Gods And Goddesses: Hanuman

It is about time I actually made a post about a god or goddess of Hindu mythology, especially seeing as I know so little of Hindu mythology in the first place. I have to thank ED BULEY, also known as THE SPIRITUAL HOBO, for this seeing as he mentioned being also known as Hanuman. It is the monkey god Lord Hanuman himself who I find interesting while at the same time I know so little about.

Hanuman is known for aiding another god, Lord Rama, in fighting against evil forces and believed to be an avatar, or incarnation as some may say, of the god Lord Shiva. Hanuman is well known for appearing in the epic Ramayana in which Hanuman was assigned the responsibly of looking for the wife of Lord Rama, Sita, who was sadly abducted by the demon king of Lanka, Ravana.

Punjikasthala, an attendant of the god Vrihaspati, was cursed to take the form of a female monkey. This curse could only be stopped if Punjikasthala gave birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Eventually Punjikasthala was reborn and became known as Anjana, as Anjana she did her best to please Lord Shiva who granted her the birth that could stop her curse. This is how Hanuman became to be.

Soon before Hanuman was born Anjana was meditating and was delivered a drop of divine pudding into her hands by the god of wind, Pavana. Because of this, Pavana became Hanuman’s godfather.

Seeing as Hanuman’s birth freed Anjana from her curse she was to return to Heaven, but before Anjana returned to Heaven Hanuman asked of his future. Anjana told Hanuman he would never die and that fruits as ripe as the rising sun would be his food. Hanuman, mistaking the sun as his food, leapt for the sun but was struck down by a thunderbolt from Indra and was thrown back down to earth. Pavana carried Hanuman to the nether world known as Patala and the god Brahma begged Hanuman to return where blessings of invincibility, immortality and of super strength was given to appease Hanuman.

The sun god Surya was whom Hanuman went to with the request to teach Hanuman the scriptures. Surya agreed and Hanuman became disciple. Hanuman’s concentration made it possible for Hanuman to master the scriptures in only sixty hours. Surya told Hanuman that the mastering of the scriptures was Hanuman’s fees for being taught, however, Hanuman requested Surya to accept more then that. Hanuman was requested to assist Surya’s son, Sugriva, by being his minister and compatriot.

Hanuman met Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana while Rama was in exile within a jungle and looking for his wife Sita who just happened to have been abducted by a demon known as Ravana. While looking for Sita, Rama and Hanuman came to Pampa Lake at the foot of Mount Risyamukha where a monkey king called Sugriva and his minsters were hiding. Sugriva was being persecuted by his brother Bali suspected that Rama and Lakshmana might have been sent by Bali himself to kill Sugriva himself. Hanuman approached Sugriva and his minsters as the guise of the god Brahmin.

Hanuman introduced Sugriva to Rama and did a large search for Sita. Finding the whereabouts of Sita, she was consoled by Hanuman and the city Lanka was burnt down. Hanuman brought Rama to the burnt city and fight the demon Ravana with his own army, defeating the demon.

Hanuman later saved the life of Rama’s brother Lakshmana by getting the herb Sanjivani and from then on served Rama. Hanuman is often depicted carrying a mountain that he is said to have carried when going back to Lakshmana with the herb Sanjivani, as Hanuman apparently was unable to identify the herb himself so he uplifted the whole mountain the herb happened to be on and took it to Lakshmana.

Tuesday’s, and for some, Saturday’s, are when many fast in honour of Hanuman and give offerings to him. It is also common among Hindu’s to chant the name of Hanuman or the hymn of Hanuman, “Hanuman Chalisa”, during times of trouble. Of the full moon of the Hindu month Chaitra at sunrise, what is known as Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated as a commemoration of the birth of Hanuman.

Hanuman is very much beloved by many people and one of the more widely worshipped Hindu gods. With a large appeal to devotes that includes wresters, healers, politicians and even monkey catchers.