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The ideal devotee of Shri Rama and the God of Strength from Ramayan; one of the few
Chiranjeevis (who do not die).
There is no village or town in Bharat without a temple
dedicated to Hanuman. An unforgettable character in the
great epic, the Ramayan, he has become a symbol of
courage, loyalty and mature wisdom.
Men and women, the young and the old, people of all ages
and of all professions worship Hanuman.
Students pray to him for intelligence and soldiers for
strength. In olden days there used to be temples of
Hanuman at the gates of forts. The gymnasiums of
wrestlers invariably have his picture.
Every human being has good qualities and bad qualities.
Our ancestors have taught that every one should develop
his/her good qualities and go nearer God. Divinity is only
being full of noble qualities. In our country some men and
women have later come to be honored as divine beings,
winning the reverence, the devotion and the love of the common people. Hanuman is one such
great soul.
According to legend, Hanuman is the son of the Wind God. Air sustains all living beings. One
can exist without food, spend days without water; but it is impossible to exist even for a short
time without air. Air is life. Therefore, Hanuman is also called 'Pranadeva' or the God of Life.
Hanuman was a master of music. He was also an expert in dance and drama. So, he is
worshipped with love and devotion by musicians and actors. He was also a great yogi or
mystic.
Hanuman was born to Anjanadevi and Vaayu, the wind God. Hanuman is also called
'Aanjaneya', son of Anjana. Hanuman was extraordinary from the very moment of his birth.
There are many very interesting stories about his childhood.
When he was small, Hanuman felt very hungry. Looking up he saw in the east something red.
Hanuman thought that the red sun was a fruit and flew up to snatch it. What was a child's
whim became something serious. Though the sun's heat burnt his face, Hanuman was
determined and continued to fly towards the sun. Indra, the Lord of Heaven, feared that the
sun might be caught. So he hit at Hanuman with his terrible weapon Vajrayudha. Hanuman
fell down and was hurt. His cheeks became swollen.
(This is why he came to be called Hanuman. 'Hanu' in Sanskrit means the cheek.)
Now, Hanuman's father, the Wind God became very angry. So he would not move at all. In all
the three worlds there was no air to breathe. Then all the gods came and consoled the Wind
God. Each god conferred a boon upon the little Hanuman. Brahma and Creator said, "No
weapon will be able to kill this boy." Indra said to the boy, "You will be a 'Chiranjeevi'
(immortal)."
Blessed thus by the gods, Hanuman grew up to be as strong as his father. He flew about as
freely and was quite mischievous. The Rishis, who were troubled by his mischief, pronounced
a curse on him. Hence, Hanuman would never know how powerful and strong he was. Others
will have to remind him about his strength. Only then he would realize it.
Meeting With Shri Rama And Lakshmana
When Hanuman grew up he became the minister of Sugreeva, the King of Kishkindha. Vali
was the elder brother of Sugreeva. Once Vali, who was fighting with a rakshasa, entered a
cave with his opponent; he did not come out for a long time. Blood began to flow from the
cave, so Sugreeva thought that Vali was dead. He returned to Kishkindha and became its king.
But a little later, Vali returned and drove out Sugreeva. Sugreeva and his ministers hid
themselves in the Malaya mountains; Vali could not enter this region.
When Shri Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana were in the forest, a rakshasa by
name Ravana took away Sita by force. Rama was in great grief. He was wandering in the
forests and came to Kishkindha. Sugreeva saw him when he came with Lakshmana to the
Malaya mountains. Sugreeva and his companions were full of fear that Vali had sent Shri
Rama and Lakshmana to kill them. But Hanuman asked them not to be afraid. Sugreeva was
also very anxious to know who those handsome young men were. Whom should he send to
talk to them? Finally he choose Hanuman.
Hanuman was an excellent ambassador. He could easily understand the nature of other people.
As soon as he saw Rama and Lakshmana, he realized that they were not deceivers, but noble
persons. In soft and pleasing words he asked them who they were, and told them about
himself. Rama was very happy when he heard the words of Hanuman. He said to Lakshmana,
"Did you hear his words? Even an enemy with his sword drawn would be pacified by such
words. If a ruler has such a messenger, his efforts will always be successful."
Hanuman took Rama and Lakshmana to Sugreeva. He had hopes that these brave young men
would make Sugreeva king again.
