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Hanuman

philosophy religion Maturity 11-13 religion mythology Next article →

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Hanuman is a very important figure in the Hindu religion.

A Hanuman sculpture in Singapore
A Hanuman sculpture in Singapore

He is often called a divine vanara, which is a type of monkey being. Many people see him as a symbol of great strength and deep devotion. He is best known as a loyal companion to the god Rama.

Hanuman finds Sita in the ashoka grove, and shows her Rama's ring
Hanuman finds Sita in the ashoka grove, and shows her Rama's ring

This devotion is called bhakti, and his power is called shakti. Together, these traits show he is both a hero and a loving follower. He is even called a chiranjivi, which means he is immortal.

There are many stories about how Hanuman was born.

Hanuman Mistakes the Sun for a Fruit
Hanuman Mistakes the Sun for a Fruit

One tradition says he is the son of Anjana and Kesari. Another story says he is the spiritual son of Vayu, the wind god. In the Shaiva tradition, people believe he is an incarnation of the god Shiva. Some stories even say he was formed when three gods combined their powers. One tale says a piece of sacred pudding fell to Anjana during her worship. Vayu delivered this pudding to her, leading to Hanuman's birth.

His childhood stories are full of wonder and magic.

Indra maintains the celestial order by striking down the precocious Hanuman
Indra maintains the celestial order by striking down the precocious Hanuman

Once, a hungry young Hanuman saw the sun in the sky. He thought the bright sun was a delicious, ripe fruit. He leaped high into the air to try and eat it. During this leap, the king of gods, Indra, struck him with a thunderbolt. This event hurt Hanuman's jaw and is one reason for his name. Because of the help of many gods, he gained many special powers.

Because of these divine gifts, Hanuman has many amazing abilities.

He can be as fast as the wind and as strong as a diamond. The god Agni granted him a wish that fire would not harm him. The god Varuna gave him a wish that water would not hurt him. He can also travel anywhere he needs to go. These powers helped him serve Rama during the great adventures in the Ramayana. He is often seen as a hero who can overcome any hard job.

Today, Hanuman remains a very popular figure in many parts of the world.

Hanuman-vijayawada-paritala
Hanuman-vijayawada-paritala

People build many temples to honor him and visit them to pray. He is seen as a patron for people who study or practice martial arts. Some see him as an example of how to have great self-control. His many different names, like Maruti or Anjaneya, remind people of his many noble traits. Whether through art or stories, his legacy of faith continues to inspire many people.

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🖼️ Images & Media (25)
File:Hanuman Mandir Darbar.jpg
Hanuman Mandir Darbar.jpg
File:A Hanuman sculpture in Singapore.jpg
A Hanuman sculpture in Singapore.jpg
File:StandingHanumanCholaDynasty11thCentury.jpg
StandingHanumanCholaDynasty11thCentury.jpg
File:Vittala Temple, Vijayanagara, Karnataka, India ei1180.jpg
Vittala Temple, Vijayanagara, Karnataka,...
File:Hanuman Mistakes the Sun for a Fruit.jpg
Hanuman Mistakes the Sun for a Fruit.jpg
File:Indra maintains the celestial order by striking down the precocious Hanuman.jpg
Indra maintains the celestial order by...
File:Hanuman then allows himself to be captured by Ravana, who sets his tail on fire; bazaar art, c.1910's.jpg
Hanuman then allows himself to be...
File:Image Hanuman and the healing herbs.jpg
Image Hanuman and the healing herbs.jpg
File:Bhimanjaneyula kalayika.jpg
Bhimanjaneyula kalayika.jpg
File:Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's.jpg
Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing...
File:Hanuman finds Sita in the ashoka grove, and shows her Rama's ring.jpg
Hanuman finds Sita in the ashoka grove,...
File:Hanuman statue and shrine. South of Chennai.jpg
Hanuman statue and shrine. South of Chennai.jpg

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