Hanuman is aHindugod, an ardent devotee ofRama. He is a central character in theIndian epicRamayana and its various versions. He also finds mention in several other texts, includingMahabharata, the variousPuranas and someJain texts. Avanara (one who lives in forest i.e. 'vana'), Hanuman participated in Rama's war against the demon kingRavana. Several texts also present him as anincarnation ofLord Shiva. He is the son ofVayu, who according to several stories, played a role in his birth.
Do you know about Hanuman, sir? He was thefaithfulservant of thegodRama, and weworship him in our temples because he is a shining example of how to serve your masters with absolutefidelity,love, anddevotion... Hanuman, the well-knownmonkeygod, can be seen in temples throughout thecountry. In some temples hisimage is set up alone standing with amace in the right hand or sitting in a devotional posture before the images ofRama andSita. He is considered to be the god ofpower andstrength, who remained acelibate through his wholelife. He is worshipped as being the greatest of Ram, wholoves Hanuman the most. - Suresh Chandra
Do you know about Hanuman, sir? He was thefaithfulservant of thegodRama, and weworship him in our temples because he is a shining example of how to serve your masters with absolutefidelity,love, anddevotion. These are the kinds of gods they have foisted on us Mr. Jiabao. Understand, now, how hard it is for a man to win hisfreedom inIndia.
Lord Hanuman escorted me into the inner palace, where I gazed onLord Rama in human form. Hanuman approached the Lord, on whose left sideLakshmana was present. I saw that Hanuman, whilechanting the Lord’s praises, sometimes rotated the royalfly-whisk over him sometimes stood before him and recited spontaneoushymns, sometimes held a whiteumbrella over him, and sometimesmassaged his feet. And sometimes he did all these things at once.
Hanuman, the well-knownmonkeygod, can be seen in temples throughout thecountry. In some temples hisimage is set up alone standing with amace in the right hand or sitting in a devotional posture before the images ofRama andSita. He is considered to be the god ofpower andstrength, who remained acelibate through his wholelife. He is worshipped as being the greatest of Ram, wholoves Hanuman the most.
Hanuman’s other names are Hanumat and pavana-Sut. He is the son ofVayu, the Lord ofwinds andAnjana, the female seduced by Vayu. Along withRam, Hanuman is usually worshipped and he is the most favoured ofwrestlers andgrapplers. Tuesday is the sacred day on which lacs [hundred thousands] ofHindusworship and pray to him forstrength andprosperity.
Suresh Chandra in: "Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses", p. 116.
Thisgod is described as having a short thickneck, a round redface, sharp whitefangs, amane likeAshoka flowers, a tail likeIndra'sbanner and ability to expand until he could be as large as a mountain or to contract until he could become as small as a fly.
Suresh Chandra in: "Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses", p. 116.
Hanuman attendsRama, one of the incarnations ofVishnu, and personifies theideal andfaithful servant. He is the son ofPavana, the god ofwinds, and is noted for hisspeed andagility in which context he is often worshipped by young men andathletes. He leads a mythical forestarmy ofmonkeys, and is depicted as a monkey with a long tail. He takes a major role in theRamayana epic searching for, rescuing the goddessSita who has been captured by thedemonRavana.
Suresh Chandra in: "Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses", p. 115.
It is said that the sure antidote ofSaturn or Shanee'sevil effect is theworship of Lord Hanuman.Scriptures say that when Saturn warned Lord Hanuman about his onset of the Seven and Half Years (w:Sade SatiSaade Saati) [period of bad times], the Monkey Lord accepted the challenge and allowed Saturn to have his play. When the planet dwelled on hishead, the Monkey Lord ‘headed’ heavy rocks so viciously that theplanet was almost crushed. Similar agony he faced when he tried todwell on the Monkey Lord’ body and legs. Then the planet had tobow before the Lord, saying that whosoever worshipped Lord Hanuman shall be beyond the evil effect of the planet.