Rama and Sugreeva became friends very soon. When Sugreeva challenged Vali to a fight,
Rama helped his friend by killing Vali with an arrow.
When she heard this sad news, Vali's wife, Thara was full of grief. She fell on his body,
weeping. Hanuman prostrated before her and said, "Revered lady, Vali came to this condition
because of his evil deeds, his own actions. Sugreeva was only the means. Please do not think
that Sugreeva killed Vali. No one can live for all times in this world. Look at your son Angada
and console yourself."
Sugreeva then became king. All his troubles were over. The kingdom was his. He forgot his
promise to Rama that he would immediately send servants to search for Sita and find her. He
left the responsibilities of the state to his ministers; he forgot everything in his pleasures.
Hanuman warned him. He did his duty as a minister, saying the right thing at the right time.
He said to Sugreeva, "O King, the kingdom and the fame which you desired are now yours. If
you do not help your friends at the right time, even the greatest help you offer later will be
totally useless. Though Rama is very anxious to find Sita, he is waiting for you. It is already
late, but he is a patient man. Please send your army at once to search for Sita."
Sugreeva sent Neela, one of his commanders, to find out where Sita was. And he returned to
his pleasures.
The rainy season was over. It was now autumn. Rama's mind was always filled with thoughts
of Sita's sufferings and sorrows, and he was miserable. He revealed his misery to Lakshmana.
Hot blooded Lakshmana was very angry with Sugreeva. He went to see Sugreeva. His anger
made Sugreeva's subjects shiver with fear. Sugreeva himself was so terrified, he did not know
what to do.
Again it was Hanuman who gave wise counsel. He said to Sugreeva, "Shri Rama may not
really be angry with you. Perhaps he was sent Lakshmana to you as his work has been
delayed. When those who are more powerful than we are enraged, it is not wise for us to
become angry. Our anger will only heighten their rage. At such times we should seek to pacify
the mighty. Besides, Shri Rama has helped you and therefore you should behave respectfully
towards him."
This time advice was effective. Sugreeva pacified Lakshmana, and with his entire army went
to Rama. He sent the army in all the four directions to find out where Sita was. Vast as the
ocean, the army set off with shouts of enthusiasm. The deafening noise seemed to make the
earth Shiver. Shri Rama removed a ring from his finger and giving it to Hanuman, said:
"When Sita sees you, she may be afraid of you, or may not believe your words. If that
happens, show her this ring. We depend entirely on your strength."
Hanuman prostrated before Rama and set off.
It was night. Hanuman was about to enter the city. But a goddess stopped him at the city gates.
She was the goddess who protected Lanka. She thundered at him: "Who are you? If you wish
to enter, you must first defeat me."
Hanuman was enraged. His left fist came down on her face with crushing force. The blow
made her totter. She begged him for life and said, "The Creator Brahma had said that when a
monkey defeated me the end of Lanka would be near. Perhaps the time has now come. Go in
and look for Sita."
Where Is Sita?
Lanka was a city of great splendor. The eyes could feast endlessly on its beauty and wealth. It
was full of grand buildings and lovely gardens. But Hanuman's important task was to find Sita.
So, he did not pay much attention to the beauty of the city. He searched for Sita in the
mansions of important rakshasa leaders like Kumbhakarna. She was nowhere to be seen. Then
he entered the palace of Ravana himself. He searched in all the nooks and corners of the
palace but did not see Sita.
Hanuman's anxiety grew. Rama and Sugreeva would be waiting with the belief that he would
surely bring news of Sita. What answer could he give them? He thought he should not lose
hope and went on with his search with renewed effort. But Sita was nowhere to be seen.
Hanuman was very much disturbed. Had she fallen into the sea on the way to Lanka? Or, had
her heart burst at the sight of the vast ocean? Or perhaps Ravana had eaten her, as she did not
marry him? Thoughts swarmed into his mind.
Sita Overjoyed
Just then he saw the garden Ashokavana at a distance. 'Oh, I have not looked there', thought
Hanuman and flew to the garden. He combed the entire garden and finally found Sitadevi. He
was in raptures. Sita was sitting under a tree, in a soiled saree. Her plight made Hanuman both
sad and angry. He sat on the tree beneath which Sita was seated.
Day dawned. The rakshasa king Ravana came to see Sita. Sita did not wish to speak to him
directly. She held a twig in her hand and replied to Ravana's words, as if she was speaking to
the twig. Ravana was very angry and went back. In her grief Sita decided to kill herself.
