Hanuman

 Hanuman

Hanuman is one of the most popular gods of Hinduism who played an important role in the incarnation of Lord Roma proved himself as his greatest devotee.

Darshan of Sri Hanumanji

He is also mentioned in the Mahabharata and some Puranas and Jain texts. He is variously described as an incarnation of Indra, Vayu and Shiva. People from all wakes of life worship him and admire him for his strength, humility and valor.

Darshan of Sri  Hanumanji

As a devotee of Lord Rama, he became very popular for his devotion and great qualities. Like Ganesha he commands respect and veneration from children and elders alike.

Any one who is familiar with the Ramayana, cannot but appreciate his divine nature and super human personality, shaped by the strength of celibacy, humility, selflessness, unsurpassed devotion, determination, fearlessness and an extraordinary commitment to work for the divine.
Sita found in him a friend, a son and a loyal servant. Impressed by his loyalty and commitment to the cause of Rama, she blessed him to remain immortal in his existing form till the end of creation and help the loyal devotees of Rama.
People believe that he is very much active on earth even today. Wherever the name of Rama is uttered or chanted, Anjaneya said to go there and become an invisible part of the scene.
People pray to him for courage and confidence, freedom from sorrow and for protection against evil spirits and bad luck. Hanuman is a terror to evil forces. Because of his intense purity and devotion they are afraid to appear anywhere near him.

Etymology

Two interpretations are given for the word Hanuman. According to one, Hanu means disfigured and man means jaw. Hanuman burnt his mouth when he was young as he tried to swallow the sun. Since he has a swollen mouth, he is called Hanuman.
According to another interpretation, Han means destroyed and man mean self-pride. Since Hanuman personifies humility and total absence of pride, he is aptly called Hanuman.
Names of Hanuman
Hanuman has many other names. His most popular names include Anjaneya, Pavanasuta, Bhajarang Bali, Kapisa, Maruti, Manojavam, Mãrutatulyavegam, Jitendriyam, Buddhimatãmvarishtham, Vãtãtmajam, Vãnarayuthamukhyam,. Shreerãmdutam, Atulit Bal Dhãmam, Hemshailãbh Deham, Danujvan Krushanum Gyãninãm Agraganyam, Sakal Gun Nidhãnam, Raghupati Priya Bhaktam, Sankat Mochan, Phalguna Sakha Laxmana Prandata, Dasagriv Darpaha etc.

Darshan of Sri  Hanumanji

Each of them represent his qualities or his birth related information. He was born to Anjana. Hence he is Anjaneya. He is the son of Vayu or incarnation of Vayu. Hence he is known as Vayuputra or Pavanasuta. He has strong limbs and diamond like body. Hence he is Bhajarang Bali.
Hanuman is known by many names. When he is cheerful he is called Prasannanjaneya. When he is in a ferocious mood he is called Veeranjaneya. When he is in a meditative mood he is called Dhayananjaney and when he is absorbed in devotion he is called Bhaktanjaneya.
He is called Kesarinandana, though he was not actually the son of Kesari, because he was brought up by his step father. He is called Ramaduta, because he acted as the messenger of Rama to deliver a message to Sita.
He is called Baladhama, because of his prowess, jnanagunasagara because of his pure qualities and bhajarangi because of his strength and devotion. There are several other names.

Hanuman worship

Darshan of Sri  Hanumanji

Hanuman is worshipped in the temples and households both ritually according to the Smarta traditions and through pooja ceremony in the households. He is also worshipped spiritually through bhajans, meditation and chanting of his names. Millions observe fast on Tuesdays and refrain from drinking and smoking as a mark of respect for him. When people pray to Hanuman, they generally chant Hanuman chalisa seeking his help and protection. The significance of chalisa is explained in the next section. Hanuman Jayanti, a famous festival of Hanuman, is celebrated on different dates in different parts of India to honor his birth. In Maharashtra and Karnataka it is celebrated on the full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra, in Tamilnadu and Kerala, during December and in Odisa during April.

Hanuman Chalisa

It is said that because of his complete humility he would not stir into action, unless one reminds him of his true greatness and his divine purpose. His devotees therefore chant the chalisa, to remind him of his greatness and prompt him to wake up from his devotion and help them.
Hanuman Chalisa forms part of Sundarakanda in the Ramacharit Manas composed by Tulsidas (15th century AD). It is a prayer of forty three verses, with two invocatory couplets at the beginnig and one in the end.

Darshan of Sri  Hanumanji

The main prayer consists of 40 verses. Chalis in Hindu means 40. Since it is a prayer of forty verses, it is called Chalisa. Each verse, has two lines, composed in a four metric form. Hence it is called Chaupai, meaning four legged.

