Birth of Hanuman
Anjana, who became the mother of Hanuman Ji, was one of the sixteen matrikas. The matrikas are adored and worshipped ladies of celestial, astral and material planes of the universe. Once Anjana assumed the form of a lady tourist visiting Svah planet, a few million miles beyond the polestar. She arrived in the assembly of Indra, the king of Svah planet. Some how the king was attracted to her and requested her to make love with him. She rebuked him severely and said, who would like to make love with you, a fallen one with the signs of a thousand eyes!”
King Indra could not bear this insult and cursing her, he replied, “You are very vain because of your beauty. You will be born in the monkey faced Vanara race”.
While Indra was cursing Anjana, Anjana’s dearest friend Adrika (out of love for Anjana), tried to insult Indra by meowing like a cat. Indra then cursed her saying, “You will become cat faced in your next life!”
In course of time, both friends were born as the twin daughters of Kunja, a Vanara knight. When they grew up, Keshari, a famous knight of the Vanara race. Married both of them. Then, one day while, Keshari was in meditation at the southern seashore, Maharishi Agastya became the atithi of Keshari. Both of Keshari’s wives welcomed the unexpected guest and served him whole heartedly. Agastya was highly satisfied and told the wives to ask for any boon they wished.
“I want the mightiest son, who will be highly bold and strong in the world. Totally devoted to universe welfare,” Anjana requested.
“So be it,” Maharishi Agastya approved the wish for both of them, and in due course of time, Anjana gave birth to Sri Hanuman Ji who became all powerful and Adrika gave birth to a son, Adri by name, who became governor of all the goblins.
Soon after Maharishi granted the boon, Maharishi Agastya realized that Lord Shiva himself was going to be born as the son of Anjana. He ordered her to go to meditate on the hill Venkatadri in Vrishabhachal on the bank of Akashaganga. This was the most appropriate place to materialize her desire. Thus, one day, she was absorbed in a long meditation, the wind God appeared and said, “Adorable devi, I am pleased with you. You will attain a mighty son, one who will not be affected by any weapons whatsoever. I shall become your son myself. He will be equal to me in power and speed. Thus saying, the wind God infused his light into mother Anjana.
Great souls seldom move from their celestial abodes unless there is a mission for them to fulfill. Then the whole creation awaits their advent. In the same way, there were do many reasons for the advent of Sri Hanuman ji. The natural instinct of Keshari was to wander around to different holy places, and when ever found a scenic garden he used to sit in long meditation. Once, while he was residing in Gokarna (a holy place of Lord Shiva near Goa), he found a great monster, Shambasadana, continuously persecuting the holy saints who were residing there. Keshari confronted this monster and hit him forcefully with his fist. There was a great wrestling match and at last Keshari was successful in slaying him.
All of the rishis were extremely happy with Keshari’s feat and blessed him so that he might attain an almighty, enlightened son, who would become very hot tempered to any unjust act. They then offered a very powerful mantra of Lord Shiva. After Keshari had been repeating this powerful mantra, Lord Shiva appeared and blessed him, and Lord Shiva’s light entered into Keshari’s body. Keshari felt as if he was no longer a mortal. When the rishis saw him full of effulgence they suggested that he return to his home.
At the same moment, Anjana returned home after receiving her boon from the wind God. When she saw her husband after such a long time she was filled with rapturous joy and fell down at his feet. Keshari was overwhelmed with love. He raised her u with his two arms and embraced her, and for some time they became one in that universal silence. Keshari did not remain Keshari and Anjana was no longer Anjana, they became one in love trance and in that love trance Shiva’s light, which was abiding in Keshari was transmitted to Anjana. She felt as if bathed in effulgent bliss, light, and grace. Now Keshari became as he was before the visit of Lord Shiva. All of Lord Siva’s effulgence was transmitted to Anjana.
Anjana abandoned that special simple dress which she had adopted in the time of separation from her dear husband. She wore instead a gorgeous silk sari, golden necklaces, a crown earrings embedded with gems and jewels. She was adorned beautifully! The husband and wife began to enjoy in the groves on the top of the mountain.
