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Lord Hanuman – Hindu Gods and Deities
Lord Hanuman is worshipped by all sects of Hindu, he is a universal God. Hanuman is known as a popular devotee of Lord Rama. His help enabled Rama to rescue Sita Devi and then defeat Ravana in the war. Hanuman is a symbol of success and fulfillment. One needs courage, strength, intelligence, commitment and purity to be successful. Hanuman gets courage from his father – Kesari (Kesari means Lion), strength and Purity from his Father – Vayu. Intelligence from his mother – Anjana (Gurukripa) and Commitment from his Guru Surya – Come what may the Sun rises every day in the morning. Hanuman is known by different names.
Lord Hanuman or Hanumanji is known by many names as Anjaneya, Anjaniputra or Anjaneyudu or Hanumanthudu (Telugu), Bajarangabali, Kesari Nandan (“son of Kesari”), Hanumanta, Mahaveer, Maruti, Pavanputra etc. The name ‘Anjaneya’ was derived from his mother’s name ‘Anjana’, a female vanara. It is also believed that Hanuman is the incarnation of Lord Shiva. So Hanuman is known as ‘Maharudhra’ too. Some believe that Hanuman is the son of ‘Vayu’, the God of wind, so is also known by the name ‘Pavan Putra’.
Marutinandan (“son of Marut”) or Pavanputra (“son of wind”); these names are derived from the various names of Vayu, the deity who carried Hanuman to Anjana’s womb. Bajrang Bali, “the strong one (bali), who had limbs (anga) as hard as a vajra (bajra)”; this name is widely used in rural North India.
LORD HANUMAN FAMILY
He was born through the holy lap of his mother Anjani (Anjana ) and his father was Kapiraaj Keshari so he is also called Anjani ka laala, Aanjaneya ( son of mother Anjani) or Keshari Nandan .
Lord Hanuman is also considered son of Air (Pawan Putra)
It is said that God of Air (VayuDev) had impregnated Anjana through Mind a super sensory manner therefore Lord Hanuman ji is also called son of air Pawan Putra .
Once King Dashrath was performing Havana with his 3 wifes after which sage awarded them miracle kheer which can pregnant them. A portion was snitched by a crow and flew away where Anjana was Busy in tapasya .
With the wish of lord Shiva, Lord Vayu brought the miracle kheer in Anjana’s hand who is performing Tapasya of Lord Shiva. Thinking of that Prasad of lord shiva she ate it and become pregnant and gave birth as lord hanuman thus he is called Pawan Putra also.
Though he was never married, Lord Hanuman when took a dip at the sea after burning Lanka a drop of his perspiration fell into the mouth of a mighty fish from who Makardwaja was born.
ICONOGRAPHY OF LORD HANUMAN
In popular iconography, Hanuman may be depicted purely as a monkey, or as a basically human body with a monkey-like muzzle and face. He is usually depicted holding a giant mace (gada), a symbol of his strength and bravery, and often carrying the medicine hill that he carried to Lanka from the Himalayas. He may be shown carrying other weapons, as a sign of his protection of Rama and the faithful or medicinal herbs as a sign of healing.
The image or name of Rama is often depicted alongside Hanuman, and sometimes Sita as well. Their image may be floating above him, or their names written on his body or his adornments. Sometimes their faces are emblazoned on his chest, or his is depicted pulling back the skin of his chest to reveal the image or name of Rama.
What does the name Hanuman mean?
In Sanskrit Hanu means Jaw and man means disfigured so Hanuman means disfigured jaw. No wonder, Hanuman’s jaw as a kid was disfigured by none other than Lord Indra who had used his vajra (Thunderbolt) against Anjaneya, who took sun as a riped mango and even went to trace it up in the sky. It was here in the sky that Lord Indra had used his vajra which threw Anjaneya straight on the earth damaging his jaw forever.
Hanuman’s Power – Ashta Siddhis and Nava Nidhis
Lord Hanuman is believed to have got Ashta-Siddhi (Eight divine powers) and Nav-Nidhi (9 more powers). Siddha has no equivalent in english language, it can be understood as combination of perfection and establishment(when both are used simultaneously i.e. Perfection+Established or perfectly established).