The verses extol the name and form, strength, qualities and greatness of Hanuman. Tulsidas states that whoever chants the Chalisa will have the grace of Hanuman.

Hanuman chalisa is sung by millions of worshippers in households and temples. It is considered very auspicious. Following is the text of Hanuman Chalisa with English transliteration.

  Shri Guru Charan Saroj Raj Nij mane mukure sudhar

    Varnao Raghuvar Vimal Jasu Jo dayaku phal char

    Budhi Hin Tanu Janike Sumirau Pavan Kumar

    Bal budhi Vidya dehu mohe Harahu Kalesa Vikar

  Jai Hanuman gyan gun sagar Jai Kapis tihun lok ujagar

    Ram doot atulit bal dhama Anjani-putra Pavan sut nama

    Mahavir Vikram Bajrangi Kumati nivar sumati Ke sangi

    Kanchan varan viraj subesa Kanan Kundal Kunchit Kesa

    Hath Vajra Aur Dhuvaje Viraje Kandhe moonj janehu sajai

    Sankar suvan kesri Nandan Tej pratap maha jag vandan

    Vidyavan guni ati chatur Ram kaj karibe ko aatur

    Prabu charitra sunibe ko rasiya Ram Lakhan Sita man Basiya

    Sukshma roop dhari Siyahi dikhava Vikat roop dhari lanka jarava

    Bhima roop dhari asur sanghare Ramachandra ke kaj sanvare

    Laye Sanjivan Lakhan Jiyaye Shri Raghuvir Harashi ur laye

    Raghupati Kinhi bahut badai Tum mam priye Bharat-hi sam bhai

    Sahas badan tumharo yash gaave Us kahi Shripati kanth lagaave

    Sankadik Brahmadi Muneesa Narad Sarad sahit Aheesa

    Yam Kuber Digpal Jahan te Kavi kovid kahi sake kahan te

    Tum upkar Sugreevahin keenha Ram milaye rajpad deenha

    Tumharo mantra Vibheeshan mana Lankeshwar Bhaye Sub jag jana

    Yug sahastra jojan par Bhanu Leelyo tahi madhur phal janu

    Prabhu mudrika meli mukh mahee Jaladhi langhi gaye achraj nahee

    Durgaam kaj jagat ke jete Sugam anugraha tumhre tete

    Ram dware tum rakhvare, Hoat na agya binu paisare

    Sub sukh lahai tumhari sarna Tum rakshak kahu ko dar na

    Aapan tej samharo aapai Teenhon lok hank te kanpai

    Bhoot pisach Nikat nahin aavai Mahavir jab naam sunavai

    Nase rog harai sab peera Japat nirantar Hanumant beera

    Sankat se Hanuman chudavai Man Karam Vachan dyan jo lavai

    Sub par Ram tapasvee raja Tin ke kaj sakal Tum saja

    Aur manorath jo koi lavai Sohi amit jeevan phal pavai

    Charon Yug partap tumhara Hai persidh jagat ujiyara

    Sadhu Sant ke tum Rakhware Asur nikandan Ram dulhare

    Ashta sidhi nav nidhi ke dhata Us var deen Janki mata

    Ram rasayan tumhare pasa Sada raho Raghupati ke dasa

    Tumhare bhajan Ram ko pavai Janam janam ke dukh bisravai

    Anth kaal Raghuvir pur jayee Jahan janam Hari-Bakht Kahayee

    Aur Devta Chit na dharehi Hanumanth se hi sarve sukh karehi

    Sankat kate mite sab peera Jo sumirai Hanumat Balbeera

    Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosahin Kripa Karahu Gurudev ki nyahin

    Jo sat bar path kare kohi Chutehi bandhi maha sukh hohi

    Jo yah padhe Hanuman Chalisa Hoye siddhi sakhi Gaureesa

    Tulsidas sada hari chera Keejai Das Hrdaye mein dera

    Pavantnai sankar haran, Mangal murti roop.

    Ram Lakhan Sita sahit, Hrdaye basahu sur bhoop.

Hanuman's chalisa has become a modern mantra, more popular, perhaps, than the Ramacharitamanas itself. Many of his devotees may not know Hindi. But they would chant chalisa with sincerity and faith.