On the planet Bramha, which is situated about one hundred and sixteen million miles above polestar, there was a nymph whose name was Suvarchala. She was very fond of blossoming, fragrant flowers. Once she rushed to some flowers in the assembly of Bramha. The creator, Brahma, is found of good manners and certain formalities and was not pleased with Suvarchal’s impulsive action he cursed her saying. “You, being born into the race of gods, possess no patience, so you will become a crow”,
Suvarchala repented and, falling at his feet, asked for a pardon from Lord Brahma, He mercifully forgave her and said, “In the silver age, on planer Earth, king Dasjaratha will receive a bowl of diving rice pudding after his ceremony of putreshthi yajna. He will then distribute it among his three queens. You woll take away queen Sumitra’s share, and then by the touch of that divine, blesses rice pudding you will attain your original form and come to my planet again.”
The time described by Brahma arrived and king Dashatatha was performing his fire sacrifices festivity on the bank of the holy Sarayu river. It was definitely an interplanetary festivity. King Dasharatha fed millions of guests. He offered almost all of his property and empire to enlightened rishis, which they, in turn, gave back to him after accepting a small exchange.
A huge masculine form then arose from the sacrificial fire with a bowl of celestial rice pudding in his hand. His body was red like ultraviolet rays. He had long golden hair, a long beard, and large eyes. He spoke like a rumbling cloud, saying, “My dear king Dasharatha, the gods of higher planets are highly satisfied with you because of your sacrificial festivity, and they have sent you this rice pudding, let the queens respectfully eat it and then they will give birth to four incomparable babies who will redeem the earth from all the evil forces.”
The whole assembly of saints, kings, and rishis were all silent while the king was distributing the rice pudding among his queens. As soon as the king placed a protion in the open palms of Sumitra, Suvarchala, in her form as a crow, jumped as it. She held it fast with her legs and beak and flew away high into the sky. Kousalya ans Kaikeyi, the other two queens, shared their porting of pudding with Sumitra. Thus Sumitra gave birth to two babies.
As soon as the crow rushed to the open sky there arose a heavy wind and hurricane. The bird stumbled and the rice pudding was touched by her body. Immediately she regained her celestial form and the body of the crow fell down to earth. The wind god then took the bowl pudding and appeared on the hill top groves where the couple, Anjana and Keshari, was wandering. The wind told Keshari and Anjana that he had come there to offer them with celestial rice pudding,
“Allow Anjana to eat it and she will give birth to the mightiest child, a boon I was granted her some time ago.”
After receiving the order from her dear husband, Anjana accepted the bowl of rice pudding. Feeling much joy she put it against her heart and head and then wind
God disappeared. Anjana ate the pudding and became pregnant. Soon after, as demigod races do not require the full nine months in womb, she gave birth to Sri Hanuman ji on Tuesday, in the month of October. This is why all great devotees of Sri Hanuman ji observe a fast on Tuesdays. Then take only fruits and milk products, and communicate with Sri Hanuman ji.
Sri Hanuman ji was born completely adorned with golden crown, gemmed earrings, underpants and sacred thread. He was yellowed eyed and there was golden hair all over his body.
Hanuman Swallowing Sun
Lord Shiva took birth in the form of a monkey through vanara Anjana. The child born to Anjana was called Anjaneya which is another name for Lord Hanuman. After giving birth to Hanuman, Anjana decided to return to heaven.
Anjaneya became very sad. “Mother, what will be my future without you? How can I feed myself ? How can I live?” he asked.
Anjana said: “Don’t worry, Anjaneya” “Gods will always protect you. When you feel hungry, fruits as red and ripe as a rising sun would be your food.”
Anjana kissed her son and left for heaven.
“Fruits as red and ripe as the Sun or Surya?” – thought Anjaneya. “Is Sun such a ripe fruit? Let me see!”
The baby Hanuman wanted to taste the Sun. He was, after all, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. So reaching for Surya Deva was not a tough task for him. He made a giant leap to catch the glowing ball on the sky. The sun glowing in the sky suddenly saw a monkey coming towards him. Bal Hanuman grew bigger and bigger as he neared the sun. The terribly hot rays which made the presence of any mortal body impossible near the Sun, had no effect on the creature. The Sun got scared and started calling out for help. “Oh Indra! Oh Indra! Please help me!” he cried.
