to sing the glory of the Master which he had then understated in his version.Later it is said that Saint Tulsidas who composed Ramcharit Manas was no other than the Maharishi Valmiki who came back to fulfill his desire.

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 recognized that it was from the Hanumad Ramayana recorded by Hanuman in an extinct script, and considered himself fortunate enough to see at least one foot of the stanza.

Temples for Hanuman

There are numerous temples for Hanuman, and his images are usually installed at all temples where images of avataras of Vishnu are installed.Hanuman temples can be found in many places for the reason that the area and the surroundings are free from 'Rakhshasas' and 'evils'. This was a presentational 'Varam' to him by Rama and Sita. We can find Hanuman idols in ghat roads because it is believed that he protects people from accidents.

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 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.

Every Face of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has significance —

• Sri Hanuman faces east. He grants purity of mind and success.
• The Narasimha faces south. He grants victory and fearlessness.
• The west facing Garuda removes black magic and poisons.
• The north facing Varaha, showers prosperity, wealth.
• The Hayagriva mukha faces the Sky. But since we cannot see it, it is usually tilted and shown above Hanuman's face. Hayagriva gives Knowledge and good children.

• • • An 85 feet Karya Siddhi Hanuman murthi was installed at Carapichaima- Trinidad and Tobago, by Avadhoota Dattapeetham Pontiff Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji. (Tallest in the Western Hemisphere, second tallest in the world)

Flag of Hanuman

In the epic Mahabharata, Arjuna enters the main battle with the flag of Hanuman on his chariot. Many worshippers of Krishna (who drove Arjuna's chariot) still keep flags of Hanuman today as a mark of respect to his great devotion.

Saturn

According to legend, Hanuman is said to have rescued Shani or Saturn, from the clutches of Ravana. In this legend, Shani promised Hanuman that whoever prays to him will be rescued from the evil effects of Saturn, which in Hindu astrology, is said to produce evil effects on one's life when one is afflicted with Saturn. Alternatively, one who prays to Vishnu is protected from Saturn as he is said by some to be a great devotee of Vishnu.

Quotes

Swaminarayan, founder of the Hindu Swaminarayan sect, according to this site,, said in verse 85 of the scripture, Shikshapatri, that "and if disturbance from ghostly spirits is ever experienced, chant the Narayana Kavacha (invoking Narayana or God's protection) or Hanuman's mantra, but one should not chant the stotra or mantra of any low deity."

See also

• Hanuman (movie) - a 2005 animated movie by Sahara Motion Pictures.
• Ramayana
• Tulsidas
• Hanuman Chalisa
• Valmiki
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita
• Shri Madhvacharya
• Sun Wukong - a popular classical Chinese fictional character known as the Monkey King, believed to be inspired by Hanuman.

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