Suresh Chandra in: "Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses", p. 302
A less-common form of Hanuman is thePanchmukhi—that which has fiveheads orfaces. Each head represents ananimal. The five animals are themonkey (Vanar), thehorse (Hay-griv), thelion (Narasimh), theboar (Varah) and theeagle. Some of these areincarnations ofVishnu. There is also an eleven headed Hanuman (ekadash-mukhi) Hanuman. These two forms are the result of the popularity of thetantric cults during themedieval era. The five-headed Hanuman may have as many pairs ofarms, or just one pair. The eleven-headed Hanuman normally has ten pairs of arms.
...He was able to fly and is a conspicuous figure in theRamayana, ...Hanuman leaped fromIndia toCeylon in one bound; tore trees, carried away theHimalayas, seized theclouds and performed many other wonderful exploits... -John Dowson.
HANUMAN, HANUMAT, HANÜMAT. A celebratedmonkey chief. He was able to fly and is a conspicuous figure in theRamayana, ...Hanuman leaped fromIndia toCeylon in one bound; tore trees, carried away theHimalayas, seized theclouds and performed many other wonderful exploits... Among his other accomplishments, Hanuman was agrammarian; and the Ramayana says: “The chief ofmonkeys is perfect; no one equals him in thesastras, in learning, and in ascertaining thesense of thescriptures (or in moving at will). It is well known that Hanuman was the ninth author ofgrammar.
John Dowson in A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology, quoted in:Octavio Paz “The Monkey Grammarian”
Hanuman represents the innerlife that the confrontation withdukkha opens up. But his job is to help differentiate puredesire from the clinging that tends to obscure it. Hanuman's exploits fill the central part of theRamayana.
For some it is primarily a story of devotion centering on the monkey-god Hanuman, who is something of a trickster but who is completely at the service of Rama, saving hislife and rescuing hiswife from the evildemons.
Mark Epstein in: "Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught", p. 22.
Hanuman, the embodiment ofdevotion, bringsSita'sjewels toRama and then takes agold ring back to her as asymbol of Rama's unflagginglove, a ring given to him by Sita's father at the time of their marriage. Sita welcomes Hanuman, takes the ring and gives him one more jewel, apearl mounted on a gold leaf that her father had tied to her hair on the day of the wedding. She refuses Hanuman’s offer to fly back to Rama, insisting he come to free her himself...Rama is able to free Sita only by securing the help of Hanuman. Hanuman, the monkey-god, son of thewind, is the bridge between the two lovers, the vehicle that helps them.
Mark Epstein in: "Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught", p. 25
...After leaping to Lanka Hanuman discovers the captiveSita surrounded byrakshasas in theAshoka grove, but she insists on being rescued by her husband...Kirsti Evans.
Grief-strickenRama meets atribe ofvanaras whose chiefSugriva and eloquent minister Hanuman become Rama's devoted helpers in the task of rescuing the princess [Sita]. After leaping to Lanka Hanuman discovers the captiveSita surrounded byrakshasas in theAshoka grove, but she insists on being rescued by her husband. Hanuman reports to Rama who assembles an army of Vanaras and crosses toLanka where the final battle is fought between the heroes and the rakshasas.
The divine nameRama was not only on the lips of Hanuman; He was enthroned in hisheart. Rama gave Hanuman exhaustlessstrength... -Mahatma Gandhi.
The divine nameRama was not only on the lips of Hanuman; He was enthroned in hisheart. Rama gave Hanuman exhaustlessstrength. In Rama's strength Hanuman lifted themountain and crossed theocean.It isfaith that steers us through the stormy seas, faith that moves mountains, and faith that jumps across the ocean. That faith is nothing but a living, wide-awakeconsciousness ofGod within. He who has achieved that faith wants nothing.
