Lord Shree hanuman

BIRTH OF LORD HANUMAN!

As per the Hindu mythology, Hanuman was born to mother Anjana and father Kesari. He is also known as the son of the Vayu (Pawansuta). When Anjana was worshiping Lord Shiva, the King Dasharatha of Ayodhya was also performing the ritual of Putrakama Yagna in order to have children. However, he received some sacred pudding (payasam) to be shared by his three wives (Kausalya, Kaikeyi & Sumitra) leading to the births of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata & Shatrughna. By divine decree, a kite snatched a bit of that pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayudev, sent it to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it. As a result, Hanuman was born to her.

NAME & FAME OF LORD HANUMAN!

• Hanuman is the common name of the vaanar (semi-ape, semi-man) god. But He has many names like -
• Kesari Nandan, based on his father, which means "son of Kesari".
• Anjaneya, Anjaniputra, Anjanisuta the meaning of all is “the son of Anjana”.
• Pawansuta / Maruti, it means – “the son of the wind god”. (Hindu deity Vayu).
• Bajrang Bali, "the strong one (bali), who had limbs (anga) as hard as a vajra (bajra)".
• Sankata Mochana, the remover of dangers (sankata).
• Mangalmoorti, “the lord of all heavenly glory”.

INCARNATION (AVATAR) OF LORD HANUMAN!

Panch-mukhi Hanuman: Only once Hanuman assumed a very rare form to kill the demon Ahiravan and that form was Panch-mukhi (5 headed) Hanuman. Ahiravan was the brother of Ravan who had kidnapped Ram & Lakshman and taken them away to the Nether world (Patal Lok). The only way to kill Ahiravan was to extinguish 5 lamps in 5 different directions, which he did with this form. Apart from himself, the other faces of Hanuman are Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha and Hayagriva.

THE BLESSINGS OF GODS FOR LORD HANUMAN!

One morning, Hanuman in his childhood was hungry and saw the rising red coloured sun in front of him. Mistaking it for a ripe fruit, he attempted to eat it. Indradev (the king of Gods) intervened and struck Hanuman with his thunderbolt. It hit on the jaw of Hanuman and he fell to the earth dead with a disfigured jaw. His father, Vayu (air) became upset and withdrew. The lack of air created immense suffering to all living beings.

• The sufferings led Lord Shiva to interfere & resuscitate Hanuman, which in turn compelled Vayu to return to the living beings.
• As the mistake committed by God Indra, he granted Hanuman a wish that his body would be as strong as his Vajra, whereas his Vajra can also not harm him.
• God Vayu blessed him with more speed than he himself had.
• God Agni blessed him with a wish that "Fire won’t burn him".
• God Varuna granted a wish for Hanuman that he would always be protected from water i.e., water won't harm him.
• Yama, the God of Death wished him for his healthy life and free from his weapon Yama Danda (death would not come to him).
• From Lord Brahma he obtained boons that nobody will be able to kill him with any weapon in war, the power of inducing fear in enemies, of destroying fear in friends, he can change his form at will and he can move easily at any place wherever he wished.
• Lord Vishnu also granted Hanuman a weapon named "Gada".
• Lord Shiva granted Hanuman the boons of longevity, scriptural wisdom, and ability to cross the ocean.
• He also gave him a band (kavach) that would protect him for life.
• God Surya gave him two boons (siddhis) of yoga namely "laghima" and "garima". With "laghima" he could attain the smallest form and with "garima" he could attain the biggest form of life. Hence, these wishes also make Hanuman an immortal who has unique powers and strength.

CURSE - THE GREAT WEAKNESS OF LORD HANUMAN!

Hanuman was naughty in his childhood. Sometimes, he taunted the meditating sages in the forests. Finding his behaviour intolerable, 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 Jambavan reminds Hanuman of his abilities and encourages him to go and find Sita.

HUNGRY HANUMAN & DEVI SITA!

Once Hanuman visited Sita, when she was in cottage of sage Valmiki and expressed his desire to eat the food cooked by her. Sita cooked many delicacies (dishes) and started serving Hanuman. But Hanuman's hunger was insatiable and the entire foods of the cottage were coming to an end. Sita then prayed to Lord Ram who suggested her to serve a morsel with a Tulsi Leaf. She did the same and Hanuman's hunger was finally satisfied.

LORD HANUMAN – ONE OF THE 7 CHIRANJEEVS (IMMORTALS)!

According to Valmiki's Ramayana, Hanuman rejected a pearl necklace gifted by Sita saying "I don't accept anything that does not contain Ram." To prove himself he ripped his chest to show the presence of Ram in his heart and still he was alive instead of ripping his chest. However, Hanuman is one of the 7 Chiranjeevs (Kripacharya, Parashuram Aswathama, Vyas, Hanuman, Vibhisana & Bali). It is said that he is one of the immortals who will live till the beginning of the next Satya Yuga.

BATTLE BETWEEN RAM (DISCIPLE OF VISHWAMITHRA) & HANUMAN (DEVOTEE OF RAM)!

Due to an unseen cause, Ram was ordered by sage Vishwamithra to kill Yayati. Sensing the danger, Yayati went to Hanuman for help (without conveying the story behind Ram & him), who in turn promised that he would save Yayati from any kind of danger. Hanuman did not use any weapon in his battle, instead stood chanting Ram’s name in the battle field. The arrows of Lord Ram did not have any effect on Hanuman. Lord Ram then gave up and sage Vishwamithra relieved Ram of his word seeing the devotion and courage of Hanuman.

THE DEATH OF LORD RAM DUE TO HANUMAN’S ABSENCE!

Ram - Maryada Purushottama, (Lord of Self-Control/ the Perfect Man) was born as the eldest son of Kausalya and Dasharatha. His life and journey is one of adherence to dharma despite harsh tests and obstacles and many pains of life and time. It is said that he knew about his imminent death. He understood that those who take birth in this world have to experience death. He had no fear of Yama – the god of death. "Let Yama, come to me," he said. Yama dared not enter Ayodhya as he was afraid of Hanuman who guarded the gates of Ram's palace.

Ram diverted Hanuman’s attention by throwing his ring into the patal lok and requested Hanuman to fetch it for him. Hanuman then went to the patal lok and started looking for the ring. In the meantime, Yama approached Ram. Lord Ram, by then had decided to retire to Vaikuntha. Hanuman, searching for the ring in patal lok, was puzzled to find a hill of rings of the same kind.

He realized that it was Ram’s will that he allowed Yama to approach him. Hanuman then continued to live in this world performing his duties.

THE COMMITMENT OF LORD HANUMAN TOWARDS RAM!

Hanuman always respected and considered himself to be the servant of Ram. He also considered Ram as his master. Hanuman played a very important role in finding Sita and in the battle between Ram & Ravana.

The place where Hanuman is said to have taken rest after burning Lanka is a large burnt patch of land, which can be seen by all. This area has been transformed into a beautiful garden, which is open to tourists.

Era by era, many religious leaders have claimed to have seen Hanuman over the course of the centuries, especially in 13th century CE-Madhvacharya, 16th century-Tulsidas, 17th century-Samarth Ramdas & Raghavendra Swami and in 20th century-Swami Ramdas.