Lord Hanuman - the Monkey God

Hanuman, the monkey god, a mighty ape and a noble hero who was a great devotee of Lord Rama of the Ramayana. He is one of the most popular idols in the Hindu pantheon who aided Lord Rama in his expedition against evil forces. Believed to be an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Shiva, Hanuman is worshipped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance and devotion. In times of trouble, it is a common faith among Hindus to chant the name of Hanuman or sing his hymn - "Hanuman Chalisa". Hanuman temples are among the most common public shrines found in India. Hanuman, the monkey God is described as one who will live eternally. He is strong, full of valour, with various skills and powers. He has one thought only - that of serving his Lord Rama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) with utmost humility and devotion. This deity is a provider of courage, hope, knowledge, intellect and devotion. He is pictured as a robust monkey holding a mace (gada) which is a sign of bravery and having a picture of Lord Rama tatooed on his chest which is a sign of his devotion to Lord Rama.

Hanuman and Lord Vishnu

Lord Hanuman

Hanuman is the son of the goddess Anjana. She was once a celestial maiden & was born as a monkey-woman as a result of a curse. She was living happily with her husband Kesari. When king Dasaratha performed a yagna praying for off-springs, he was yielded a pot of pudding from the fire. A portion of this pudding was carried by the Lord of Winds and fell into the hands of goddesss Anjana and she gave birth to a lovely & strong son. Since the Lord of the Winds was responsible for the pudding reaching Anjana, he is also considered the father of Hanuman and gave him the ability to fly. Hanuman grew up as a strong and mischievous young lad. He could travel as fast as the wind. As soon as Hanuman was born he felt hungry and his mother could not satisfy him. Then he caught sight of the Sun and thinking it was a fruit he leapt after it. The Sun took flight but Hanuman chased him as far as Indra's (the sun god) heaven. Here however, Indra intervened and injured Hanuman's jaw with his thunderbolt. The Lord of the Winds was upset that his son was struck and he stopped blowing. The whole world was in trouble without winds. All the Gods offered various powerful boons to Hanuman, thus making him more powerful and invincible than before. The Lord of the Winds was pleased & started his work again.

Whenever dipicted on public buildings or a statue, Hanuman can easily be identified because he has a white face and feet.

Hanuman played a major role in the great Hindu epic, Ramayana. Rama (Lord Vishnu) had been banished from his kingdom by his mother Kaikeyi and he reached the forests with his wife Sita and borther. Sugreeva with his army & Hanuman was hiding in the forest from his brother Vaali. Hanuman met Rama and thereafter was with Rama forever.

When Sita was abducted by the demon king, Hanuman flew across the oceans and found Sita in Lanka. He consoled the goddesss Sita and set fire to Lanka. He assisted Rama in crossing the ocean by building the sethu bridge. When the victorious Rama returned to Ayodhya & was crowned king, Hanuman continued to serve him, forever at his service.

A complete summary of this great epic will be added soon.

Resources:
Lord Hanuman

(Editor's note, March 19, 2010: This page is now being construction so come back again.)

For more information about our travels write toBelli.