...Hanuman is mentioned as an avatar ofShiva or Rudra in the Sanskrit texts and was the son ofAnjana, anApsara cursed to be born as amonkey and Kesari, after the couple performed intenseprayers to Shiva to get a child. According to a story, when Anjana, was worshipping Shiva,king Dasharatha ofAyodhya was also performingpenances for having children. Theprasad (portion of the offerings) he received was to be shared by his three wives. A kite snatched a part of the Prasad and dropped it near Anjana.Vayu, theHindu deity, caught it before it fell to the ground and delivered into the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it leading to the birth of Hanuman... - Ashok Kumar Jha
Son of thewind theepithet refers to Hauman aHindudeity, who was an ardent devotee ofRama. Hanuman is mentioned as an avatar ofShiva or Rudra in the Sanskrit texts and was the son ofAnjana, anApsara cursed to be born as amonkey and Kesari, after the couple performed intenseprayers to Shiva to get a child. According to a story, when Anjana, was worshipping Shiva,king Dasharatha ofAyodhya was also performingpenances for having children. Theprasad (portion of the offerings) he received was to be shared by his three wives. A kite snatched a part of the Prasad and dropped it near Anjana.Vayu, theHindu deity, caught it before it fell to the ground and delivered into the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it leading to the birth of Hanuman. So he is also called the son of vayu, while still being considered as an incarnation of Rudra (Shiva). He is a centralcharacter in the epicRamayana and also finds mention in several other texts, includingMahabharata, the variousPuranas and someJain texts. Hanuman is worshipped by villagers as a boundaryguardian, byShaivaascetics as ayogi, and by wrestler for hisstrength.
Our road lay through thebazaar, close to a littletemple of Hanuman, the Monkey god, who is a leadingdivinity worthy ofrespect. Allgods have good points, just as have allpriests. Personally, I attach much importance to Hanuman, and am kind to his people – the great greyapes of the hills. One never knows when one may want afriend.
Hanuman Monkey-headedHindu god originally appears in theRamayana, the earlier of the two great Indian epics, where he is described as aminister of the monkeyking Sugriva and a devoted servant ofRama, the god-king who is the epicsprotagonist.
After his birth the infant Hanuman is continuouslyhungry, and one day he attempts toeat thesun.Indra, the king ofgods and ruler ofheaven, is incensed at Hanuman’s action and strikes theinfant with athunderbolt, breaking hisjaw (hanu)... -James G. Lochtefeld.
After his birth the infant Hanuman is continuouslyhungry, and one day he attempts toeat thesun.Indra, the king ofgods and ruler ofheaven, is incensed at Hanuman’s action and strikes theinfant with athunderbolt, breaking hisjaw (hanu).Vayu become veryangry upon learning of his son’sinjury and ceases to perform his usual activities. Since inIndianphysiologywinds are responsible for all internal functions- includingdigestion,respiration, andelimination – Yavu’s strike means that no one can live a normallife. After a short time thegods realize theirpredicament and beg Vayu forforgiveness; he is placated when each of the gods promise to give Hanuman a divinegift. Byvirtue of these divine gifts, Hanuman gains greatpowers. He is immenselystrong and hisimage portrays him with bulging muscles. He is also skilled as ahealer, both through his skill withherbs andnatural medicines, and hismagical abilities to protect people fromevilsupernatural beings. Among his most unusual divine gifts are the power tolive as long as he likes and to chose thetime of hisdeath.
James G. Lochtefeld in: "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M", p. 271.
Hanuman Jayanti is aHindu holiday that celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the populardeity who appears as amonkey. Actually, he is of thevanara, the race of ape-likehumanoids who play a prominent role in theIndia epicRamayana. The vanaras were created by thegods to assist the deity Rama.in hisbattle against thedemonRavana. Hanuman led the vanara in the fight against Ravana.
Watercolour painting on paper ofRāma andLakṣmaṇa meeting Hanumān at Rishyamukha, the residence ofSugriva. Rāma and Laksmana are shown wearingdhoti’s withanimalskins covering their shoulders. They hold bow and arrows in their hands and have their hair tied in a top knot on their heads... -British Museum.