“Why Suryadeva seeks my help?”- Indra wondered. “Is he not powerful enough to burn everything that comes near him? Or is it something beyond his control? Anyway, I have to see what’s happening!”
Indra promptly climbed on Airavata his mount, the white elephant and set out to find the cause of Surya Deva’s fear. Soon, he found that a flying monster was trying to catch hold of the sun. On nearing the sun, Indra was surprised to see that the monster was actually a giant monkey.
“Stop!” he ordered. “Who are you? Why are you trying to catch the Sun?”
“I’m Anjaneya, son of Kesari and Anjana” – replied the giant child. “My mother told me that fruits as ripe as the red sun will be my food. So I’m going to catch the sun and eat it.”
Indra was amused by the child’s innocence, so he advised him to return to earth. “This is not a fruit, Hanuman, this is the Sun – the source of all light and life” – said he and commanded, “Return whence you came”.
But naughty Anjaneya ignored his command and continued his journey to capture the Sun. Indra became angry and warned him to return. He repeated several times his warning, but Anjaneya did not listen to him. At last, the King of Devas became so enraged that he struck Anjaneya with his thunderbolt “Vajra”.
The Vajra hit the child, wounding his chin and causing him to fall down to earth. Anjaneya’s cheeks were swollen twice their size. As the boy fell, his body became smaller and smaller. Finally, he became the child monkey he really was and hit the ground.
Vayu, the Hindu wind god and father of Hanuman, picked him up midair and went into a cave.
An angry Vayu avenges this attack on his son by removing air from earth. Soon all beings suffocate. Terrified, Devas approach Brahma.
Soon Devas and Brahma reach the cave. Brahma revives Hanuman. All the gods present their give Hanuman a boon each.
Brahma gave Hanuman the boon that he will never be killed by a weapon. Indra’s anger also changed to affection and granted the boon that Hanuman can summon death as and when He desires.
From Shiva he obtained the boons of longevity, scriptural wisdom and ability to cross the ocean. Shiva assured safety of Hanuman with a band that would protect him for life. Indra blessed him that the Vajra weapon will no longer be effective on him and his body would become stronger than Vajra. Varuna blessed baby Hanuman with a boon that he would always be protected from water. Agni blessed him with immunity to burning by fire. Surya gave him two siddhis of yoga namely "laghima" and "garima", to be able to attain the smallest or to attain the biggest form. Yama, the God of Death blessed him healthy life and free from his weapon danda, thus death would not come to him. Kubera showered his blessings declaring that Hanuman would always remain happy and contented. Vishwakarma blessed him that Hanuman would be protected from all his creations in the form of objects or weapons. Vayu also blessed him with more speed than he himself had. Kamadeva also blessed him that the sex will not be effective on him.So his name is also Bala Bramhachari.
In Hindu tradition, there is the concept of Chiranjeevi – living beings without death. Hanuman is one among the seven Chiranjeevis mentioned in Hindu scriptures. Hanuman became a Chiranjeevi after he got a boon from Brahma, the creator, and Indra, the king of Devas.
Adventures in Ramayana
The Sundara Kanda, the fifth book in the Ramayana, focuses on the adventures of Hanuman.
Hanuman meets Rama during the Rama's 14-year exile. With his brother Lakshmana, Rama is searching for his wife Sita who had been abducted by Ravana. Their search brings them to the vicinity of the mountain Rishyamukha, where Sugriva, along with his followers and friends, are in hiding from his older brother Vali.
Having seen Rama and Lakshmana, Sugriva sends Hanuman to ascertain their identities. Hanuman approaches the two brothers in the guise of a brahmin. His first words to them are such that Rama says to Lakshmana that none could speak the way the brahmin did unless he or she had mastered the Vedas. He notes that there is no defect in the brahmin's countenance, eyes, forehead, brows, or any limb. He points out to Lakshmana that his accent is captivating, adding that even an enemy with sword drawn would be moved. He praises the disguised Hanuman further, saying that sure success awaited the king whose emissaries were as accomplished as he was.
When Rama introduces himself, the brahman identitifies himself as Hanuman and falls prostrate before Rama, who embraces him warmly. Thereafter, Hanuman's life becomes interwoven with that of Rama. Hanuman then brings about friendship and alliance between Rama and Sugriva; Rama helps Sugriva regain his honour and makes him king of Kishkindha. Sugriva and his vanaras, most notably Hanuman, help Rama defeat Raavana and reunite with Sita.