Appearance and imagery

Darshan of Sri Hanumanji

In appearance Hanuman looks like a well built monkey with the strength of a gorilla. His gait is very much human, despite of his monkey features, and he conducts himself admirably, without the clumsy movements of an ape. Physically he is half human and half monkey. He probably came from a race that had become extinct. Hanuman lives in the hearts of people through his exemplary devotion and surrender to God. Physically he is endowed with unlimited powers. Being the son of Vayu, the wind god, he has the ability to increase or decrease his size at will and also fly into the air and travel to far away regions of the earth and the solar system.
In the imagery of Rama, we generally see Hanuman, standing reverentially on a side, sitting or standing in a humble manner with his hands joined in reverence. When he is shown alone, he appears in different ways, sitting cross legged, kneeling, standing or flying. In all cases we see him holding his weapon, the mace. When he is shown as flying in the air like a superman, he carries a mountain with one hand and the mace with the other. In some temples we see very tall and imposing images of Hanuman reminding us of his immense strength.

The following are some of the images that are popularlyassociated with Hanuman.

1. Images of young Hanuman flying towards the sun

2. Hanuman crossing the oceans to find Sita

3. Hanuman sitting on a pyramid made up of his own tail

4. Hanuman meeting Sita under Asoka tree

5. Hanuman confroting Ravana in his own court

6. Hanuman setting Lanka on fire

7. Hanuman carrying the Sanjivani mountain

8. Hanuman carrying Rama and Laksmana on his shoulders

9. Hanuman in the court of Rama during coronation ceremony


10. Hanuman offering obeisance to Rama and Sita

11. Hanuman immersed in devotion

12. Hanuman opening his heart ahd showing Rama and Sita

13. Hanuman adorning the ceremonial flag of the Pandavas as an emblem in the Kurukshetra war

Associated mythology

Hanuman is associated with both the epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and several Puranas, and some Jain texts. He is considered a living deity who is still active in the earth consciousness. According the accounts in the Puranas, he was born to Anjana and Vayu. Vayu is a vedic divinity who is mentioned in several vedic hymns and worshipped along with Indra, Varuna and Agni.

According to the accounts, Anjana was originally a celestial nymph. She was extremely beautiful and agile. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, she was cursed to become a monkey and live on earth. She married a monkey called Kasturi with whom she lived for some time. Then she came into contact with Vayu. Hanuman was born to her through Vayu.

As a child Hanuman earned notoriety by his various acts of mischief which even it to be a fruit. He terrified the demon Rahu by shocking him out of his stupor. He fought with Indra and was badly hurt. His connection with Vayu saved him from further disaster. To cool down his temperament Vayu took him to Kailasa and left him to the care of Lord Siva.

Siva blessed him and endowed him with divine bent of mind and enormous powers. Nandi, Siva's vehicle and his humble servant, taught Hanuman all the Vedas and the scriptural knowledge, besides imparting to him the qualities of humility and egolessness.

We understand that because of these qualities Hanuman does not remember his true powers and would not stir to action unless someone reminds him, as it happened before he flew into the air to find Sita.

Knowing his abilities and his dexterity, Sugriva made him his minister. When Rama reached Kishkindha in search of his estranged wife Sita, Hanuman saw Rama for the first time. That was a momentous occasion.

It changed his life and the course of Ramayana forever. In that one moment Hanuman realized his true master and surrendered to him with his heart and soul. The thought of Rama never left his mind from then on.

He played his dutiful role for the sake of dharma in the epic Mahabharata also. He taught a few lessons in humility to his step brother Bhima and also agreed to appear as an emblem on the flag of the Pandavas to boost their morale in their fight against evil.

Temples

Hanuman Temples

Darshan of Sri  Hanumanji

His temples are found all over in India, in towns and cities, on hills, in rural areas, forests and some in inaccessible places. Apart from several Hanuman temples, where he is the principal deity, his images are installed in several Hindu temples, especially those of Rama and Vishnu. In some parts of India, his images are also installed in open and in the outskirts of villages and worshipped. Hindus believe that wherever Hanuman images are installed those places will be free from demons and evil spirits. Therefore, for their protection also people install images of Hanuman in public and worship him. There are many temples built in his honor. The following is a list of temples mentioned in the website .

Alattiyur Hanuman Temple

Anjaneya Temple, Alamelumangapuram

Anjaneya Temple, Nanganallur

Bhadra Maruti Temple, Khuldabad

Bhaktha Anjaneyar

Camp Hanuman Temple

Hanuman Jayanti

Hanuman statue at Khajuraho

Hanuman Temple at Mehendipur Balaji in Dausa

Hanuman Temple at Salasar dhaam in Churu district

Hanuman Temple, Connaught Place

Hanumangarhi, at Ayodhay, UP.

