Hanuman (Hindu deity)
Hanuman is a significant figure in Hindu mythology, often depicted as a monkey deity symbolizing devotion and strength. He is best known for his unwavering loyalty to Lord Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, and plays a critical role in the epic Ramayana. According to the legends, Hanuman possesses extraordinary abilities, including shape-shifting and immense strength, which he uses to aid Rama in rescuing his wife, Sita, from the demon king Ravana. His birth is surrounded by various tales, with some attributing his lineage to the wind god Vayu and a celestial being named Anjana. Hanuman's adventures showcase themes of bravery, sacrifice, and devotion, marking him as an immortal figure still believed to walk the earth by many devotees today.
Worship of Hanuman is prevalent across India, with numerous temples dedicated to him, and he is honored annually during the Hanuman Jayanti festival each spring. His influence extends beyond mythology, inspiring practices in yoga, such as the Hanumanasana or monkey pose, which commemorates his legendary leap to Lanka. Hanuman serves as a symbol of loyalty and selfless service, making him a beloved figure in contemporary Hindu practice.
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Hanuman (Hindu deity)
Culture:Hindu mythology
Mother:Anjana
Father:Kesari or Vayu
Sibling:Bhima (half brother)
Son:Makardhwaja
Overview
Hanuman is a monkey deity from Hindu mythology. The shape-shifting, magical Hanuman is one of the most popular deities in Hinduism and is revered for his unflinching devotion to his lord, Rama—the earthly incarnation of the god Vishnu. He figures prominently in the Hindu epic the Ramayana, where he was the trusted servant of Rama and leader of an army of monkey warriors. Hanuman also appears in other tales from Hindu myth and is considered an immortal being, still believed by devotees to be walking the earth. He is worshipped in many temples in India and is honored by a yearly festival each spring. Tales of his exploits have even inspired a pose used in yoga.
In Mythology
Tales of Hanuman’s birth differ as to his true lineage. His mother was Anjana, a celestial being who was cursed to resemble a monkey-woman. Some stories say Hanuman’s father was Anjana’s husband, the monkey warrior Kesari. Other legends claim his father was the wind god Vayu, who was captivated by Anjana’s beauty and seduced her.
As an infant, Hanuman was incredibly hungry and was not satisfied by his mother’s milk. Seeing the sun in the sky, Hanuman mistook it for a giant fruit and flew off after it, hoping to eat it. The sun saw the little monkey coming and tried to escape. Indra, the god of the sky, saw what was happening and threw a thunderbolt at Hanuman, hitting him in the jaw and sending him crashing to earth. In some legends, this is how he got his name, as hanu in Sanskrit means "jaw" and manu means "disfigured" or "prominent."
According to the legend, when Vayu saw what Indra had done to Hanuman he took the young monkey to a cave to protect him. Since Vayu was the god of wind, he took the earth’s atmosphere with him, which caused the humans and animals to gasp for air. The gods were alarmed and asked the creator deity Brahma to appease Vayu by healing Hanuman. Brahma complied and granted the youngster the gift of invincibility and immortality. Vayu also gave Hanuman the power to change shape and jump as high and as far as he liked.
Hanuman now had great abilities, but he was still young. His mischievous ways often got him into trouble and concerned the gods; therefore, they placed a curse on him, making him forget that he possessed his powers. He would only regain their use if he was reminded of them.
Hanuman’s most famous role in Hindu mythology is in the epic known as the Ramayana. In the legend, the great deity Vishnu was incarnated into human form as Rama. When Rama’s wife, Sita, was kidnapped by Ravana, the demon king, Rama and his brother went off in search of her. They eventually came to the land ruled by the monkey king, Sugriva, to whom Hanuman was serving as a minister. Sugriva sent Hanuman to question the brothers and learn their purpose. As he approached, Hanuman saw the great power in Rama and realized his identity. He fell to the ground and promised devotion to Rama.
With Hanuman and Sugriva’s monkey warriors as allies, Rama continued his search for Sita, eventually tracking her to the island of Lanka. The distance from the shore to the island was too great, however, and the monkeys despaired that they could not make it across. It was then that a wise bear remembered Hanuman’s powers and reminded him of them. His abilities restored, Hanuman immediately flew across the water and found Sita in the palace of Ravana. He told her that Rama was coming to rescue her, and then allowed himself to be captured so he could assess the power of the demon king.
After being brought before Ravana, Hanuman told the king that if he released Sita, Rama would forgive him, but Ravana responded with anger and ordered Hanuman’s tail set on fire. Hanuman escaped his captors, and with his tail in flames, flew around Lanka, setting the island ablaze. When he headed back to Rama, Hanuman extinguished his tail in the sea.
During the battle with Ravana, Hanuman again showed his devotion when Rama’s brother, Lakshmana, was gravely wounded. Fearing Lakshmana’s death, Hanuman set off to the distant mountains to find a healing herb. Unable to determine which herb had healing properties, Hanuman grew large and carried the entire mountain back to the battlefield. With Hanuman leading an army of monkey warriors, Rama was able to defeat Ravana and rescue Sita. After the battle, Hanuman continued as Rama’s trusted servant, asking only that he be allowed to live as long as mankind praised the name of Rama.
Origins & Cults
Hanuman also appears in the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, where he teaches humility to his half brother, Bhima, and the mighty warrior, Arjuna. Hanuman’s service to Rama has made him a popular figure in modern Hinduism for those who see him as an example of unsurpassed devotion to the god. While images of Hanuman are common at temples dedicated to Rama, the monkey god has many temples across India devoted to his worship as well. For years, the tallest statue in India was a 135-foot statue of Hanuman in the village of Paritala in the eastern part of the country. A 176-foot Hanuman statue was under construction in the village of Madapam as of 2015.
Each spring, devotees gather for the Hanuman Jayanti, a festival honoring the deity. Prayers are offered and statues of Hanuman are covered in red powder and oil as a symbol of his strength. Among practitioners of yoga, the Hanumanasana, or monkey pose, in which the feet are spread out on the floor in a split position, commemorates Hanuman’s leap to the island of Lanka from the shores of India.
Bibliography
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Gupta, Rupa. The Story of Hanuman. New Delhi: Hemkunt, 2009. Print.
"Hanuman Jayanti." Indiaonlinepages. India Online Pages, n.d Web. 10 May 2016.
"Monkey Pose." Yoga Journal. Cruz Bay, n.d. Web. 9 May 2016.
Vanamali. Hanuman: The Devotion and Power of the Monkey God. Rochester: Inner Traditions, 2010. Print.
"World’s Tallest Jain Statue Enters Guinness: 10 Tallest Statues in India You Probably Haven’t Seen Yet." India Today. Living Media India, 9 Mar. 2016. Web. 10 May 2016.