LORD HANUMAN
Hanuman is the Hindu god of wisdom,courage,strength ,devotion and self discipline. He is one of the central character of hindu epic Ramayana.Hanuman is one among the eight Chiranjeevis(immortals) known for his unmatched devotion for Rama.
Other than Ramayana Hanuman is also mentioned in Puranas and Mahabharata. He is known by many names like Anjaneya,Kesari Nandana, Maruti,Pawanputra, Bajrangbali,Sankat Mochan.
He possess limitless powers and immeasurable strength.He is also considered a scholar who has mastered the Vedanga (the six supporting disciplines of Hinduism), the four Vedas, and the six shastras. Hanuman is the scholar of eight siddhis and nine nidhis.
Symbolically Hanuman is the representation of inner self control , faith ,devotion and service to a cause.He is an ideal Brahmacharya.
In this article we are going to discuss about the life story of this great warrior and devotee . So here we go…..
lORD hANUMAN:BIRTH
Hanuman was born from the pair of Anjana and Kesari , who was the chief of Vanaras,the forest dwelling tribes.
Anjana was a divine apsara of heaven ,who was cursed by a vanara to become a monkey in next birth and get freed from the curse when she gives birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Consequently , Anjana was born as a vanara and married to Kesari. She meditated on Shiva to get him as her son ,blessed with divine qualities.
PAWAN PUTRA HANUMAN – THE SON OF VAYU
Once Agni,the God of fire was carrying divine desserts( sweets) to Ayodhya for the three queens of Ayodhy ,so that their sons are born with divine qualities. Meanwhile a bird stole a piece of sweet and dropped it . The wind God Vayu interfered and blew the wind ,so that the sweet fell in the lap of Anjana while she was meditating. Anjana consumed it and as a result Hanuman, the incarnation of Shiva was born with all divine qualities.
So Hanuman is also called ‘ Pawan Putra’or ‘ Vayu Putra’. Hanuman means ‘ one having a disfigured jaw.’ Apart from Hanuman Anjana also had five other sons and out of all six Hanuman was the eldest one.
Five brothers of Hanuman were namely Matiman, Shrutiman, Ketuman, Gatimaan, and Dhritiman. These brothers were married.
lORD HANUMAN :childhood
Hanuman as a kid was very playful and naughty . He could not bear up the effect of his divine strength and powers because of his small age and performed many mischievous activities.
ENGULFING THE SUN
One morning in his childhood, Hanuman was hungry and saw the rising red-colored sun. Mistaking it for a ripe fruit, he leapt up to eat it. The king of gods Indra intervened and struck Hanuman with his thunderbolt. It hit Hanuman on his jaw, and he fell to the earth dead with a broken jaw.At the interference of Vayu ,father of Hanuman , Indra revived Hanuman and granted him a boon that his body would be as strong as Vajra and the Vajra would not harm him. Similarily Hanuman was blessed by other Gods that he would not be harmed by air, water and fire. Brahma granted him a boon that he could move to any place where he can not be stopped.
CURSE TO HANUMAN
Being the son of Vayu ,the wind God ,Hanuman could move with pace as fast as air. He always used to misbehave and disturb the meditating sages . When Hanuman continued to misbehave, powerful sages cursed him to forget his magic powers, such as the ability to fly or to become infinitely large, until he was reminded of them.
hanuman and rama
FIRST MEET WITH RAM
When Sita was abducted by Ravana , Rama and Lakshmana travelled to many places in search of her .Sugriva saw Ram and Lakshmana at the foothills of Rishyamukha hills.
Hanuman took the form of a Brahmin to find the identity of two brothers , he identifies Rama and surrender unto him completely. Then Rama comes to know about Bali. And this is followed by formation of alliance between Rama and Sugriva, death of Bali , and formation of a large Vaanar Sena to search for Sita.
HANUMANA IN LANKA
After forming alliance with Sugriva , Rama sends everyone in the four directions. Hanuman and a few other allies were send to the south direction along with Jambavan,the learnt bear. When they reached the coast they found the island of Lanka at the horizon . At this place Hanuman remembered all his powers when Jaambavan told him about his lost strength.
Hanuman flies across the ocean to find the location where Sita was kept in Lanka.He finally finds her in Ashok Vatika.Then he shows Sita the ring as a proof that he was sent by Rama. Then Hanuman is made captive by Indrajeet one of the sons of Ravana . This is followed by him burning down the golden Lanka to ashes and then he returns to Rama and tells him about his meet with Seeta .
When Hanuman was returning to Rama , a drop of his sweat fell in the ocean and was consumed by a fish . As a result Hanuman had a child named Makardhwaj , who was the gatekeeper of Patal Loka.
ROLE OF HANUMAN IN YUDDHA KAAND
On the first day Indrajit had a fierce fight with Lakshmana and when he realised that Lakshmana could not be won over,he used his deceptive powers,and uses a magical weapon Shakti, Lakshman fell unconscious, poised to die precisely at the following sunrise.Hanuman brings the Sanjeevani booti from the Himalyas and saved Lakshmana .
Hanuman killed thousands of demons . The major one includes sinhika, kimkaras, seven sons of prahasta, Akshay Kumara, jambumali, devantaka, dhumraksha, trishira, nikumbha, akampana.Other than these Hanuman destroyed many others for example at the Ashok Vatika itself Hanuman killed 80000 Kinkaras, who were exceptionally powerful demons.
During her journey back to Ayodhya Sita blessed Hanuman to be immortal . She also blessed him to be the bestower of eight siddhis and nine Nidhis.
PEAK OF DEVOTION
At the end when Rama and Sita were offering presents to their allies and well wisher in the war, Ram said that he would always be grateful to Hanuman and he had nothing to offer which could payback the deeds and devotion of hanuman to Rama. However Sita removes a pearl necklace from her neck and gave it to Hanuman as a gift. Hanuman removed the pearls ,shredding the necklace to see whether Rama and Sita lived in it or not . Everyone present in the ceremony said that no one could be that much devoted to Ram and that Hanuman was just showing off .
To prove his devotion for Ram and sita , Hanuman tears up his chest and shows Ram and Sita resting in it.
After completing the purpose of his Avatar when Ram returned ot Vaikuntha , Hanuman was blessed to live on the earth till the end of Kaliyug . He was supposed to protect his devotees and the people of Ayodhya.
Till now it is believed that Hanuman lives on earth in various forms , meditating on the name of Rama. One can feel his presence at some of his specific temples , or through meditating on his name.
bhoot pisaach nikat nahin aavai
mahaavir jab naam sunavai
naase rog harai sab peera
japat nirantar hanumant beera
- Hanuman Chalisa
Translation- When the demons and evil spirits hear the name of Mahavira Hanuman they flee away in fear.
Those who constantly chant the name of Hanuman are freed from diseases and difficulties.
He is the protector from evil spirits and the destroyer of negative energies . Worshipping him brings prosperity and positivity in the surroundings and within ourselves. Therefore he is one of the most revered diety in Kaliyuga.
Hanuman’s character teaches us that unlimited possibilities are hidden in each of us. Hanuman directed all his energy to help the god Rama, and it was his outstanding devotion freed him from all physical disabilities.
JAI SHREE RAM !!