Karmanghat Hanuman Temple

Karya Siddhi Hanuman statue at Carapichaima in Trinidad and Tobago

Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple, at Kaviyoor, Kerala

Luz Anjaneya Temple

Mahavir Mandir. Patna Bihar

11 Maruti temples established by Samarth Ramdas in Maharashtra

Mehandipur Balaji Temple

Namakkal Anjaneyar temple of Namakkal

O.T.C. Hanuman Temple, Palayam

Prasanna Anjaneeya Swamy Temple

Prasanna Yoga Anjaneyar Temple

Punrasar Balaji

Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple

Ragigudda Anjaneya temple at JP Nagar Bangalore

Rojhri dham

Salasar Balaji

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

Sankat Mochan Shri Hanuman Mandir of Phillaur

Shri Bhaktha Anjaneyar Temple in Vedasandur, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

Shri Hanuman Mandir, Sarangpur

Shri Hanuman Mandir, Sarangpur.

Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Shamanur Jakhu temple at Shimla,

Sri Anjaneyar idoo carved from a single rock at Nanganallur in Chennai

Sri Yoga Anjaneyar temple, located in Sholinghur

Suchindram temple near Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

The Hanuman temple at Nerul, Navi Mumbai,

The Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple at Thiruvalla, in Kerala

Veera Abhaya Anjaneya Hanuman Swami, statue at Paritala in AP

Symbolism of Hanuman

Darshan of Sri Hanumanji

There is a lot of symbolism hidden in the imagery of Hanuman. The Ramayana itself can be interpreted symbolically for its spiritual value. For example if Rama represents the Supreme Self, Sita the individual Self, Hanuman represents the body. Alternatively, if Rama symbolizes the individual Self (Purusha) and Sita Nature (Prakriti), Hanuman represents the intelligence or the mind. Hanuman also symbolizes many divine qualities and supreme strengths. It is incorrect to call him an ape or monkey god.

Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, is one of the most celebrated and worshipped figures in Indian religion, but mention him outside of India and you are likely to be met with a blank stare.  So who is Hanuman and what does he represent to the Hindu faith?

As is the case for many of India's gods, several stories are told explaining Hanuman's origin. In one interpretation Shiva and Parvati decide to transform themselves into monkeys and indulge in amorous games in the forest.  As a result Parvati becomes pregnant.  Shiva, conscious of his godly responsibilities and desiring to conform to the laws of nature, directs the wind god Vayu to carry the offspring from Parvati's womb to that of Anjana - an Apsara with the form of a monkey who has prayed to be granted a boy child. In another version of the story Hanuman is simply the offspring of Anjana and Vayu.  In yet another version of the story, he is the son of the King and Queen of the Monkeys.
Many stories are also told of Hanuman's childhood. As the son of Shiva and a monkey, Hanuman is variously described as spirited, restless, energetic and inquisitive.  One point all the major texts agree on is his mischievous nature.  As a youth Hanuman often abused his powers to pester the saints and holy men living in a nearby forest, with tricks such as beard pulling and the dousing of sacred fires.  However, it is as an adult that the monkey god Hanuman comes into his own.

Hanuman

Hanuman jumps over the ocean. Folio from the small Guler-Ramayana series from 1720. Attributed to the workshop of Pandit Seu in Guler, Himachal Pradesh, India. Museum Rietberg Zürich; Photo: Rainer Wolfsberger

Hanuman's tale as told in the epic Ramayana is renowned for its ability to inspire its readers to face ordeals and conquer obstructions in their own lives. At the time of the Ramayana, Hanuman is sent as an advance spy to Lanka, the capital of the mighty demon Ravana's empire.  Ravana has provoked Lord Rama by carrying away his beloved wife Sita in order to start a war.  During the epic times that follow, Hanuman brings hope and secret messages to the captive Sita, leads Rama's monkey army in the Battle of Lanka and single-handedly kills many demons including Lankini, champion of the demons.  During this time Hanuman is captured by the enemy, only to outwit them with cunning and the use of his powers.  He returns to find Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana themselves captured by the enemy and about to be sacrificed to the goddess Kali by the sorcerer Mahiravana.  In a tale of great daring, Hanuman outsmarts the evil lord into becoming the sacrifice himself, thereby earning the eternal respect of Kali.  She appoints Hanuman as her doorkeeper and today many of her temples are seen to have a monkey guarding their doorways.

hanuman antique temple

After the defeat of Ravana, Rama and Sita are crowned King and Queen of Ayodhya. Hanuman is offered a reward for his bravery and asks only to continue in service to him and to live for as long as men speak of Rama's deeds. He remains as Rama's favourite general to this day.

Darshan of Sri  Hanumanji

Because of his bravery, perseverance, strength and devoted service, Hanuman is regarded as a perfect symbol of selflessness and loyalty.  Worship of Hanuman helps the individual to counter the bad karma borne out of selfish action, and grants the believer fortitude and strength in his or her own trials during the journey of life.  Hanuman is also invoked in fights against sorcery and protective amulets depicting him are extremely popular among his devotees.
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