In hanuman chalisa the siddhi word means that person has attained such qualities by establishing himself into perfect self or atman.
In Hinduism, eight siddhis (Ashta Siddhi) or Eight great perfections (mahasiddhi) are described as follows
1) अणिमा Aṇimā: reducing one’s body even to the size of an atom
2) महिमा Mahima: expanding one’s body to an infinitely large size
3) गरिमा Garima: becoming infinitely heavy
4) लघिमा Laghima: becoming almost weightless
5) प्र्राप्ति Prāpti: having unrestricted access to all place
6) प्राकाम्या Prākāmya: realizing whatever one desires
7) ईशत्व Iṣṭva: possessing absolute lordship
8) वस्तव Vaśtva: the power to subjugate all
The masters of yoga speak of eighteen mystical perfections [siddhis] and meditations [leading to siddhis]. Eight of them are [primary and] prominent in Me and ten of them [are secondary and] originate from the quality [of goodness].
Oh! gentle one, the eight mystical perfections consist of the ability to get, as for the form, into the smallest [animâ],the biggest [mahimâ] or the lightest [laghimâ relative to garimâ, the heaviest], the ability to acquire whatever material object [prâpti], the ability to enjoy sensually whatever can be seen or heard [prâkâmya], the ability to have the upper hand in employing the forces [îs’itâ or îs’itvâ], the ability to be in control by means of magic unobstructed by the modes [vas’itvâ] and the ability to answer to any desire that seeks [His] favor [kâmâvasâyitâ].
– Shrimad Bhagwat MahaPurana
Nidhi In Sanskrit means treasure there are 9 (primary)types of treasures or valuable possessions.
The nava nidhis are
1) mahapadma “great lotus flower”
2) padma “lotus flower”
3) shankha “conch”
4) makara “crocodile”
5) kachchhapa “tortoise”
6) kumud “a particular precious stone”
7) kunda “jasmine”
8) nila “sapphire”
9) kharva “dwarf”
THE CURSE ON LORD HANUMAN
Hanuman was mischievous in his childhood, and sometimes teased the meditating sages in the forests. Finding his antics unbearable, but realizing that Hanuman was but a child, the sages placed a mild curse on him by which he became unable to remember his own ability unless reminded by another person. The curse is highlighted in Kishkindha Kanda and Sundara Kanda when Jambavantha reminds Hanuman of his abilities and encourages him to go and find Sita.
LORD HANUMAN’S POWER OF DEVOTION
The character of Hanuman teaches us of the unlimited power that lies unused within each one of us. Hanuman directed all his energies towards the worship of Lord Rama, and his undying devotion made him such that he became free from all physical fatigue. And Hanuman’s only desire was to go on serving Rama. Hanuman perfectly exemplifies ‘Dasyabhava’ devotion — one of the nine types of devotions — that bonds the master and the servant. His greatness lies in his complete merger with his Lord, which also formed the base of his genial qualities.
Lord Hanuman Once Applied Sindoor All Over His Body for Lord Rama’s Long Life
When Hanuman saw Sita applying Sindoor (Vermillion) in her hair, he asked the reason for the same. Sita replied that it was for long life and well being of Lord Rama, her husband. Hanuman, the biggest devotee of Rama thought if a pinch of sindoor in the hair can increase the longevity of Lord Rama then why not apply on the entire body. He then applied sindoor all over his body for Rama’s long life. Seeing this innocence and unmatched devotion of Hanuman, Lord Rama gave him a vardan (blessings) that whenever the name of devotion takes place, Hanuman’s name will be taken first. Also, whoever will pay respect to Hanuman on Tuesday, not only will his/her wishes come true but will also be dear to Lord Rama himself.