Watercolour painting on paper ofRāma andLakṣmaṇa meeting Hanumān at Rishyamukha, the residence ofSugriva. Rāma and Laksmana are shown wearingdhoti’s withanimalskins covering their shoulders. They hold bow and arrows in their hands and have their hair tied in a top knot on their heads. They face towards a male figure wearing a pink dhoti with a green shawl. He has a shaven head and raises his hands inanjali mudra. Behind the three figures is a staircase which leads up to a city on top of a mountain, Rishyamukha. On the edges of the staircase kneel monkeys wearing golden hats. In the centre of the city is a large building with a golden roof and a large red flag flying. The painting is surrounded by a black border.
... describing his visit to the grove of the palace ofRāvana. He compares itsrhetoric to a page of indecipherable calligraphy and thinks: the difference between human writing anddivine consists in the fact that the number of signs of the former is limited, whereas that of the latter isinfinite; hence theuniverse is a meaningless text, one which even the gods find illegible... -Octavio Paz.
The GreatMonkey closes his eyes, scratches himself again and muses: before thesun has become completely hidden — it is now fleeing amid the tallbamboo trees like an animal pursued by shadows — I shall succeed in reducing this grove of trees to a catalogue. A page of tangled plantcalligraphy. A thicket of signs: how to read it, how to clear a path through this denseness? Hanumān smiles withpleasure at theanalogy that has just occurred to him: calligraphy andvegetation, a grove of trees andwriting,reading and a path. Following a path: reading a stretch of ground, deciphering a fragment ofworld. Reading considered as a path toward... The path as a reading: an interpretation of the natural world? He closes his eyes once more and sees himself, in another age, writing (on a piece of paper or on a rock, with apen or with a chisel?) the act in the Mahanātaka describing his visit to the grove of the palace ofRāvana. He compares itsrhetoric to a page of indecipherable calligraphy and thinks: the difference between human writing anddivine consists in the fact that the number of signs of the former is limited, whereas that of the latter isinfinite; hence theuniverse is a meaningless text, one which even the gods find illegible. The critique of the universe (and that of the gods) is calledgrammar... Disturbed by this strange thought, Hanumān leaps down from the wall, remains for a moment in a squatting position, then stands erect, scrutinizes the four points of the compass, and resolutely makes his way into the thicket.
Thegods were my superheroes growing up.Hanuman, the monkey god, lifting an entire mountain to save his friendLakshman.Ganesha the elephant headed, risking his life to save the honor of hismotherPārvati.
Tulsidas wrote 12 books, but, by far, the most important is theRamacharitamanas (the holy Lakes of the Acts of Ram), aRamayana written in oldHindi (Avadhi) couplets. The book was written under the direction of Hanuman himself. It is read all overNorth India, and particularly during the time of theRamlila. It is sung aloud in large groups for devotional purposes.
Hunterian: yatra yatra raghunāthakīrtanaṃ tatra tatra kṛta mastakāñjalim । bāṣpavāriparipūrṇalocanaṃ mārutiṃ namata rākṣasāntakam ॥
Englishtranslation: 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.
Indeed, I hadn’t dared to think of that, but yes, indeed, when you read theRamayana you’ll come across the story of Hanuman on which I built my version of that very old myth...Ilove Friend Monkey. I love the story of Hanuman. For many years, it remained in my very blood because he’s someone who loves too much and can’t help it. I don’t know where I first heard of him, but thestory remained with me and I knew it would come out of me somehow or other. But I didn’t know what shape it would take.
Lord Ram gave Hanuman a quizzical look and said, "What are you, amonkey or aman?" Hanuman bowed his head reverently, folded his hands and said, "When I do not know who I am, I serve You and when I do know who I am, You and I are One". -Tulsidas.
Lord Ram gave Hanuman a quizzical look and said, "What are you, amonkey or aman?" Hanuman bowed his head reverently, folded his hands and said, "When I do not know who I am, I serve You and when I do know who I am, You and I are One".