In their search for Sita, a group of Vanaras reaches the southern seashore. Upon encountering the vast ocean, every vanara begins to lament his inability to jump across the water. Hanuman too is saddened at the possible failure of his mission, until the other vanaras and the wise bear Jambavantha begin to extol his virtues. Hanuman then recollects his own powers, enlarges his body, and flies across the ocean. On his way, he encounters a mountain that rises from the sea, proclaims that it owed his father a debt, and asks him to rest a while before proceeding. Not wanting to waste any time, Hanuman thanks the mountain, touches it briefly, and presses on. He then encounters a sea-monster, Surasa, who challenges him to enter her mouth. When Hanuman outwits her, she admits that her challenge was merely a test of his courage. After killing Simhika, a rakshasi, he reaches Lanka.
Finding Sita
Hanuman reaches Lanka through flight and marvels at its beauty. After he finds Sita in captivity in a garden, Hanuman reveals his identity to her, reassures her that Rama has been looking for her, and uplifts her spirits. He offers to carry her back to Rama, but she refuses his offer, saying it would be an insult to Rama as his honour is at stake. In order to give Sita faith, Hanuman gives her a ring that Ram wanted Hanuman to give her. After meeting Sita, Hanuman begins to wreak havoc, gradually destroying the palaces and properties of Lanka. He kills many rakshasas, including Jambumali and Aksha Kumar. To subdue him, Ravana's son Indrajit uses the Brahmastra. Though immune to the effects of this weapon Hanuman, out of respect to Brahma, allows himself be bound. Deciding to use the opportunity to meet Ravana, and to assess the strength of Ravana's hordes, Hanuman allows the rakshasa warriors to parade him through the streets. He conveys Rama's message of warning and demands the safe return of Sita. He also informs Ravana that Rama would be willing to forgive him if he returns Sita honourably.
Enraged, Ravana orders Hanuman's execution, whereupon Ravana's brother Vibhishana intervenes, pointing out that it is against the rules of engagement to kill a messenger. Ravana then orders Hanuman's tail be lit afire. As Ravana's forces attempted to wrap cloth around his tail, Hanuman begins to lengthen it. After frustrating them for a while, he allows it to burn, then escapes from his captors, and with his tail on fire he burns down large parts of Lanka. After extinguishing his flaming tail in the sea, he returns to Rama.
Shapeshifting
In the Ramayana Hanuman changes shape several times. For example, while he searches for the kidnapped Sita in Ravana's palaces on Lanka, he contracts himself to the size of a cat, so that he will not be detected by the enemy. Later on, he takes on the size of a mountain, blazing with radiance, to show his true power to Sita.
Also he enlarges & immediately afterwards contracts his body to out-wit Surasa, the she-demon, who blocked his path while crossing the sea to reach Lanka. Again, he turns his body microscopically small to enter Lanka before killing Lankini, the she-demon guarding the gates of Lanka.
He achieved this shape-shifting by the powers of two siddhis; Anima and Garima bestowed upon him in his childhood by Sun-God, Surya.
Mountain Lifting
When Lakshmana is severely wounded during the battle against Ravana, Hanuman is sent to fetch the Sanjivani, a powerful life-restoring herb, from Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayas, to revive him. Ravana realises that if Lakshmana dies, a distraught Rama would probably give up, and so he dispatches the sorcerer Kalanemi to intercept Hanuman. Kalanemi, in the guise of a sage, deceives Hanuman, but Hanuman uncovers his plot with the help of an apsara, whom he rescues from her accursed state as a crocodile.
Ravana, upon learning that Kalanemi has been slain by Hanuman, summons Surya to rise before its appointed time because the physician Sushena had said that Lakshmana would perish if untreated by daybreak. Hanuman realizes the danger, however, and, becoming many times his normal size, detains the Sun God to prevent the break of day. He then resumes his search for the precious herb, but, when he finds himself unable to identify which herb it is, he lifts the entire mountain and delivers it to the battlefield in Lanka. Sushena then identifies and administers the herb, and Lakshmana is saved. Rama embraces Hanuman, declaring him as dear to him as his own brother. Hanuman releases Surya from his grip, and asks forgiveness, as the Sun was also his Guru.
