Shri Hanuman - Biography of a Masterful Servant

‘Jaya Hanuman jnana guna sagara, jaya Kapisha tinhu loka ujagara,
Ramaduta, atulita baladhama, Anjaniputra, Pawanasuta nama.’

This Hanuman, who possesses ocean-like unfathomable knowledge and virtue, incomparable might and earth-like steadfastness, is known and worshipped primarily as the redeemer in crisis : ‘Ko nahi janat hai jaga mein Kapi Sankata-mochana nama tinharo’ – who knows not in the world, O Monkey-god, redeemer in crisis is thy name.

And, the laudation is least exaggerated. In theology or tradition of devotion, no god of any pantheon in India is venerated so much for redeeming in crisis as Hanuman. As occasions of misfortune outnumber those of happiness in life, mankind looks more to him who redeems from misfortune rather than him who bestows happiness.

Hanuman, the redeemer, is hence more widely worshipped and has a larger number of shrines dedicated to him than even Rama, his master. Hanuman’s power to redeem is not a mere theological conceptualisation or a believer’s hypothesis, his life, as it reveals in different sources, is its example. In Rama-katha – story of Rama’s life, which is broadly also the story of Hanuman’s life, this emissary and servant of Rama often rises above his master at least in the face of a crisis.

दिव्य राम कथा: Divine Rama Katha

Whatever Rama’s attributes as the supreme God or Vishnu’s incarnation, when broken-hearted he wandered in search of Sita, Hanuman came to his aid. He not only pledged to his cause himself, Kishkindha’s monkey king Sugriva, his entire army and ministers, and discovered Sita but also initiated efforts for her recovery by waging a psychological war against Ravana.

When struck by the ‘shakti’ – divine weapon of Meghanatha, Ravana’s eldest son, Lakshmana swooned and helpless Rama only wailed, Hanuman not only brought Ravana’s personal physician Susena competent to cure Lakshmana along with his house but also the mountain Dron from the Himalayas with Sanjivini on it, and Lakshmana’s life was saved. He rescued Rama and Lakshmana from Ahiravana’s custody almost when Ahiravana was going to behead them for sacrifice.

Bharata had pledged to end his life by immolating himself if Rama did not return to Ayodhya before sun-set on the day his fourteen years of exile ended. Rama was delayed, but before Bharata entered the pyre in full flames and immolated himself Hanuman rushed to Ayodhya, assured him that Rama would reach there in minutes and saved Bharata’s life.

‘Rama jasu jasa ap bakhana’ – true that Rama himself narrated Hanuman’s glorious deeds, but more notably, he recalled him specifically for redeeming him and his brother from crisis. When Ahiravana asked Rama and Lakshmana, before beheading them, to commemorate anyone they held in reverence, Rama asked Lakshmana to invoke Hanuman who alone could rescue them.

He put Lanka into flames leaving Lankans panicky, and brought to Rama’s fold Ravana’s brother Vibhishana without whose aid Rama’s victory over Ravana would not be so easy.

Hanuman, The Protector

Hanuman’s Birth and Parents

Anjana, Hanuman’s Mother

Kesari is alluded to unanimously as a mighty monkey possessed of exceptional wisdom. However, such unanimity is not seen in regard to Anjana. In one of her accounts she is said to be the daughter of Kesari, a demon. The childless Kesari underwent great austerities to appease Shiva for getting a son. Shiva, however, granted him a daughter who would give birth to a mighty and wise son.

She is sometimes identified as Indra’s celestial nymph Punjikasthala. Exceptionally beautiful but as much playful and naughty Punjikasthala one day provoked a sage to curse that she would be born on the earth as a female monkey whose nature she shared. Shaken with fear Punjikasthala entreated the sage to forgive her but the words announced could not come back.

Punjikasthala was later born as the daughter of the saintly monkey king Kunjara who named her Anjana. When she was in her youth, she was married to Kesari. As per yet another account, Anjana was born to Ahilya by sage Gautam. Drawn by her bewitching beauty one day Indra in disguise came to Anjana to seduce her. Sage Gautam saw them together and cursed that she would remain unmarried her whole life.

However, realising his error he later blessed her to have a son with extraordinary might and wisdom. The curse was thus averted. Jain texts identify Anjana as an erstwhile celestial nymph born as the princess of Mahendrapur. Here both, Anjana and her husband Pavanajaya are alluded to as absolute human beings.

Accounts of Hanuman’s Birth in Various Texts

Bharata and Hanuman Born of a Common Source

But, when they yet held their parts of the ‘havya’ on their palms, a kite dived and snatched away from Kekeyi’s palm her part and shot back. It occurred exactly when at Venkatachala Anjana with her full stretched hands was praying the wind-god.

While flying southward over Venkatachala exactly where stood Anjana, the grip of kite’s beak loosened and the ‘havya’ it carried slipped and dropped on Anjana’s palms. Taking it as the wind-god’s grant of her prayer Anjana ate it. She soon conceived and bore a son almost when at Ayodhya Dasharatha’s queens bore theirs.

Significantly, Rama equated Hanuman with Bharata, not Lakshmana, perhaps because Hanuman was born of Kekeyi’s share of ‘havya’, and thus Bharata and Hanuman were born of the same source, if not same womb. Shaivite texts differently account the event.

After Anjana’s penance was over Shiva appeared before her. She prayed him to grant her a son. Shiva assured her that his eleventh part – ‘ansha’, would be born to her as her son. This would be his Anshavataras – partial incarnations, last of the eleven Rudras.

Evolution of Hanuman’s name in other Texts Child Hanuman in the Service of Rama

Hanuman’s Later Days

Always just and true to a relationship, as in case of Sugriva, Hanuman does not use Vibhishana for Rama’s cause but also has in mind from the first day Vibhishana’s equal benefaction – Lanka’s crown and in him a right ruler to the land. He foresees the future and initiates Rama’s war against Ravana by killing many of his warriors along with his youngest son Aksha Kumar and strikes all with panic by putting Lanka into flames.

His role during a crisis in war or Rama’s personal life apart, on warfront, too, his exploits are countless. In most texts, it is Hanuman who kills Kumbhakarana, his son, and the great warriors Nikumbha, Devantaka, Trisira, Dhurdhara, Prahasta and Mahaparva. In Rama-katha his role has same magnitude as Rama’s.

Hanuman's Iconography