Englishtranslation: Doha: With the dust of guru’s lotus feet having, I cleanse the mirror of mysoul sparkling, Raghuvar’s spotless glory I be singing, The four fruits oflife it ever is giving.
Poem fromHanuman Chalisa inDevanagari: ॥दोहा॥ बाल समय रबि भक्षि लियो तब तीनहुँ लोक भयो अँधियारो। ताहि सों त्रास भयो जग को यह संकट काहु सों जात न टारो। देवन आनि करी बिनती तब छाँड़ि दियो रबि कष्ट निवारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥१॥
Englishtranslation: Doha: When as a child you lapped thesun, darkness on tripleworld fell, The worlds so got into trouble and a crisis that none could dispel, Gods thenprayed to you to spare the sun and you did so quell, Who doesn’t know in this world your name `Problem Solver’ bells?
Tulsidas in: Munindra Misra "Chants of Hindu Gods and Godesses in English Rhyme"
Eka-Nishtha ordevotion to oneideal is absolutely necessary for the beginner in the practice ofreligious devotion. He must say with Hanuman in theRâmâyana, though I know that the Lord of Shri and the Lord ofJânaki are bothmanifestations of the same Supreme Being, yet my all in all is the lotus-eyed Râma. -Swami Vivekananda.
There is a story of Hanumân, who was a great worshipper ofRâma. Just as theChristians worshipChrist as the incarnation ofGod, so theHindusworship manyincarnations of God. According to them, God came nine times inIndia and will come once more. When he came as Rama, this Hanuman was his great worshipper. Hanuman lived very long and was a greatYogi. During his lifetime, Rama came again asKrishna; and Hanuman, being a great Yogi, knew that the same God had come back again as Krishna. He came and served Krishna, but he said to him, "I want to see that Rama form of yours". Krishna said, "Is not this form enough? I am this Krishna; I am this Rama. All these forms are mine". Hanuman said, "I know that, but the Rama form is for me. The Lord ofJânaki (Janaki is a name of Sitâ.) and the Lord of Shri Shri is a name ofLaksmi.) are the same. They are both the incarnations of the Supreme Self. Yet the lotus-eyed Rama is my all in all". This isNishtha — knowing that all these different forms of worship are right, yet sticking to one and rejecting the others. We must not worship the others at all; we must not hate or criticize them, butrespect them.
As on the one hand Hanuman represent theideal ofservice, so on the other hand he represents leoninecourage, striking the wholeworld with awe. He has not the least hesitation in sacrificing hislife for the good ofRama. A supreme indifference to everything except the service of Rama, even to the attainment of the status ofBrahma andShiva, the great World -gods! Only the carrying out of Shri Rama's best is the onevow of this life! Such whole - hearteddevotion is wanted.
Eka-Nishtha ordevotion to oneideal is absolutely necessary for the beginner in the practice ofreligious devotion. He must say with Hanuman in theRâmâyana, though I know that the Lord of Shri and the Lord ofJânaki are bothmanifestations of the same Supreme Being, yet my all in all is the lotus-eyed Râma.
Hanuman, the devotee ofRama, summed up hisphilosophy in these words:When I identify myself with thebody, O Lord, I am Thy creature, eternally separate from Thee. When I identify myself with thesoul, I am a spark of thatDivineFire which Thou art. But when I identify myself with theAtman, I and Thou art one.
RaganugaBhakti is of five kinds: (1) Shanta [peace] as illustrated by thereligion ofChrist; (2)Dasya as illustrated by that of Hanuman toRama; (3) Sakhya [friendship] as illustrated by that ofArjuna toShri Krishna; (4) Vatsalya [affection] as illustrated by that ofVasudeva to Shri Krishna; (5) Madhura (that of the husband and wife) in the lives of Shri Krishna and theGopikas.
Hanuman Chalisa Lyrics In English offer a devotional prayer praising Lord Hanuman’s strength, wisdom, and devotion, invoking his blessings for protection and success.
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