Hanuman was also called "langra veer"; langra in Hindi means limping and veer means "brave". The story behind Hanuman being called langra is as follows. He was injured when he was crossing the Ayodhya with the mountain in his hands. As he was crossing over Ayodhya, Bharat, Rama's young brother, saw him and assumed that some Rakshasa was taking this mountain to attack Ayodhya. Bharat then shot Hanuman with an arrow, which was engraved with Rama's name. Hanuman did not stop this arrow as it had Rama's name written on it, and it injured his leg. Hanuman landed and explained to Bharat that he was moving the mountain to save his own brother, Lakshmana. Bharat, very sorry, offered to fire an arrow to Lanka, which Hanuman could ride in order to reach his destination more easily. But Hanuman declined the offer, preferring to fly on his own, and he continued his journey with his injured leg.
Patala incident
In another incident during the war, Rama and Lakshmana are captured by the rakshasa Mahiravana and Ahiravan), brother of Ravana, who held them captive in their palace in Patala (or Patalpuri) --the netherworld. Mahiravana keeps them as offerings to his deity. Searching for them, Hanuman reaches Patala, the gates of which are guarded by a young creature called Makardhwaja (known also as Makar-Dhwaja or Magar Dhwaja), who is part reptile and part Vanara.
The story of Makardhwaja's(son of Hanuman) birth is said to be that when Hanuman extinguished his burning tail in the ocean, a drop of his sweat fell into the waters, eventually becoming Makardhwaja, who perceives Hanuman as his father. When Hanuman introduces himself to Makardhwaja, the latter asks his blessings. Hanuman enters Patala.
Upon entering Patala, Hanuman discovers that to kill Mahiravana, he must simultaneously extinguish five lamps burning in different directions. Hanuman assumes the Panchamukha or five-faced form of Sri Varaha facing north, Sri Narasimha facing south, Sri Garuda facing west, Sri Hayagriva facing the sky and his own facing the east, and blows out the lamps. Hanuman then rescues Rama and Lakshmana. Afterwards, Rama asks Hanuman to crown Makardhwaja king of Patala. Hanuman then instructs Makardhwaja to rule Patala with justice and wisdom.
To date Chandraloak Devpuri mandir is located at Dugana a small village 17 km from Laharpur,Sitapur district,Uttar Pradesh. A divine place where Chakleswar Mahadev situated.
Honours
Shortly after he is crowned Emperor upon his return to Ayodhya, Rama decides to ceremoniously reward all his well-wishers. At a grand ceremony in his court, all his friends and allies take turns being honoured at the throne. Hanuman approaches without desiring a reward. Seeing Hanuman come up to him, an emotionally overwhelmed Rama embraces him warmly, declaring that he could never adequately honour or repay Hanuman for the help and services he received from the noble Vanara. Sita, however, insists that Hanuman deserved honour more than anyone else, and Sita gives him a necklace of precious stones adorning her neck.
When he receives it, Hanuman immediately takes it apart, and peers into each stone. Taken aback, many of those present demand to know why he is destroying the precious gift. Hanuman answers that he was looking into the stones to make sure that Rama and Sita are in them, because if they are not, the necklace is of no value to him. At this, a few mock Hanuman, saying his reverence and love for Rama and Sita could not possibly be as deep as he implies. In response, Hanuman tears his chest open, and everyone is stunned to see Rama and Sita literally in his heart.
Hanuman Ramayana
After the victory of Rama over Ravana, Hanuman went to the Himalayas to continue his worship of the Lord Rama. There he scripted a version of the Ramayana on the Himalayan mountains using his nails, recording every detail of Rama's deeds. When Maharishi Valmiki visited him to show him his own version of the Ramayana, he saw Hanuman's version and became very disappointed.
When Hanuman asked Valmiki the cause of his sorrow, the sage said that his version, which he had created very laboriously, was no match for the splendour of Hanuman's, and would therefore go ignored. At this, Hanuman discarded his own version, which is called the Hanumad Ramayana. Maharishi Valmiki was so taken aback that he said he would take another birth to sing the glory of Hanuman which he had understated in his version.