PANCHMUKHI HANUMAN
Hanuman assumed Panchamukhi or five-faced form to kill Ahiravana, a powerful rakshasa black-magician and practitioner of the dark arts during the Ramayana war. Ahiravana, brother of Ravana, had taken Lord Rama and Lakshmana to netherworld as captive, and the only way to kill him was to extinguish five lamps burning in different directions, all at the same instant. Hanuman assumed His Panchamukhi form and accomplished the task, thus killing the rakshasa, and freeing Rama and Lakshmana.
| Face | Direction | Significance |
| Sri Hanuman (Original) | East | This face removes all blemishes of sin and confers purity of mind. |
| Narasimha | South South | Removes fear of enemies and confers victory. Narasimha is the Lion-Man avatar of Lord Vishnu, who took the form to protect his devotee Prahladfrom his evil father, Hiranyakashipu. Hanuman may have had this face during the burning of Lanka and fighting in the war. |
| Garuda | West | Drives away evil spells, black magic influences, negative spirits and removes all poisonous effects in one’s body. Garuda is Lord Vishnu’s vehcile, as the King of birds he knows the secrets of death and the beyond. The Garuda Purana is a Hindu text based on this knowledge. |
| Varaha | North | Wards off the troubles caused by bad influences of the planets and confers all eight types prosperity (Ashta Aishwarya). Varaha is another LordVishnu avatar, he took this form and dug up land, Hanuman may have had this face whilst collecting the Sanjeev mountain. |
| Hayagriva | Upwards | (Urddha Mukha) face confers knowledge, victory, good wife and progeny. |
This form of Hanuman is very popular, and is also known as Panchamukha Anjaneya or Panchmukhi Anjaneya. (Anjaneya, which means “son of Anjana”, is another name of Hanuman). These faces show there is nothing in the world which does not come under any the influence of any of the five faces, symbolic of his all around security to all devotees. This also signifies vigilance and control over the five directions – north, south, east, west and the upward direction/zenith.
FESTIVALS AND VRATS
Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Chaitra (April) to commemorate the birth of Hanuman.
LORD HANUMAN MANTRA
Mula Mantra:
Om Shri Hanumate Namah
Om aanjaneyaaya vid-mahe vaayu-putraayaya dheemahi
tanno hanumatah prachodayaat
Meaning: We pray to the son of Goddess Anjani and the son of the “Wind”. May Lord Hanuman lead our intellect towards intelligence and “knowing”
TEMPLES OF LORD HANUMAN
In Churu district of Rajasthan, is a small village called Salasar. In this village, there is a statue of Hanuman which has beard and mustache too. It is believed that this Hanuman statue was found by a farmer while walking around a field. The idol has been placed on a gold throne now.
- Hanumandhara, Chitrakut
Near Chitrakut, there is a small place called Hanumandhara. Here there is an old idol of Lord Hanuman standing against a mountain for years. And a small water flow that meets the river touches this idol.
Rajasthan’s Dausa district, which is nestled between two mountains is a place called Mehndipur. It has a very large rock in the shape of Hanuman that had recovered itself. It is believed to be Sri Hanuman. There is a small water pond in the idol’s feet whose water never gets over.
- Hanumangadhi, Ayodhya
The Hanumangadhi temple is in Ayodhya. It is situates on the right side bank of river Saryu on a high hill. People have to climb 76 stairs to reach this temple. The Hanuman idol installed here is only 6 inches long, which is always, adorned with garlands.
This is an ancient place associated with Hanuman’s name. Here is a huge temple known as Sankatmochan. It is believed that Tulsidas had himself established this temple. Sri Hanuman Temple, Jamnagar
- Shri Hanuman Temple, Jamnagar (Gujarat)
In 1540, along with Jamnagar, this temple of Lord Hanuman was also established. Here, since 1964, the rama dhuni is continuously being sung and this is why its name is also mentioned in the guineas book of world records.
- Mahavir Hanuman Mandir, Patna (Bihar)
Right opposite Patna junction, there is a famous temple of Lord Hanuman called Mahavir Temple. In Northeren India, after the Vaishno Devi Temple, this temple gets the maximum offerings. Around 1 lakh is deposited in this temple every day.
- Hanuman Temple, Allahabad (UP)
Attached to the Allahabad fort, this temple has the idol of Hanuman which is lying. This idol of Hamuman is 20 feet long.
- Shri Panchmukh Aanjanayar Swami Ji, Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu)
The idol at the Panchmukh Aanjanayar swami temple is in the form of Panchmukhi Hanuman.