From his perch upon the tree, Hanuman could see and hear everything. He now resolved to
address her. But he realized that if he talked to her all at once, she might be frightened. So he
thought of a plan. From where he sat, he narrated the story of Rama. And he said, as if in
wonder, "it seems as if Sitadevi is here!"
Hearing a voice from above Sita was at first scared, Ravana had just then left. She feared it
might be a trick of the rakshasas. But she heard the names of Rama and Lakshmana and their
story. She looked up in surprise. Hanuman softly got down from the tree and prostrated before
her. He again said that he was Rama's messenger and praised him. Sita was overjoyed.
Hanuman showed her the ring, which Rama had given him. The sight of the ring brought back
all her sorrow. Hanuman comforted her with these words: "Shri Rama will surely take you
from here. Please do not worry. You need not even wait till Rama comes. If you agree
But suddenly Hanuman realized his mistake. In his enthusiasm to burn Lanka, he had
forgotten that Sita was there. His heart was about to burst. Quickly he flew to Ashokavana. He
saw Sita sitting under a tree. His anxiety was at an end. He touched her feet and received her
blessings; then he flew back across the ocean.
Jambavantha, Angada and others were waiting for Hanumantha. The sight of Hanuman
brought them immense relief.
high chariot. Hanuman carried Rama on his shoulders when Rama had to fight with Ravana.
Ravana's son Indrajith was a great hero of the rakshasa army. He once shot the Brahmasthra,
the terrible missile with the power of Lord Brahma, the God of Creation. The whole Vanara
army tell down unconscious. Even Rama and Lakshmana fainted. Hanuman who had also
fainted for a moment, got up and going round the battlefield with Vibheeshana, put courage
into his soldiers with his words. While walking along, Vibheeshana saw the old Jambavantha
and spoke to him. The latter opened his eyes slowly and asked, "Vibheeshana, is Hanuman
alive?"
Vibheeshana was amazed and said, "Revered Jambavantha, you do not ask about Rama and
Lakshmana or about Sugreeva, Angada or Neela. But you ask about Hanuman only; why?"
"Vibheeshana, if that one great hero is alive, even if the entire Vanara army is dead, it makes
no difference. But if that one person is dead, our army is as good as dead. We can hope to live
only as long as he is alive." So replied Jambavantha.
Hanuman, who was standing quite near and heard these words, held his feet with respect and
devotion, and mentioning his own name, said he was alive. Then Jambavantha said to him,
"You have now to do a mighty task to bring our army to life. You have also to save Rama and
Lakshmana who have fainted because of the Brahmasthra.
Fly across the ocean and over a great distance till you reach the Himalaya mountains. You will
there see a mountain containing all herbs. There grow the herbs Mritha Sanjeevini,
Vishalyakarani, Savamakarani and Sandhanakarani. Fetch them at once and save these
soldiers."
Immediately Hanuman flew towards the Himalayas with the speed of thought. He could also
see the mountain. Hanuman searched for them and, when he could not find the herbs,
threatened the mountain itself in his terrible anger. "See what I will do to you," he said, and
shaking the very mountain flew back with it to Lanka. As he streaked across the sky with the
mountain it appeared as if the very sun was flying towards Lanka.
The very smell of those herbs was enough to make Rama, Lakshmana and the whole army
recover and sit up. The rakshasas did not want the enemy to know how many on their side had
died; so, obeying Ravana's orders, they had thrown their dead into the sea. So no rakshasa
could come back to life. Having achieved his Purpose, Hanuman flew back with the mountain
to its place, put it there, and hurried again to the battlefield.
After the war was over, Hanuman entered Lanka and stood before Sita and told her of the
victory. Sita was speechless for a moment with joy. Then she said that there was no fitting
reward she could give to Hanuman who had brought such happy tidings.
"The words you have spoken with such affection are more precious than any heap of diamonds
or the divine kingdom. I have seen Rama victorious. What greater fortune can I ask for!"
Hanuman replied.
Rama had now to return to Ayodhya. But he had some doubts. Bharatha had ruled over the
kingdom for fourteen years. So he might wish to be the king. How could he find out? Even if
Bharatha had that desire, he would not say so. And nobody could ask him. Some intelligent
person should make it out from Bharatha's face and the way he spoke, and should then inform
Rama. It was a difficult mission which would need much shrewdness and a capacity to
understand persons.