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 recognised that it was from the Hanumad Ramayana recorded by Hanuman in an extinct script, and considered himself very fortunate to see at least one pada of the stanza.
Mahabharata
Hanuman is also considered to be the brother of Bhima, on the basis of their having the same father, Vayu. During the Pandavas' exile, he appears disguised as a weak and aged monkey to Bhima in order to subdue his arrogance. Bhima enters a field where Hanuman is lying with his tail blocking the way. Bhima, unaware of his identity, tells him to move it out of the way. Hanuman, incognito, refuses. Bhima then tries to move the tail himself but he is unable, despite his great strength. Realising he is no ordinary monkey, he inquires as to Hanuman's identity, which is then revealed. At Bhima's request, Hanuman is also said to have enlarged himself to demonstrate the proportions he had assumed in his crossing of the sea as he journeyed to Lanka and also said that when the war came, he would be there to protect the Pandavas. This place is located at Sariska National Park in the Alwar District of the State of Rajasthan and named as Pandupole(Temple of Hanuman ji).Pandupole is very famous tourist spot of Alwar.
During the great battle of Kurukshetra, Arjuna entered the battlefield with a flag displaying Hanuman on his chariot. The incident that led to this was an earlier encounter between Hanuman and Arjuna, wherein Hanuman appeared as a small talking monkey before Arjuna at Rameshwaram, where Rama had built the great bridge to cross over to Lanka to rescue Sita. Upon Arjuna's wondering aloud at Rama's taking the help of monkeys rather than building a bridge of arrows, Hanuman challenged him to build a bridge capable of bearing him alone; Arjuna, unaware of the vanara's true identity, accepted. Hanuman then proceeded to repeatedly destroy the bridges made by Arjuna, who decided to take his own life. Krishna smiled and placed his divine discus beneath the bridge,and this time hanuman could no longer break it.Vishnu then appeared before them both after originally coming in the form of a tortoise, chiding Arjuna for his vanity and Hanuman for making Arjuna feel incompetent. As an act of penitence, Hanuman decided to help Arjuna by stabilizing and strengthening his chariot during the imminent great battle. After, the battle of Kurukshetra was over,
Krishna asked Arjuna, that today you step down the chariot before me. After Arjuna got down,
Krishna followed him and thanked Hanuman for staying with them during the whole fight in the form
of a flag on the chariot. Hanuman came in his original form, bowed to Krishna and left the flag,
flying away into the sky. As soon as he left the flag, the chariot began to burn and turned into ashes.
Arjuna was shocked to see this, then Krishna told Arjuna, that the only reason his chariot was still
standing was because of the presence of Himself and Hanuman, otherwise, it would have burnt many
days ago due to effects of celestial weapons thrown at it in the war.
According to legend, Hanuman is one of the four people to have heard the Bhagwad Gita from Krishna and seen his Vishvarupa (universal) form, the other three being Arjuna, Sanjaya and Barbarika, son of Ghatotkacha.
Panchmukhi Hanuman
Pancha means Five and Mukhi means faces, so panchmukhi hanuman is a form Lord hanuman which has five different faces. Hanuman ji is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. He is the symbol of power, energy, strength and knowledge. And, an epitome of true devotion and brahmcharya (bachelorhood).
According to texts in Hanumath Prakaranam in Sri Vidyarnavatantram, Panchmukhi Hanumana (also known as Anjaneya) has five faces (Pancha Mukha) and ten weapons.
- East facing Anjaneya grants Ishta Siddhi.
- South facing Karala Ugraveera Narasimha grants Abhista Siddhi.
- West facing Mahaveera Garuda grants Sakala Soubhagya.
- North facing Lakshmi Varaha grants Dhana Prapthi.
- Urdhva Mukha being Hayagriva grants Sarva Vidya Jaya Prapthi.
In Kamba Ramayanam (in Tamil), the significance of number five is
beautifully narrated as follows:
- The son of one of the five elements (son of wind – Pavana Thanaya)
- crossed one of the five elements (water – the ocean),
- through one of the five elements (sky),
- met daughter of one of the five elements (daughter of earth – Sita Devi)
- burnt down Lanka by one of the five elements (fire).
