Hanuman is a Hindu deity with a monkey head.
Hanuman first appears in the Ramayana, the first of the two
major Indian epics, where he is depicted as a minister of the monkey king
Sugriva and a faithful servant of Rama, the epic's protagonist and god-king.
Despite his modest status in the Hindu pantheon, Hanuman is
a very popular deity in contemporary India because he provides mankind with a
god who is fundamentally similar to themselves (or what they would want to be),
but on a larger scale and with more power.
Hanuman is thought to be the result of a mating between
Vayu, the wind deity, and Anjana, the nymph.
Hanuman the child is always hungry after his birth, and one
day he tries to devour the sun.
Indra, the gods' monarch and ruler of heaven, gets enraged
at Hanuman's behavior and smashes him with a thunderbolt, fracturing his jaw
(hanu).
When Vayu learns of his son's injuries, he gets enraged and
stops doing his customary things.
Vayu's strike indicates that no one can live a normal
existence since winds are responsible for all internal activities in Indian
physics, including digestion, breathing, and excretion.
The gods realize their position after a short time and
beseech Vayu for pardon; he is appeased when each deity agrees to offer Hanuman
a wonderful gift.
Hanuman has immense abilities as a result of these celestial
blessings.
He is very powerful, as seen by his picture, which depicts
him with bulging muscles.
He can also treat people using plants and natural remedies,
as well as his magical skills to defend people from bad supernatural entities.
One of his most unusual divine gifts is the ability to live
as long as he wants and to choose when he dies.
His greatest virtue, and many believe the true source of his
power, is his devotion to Rama (bhakti).
Hanuman is an important character in the Ramayana who helps
the plot progress.
Hanuman is sent with a troop of monkeys to retrieve Sita,
Rama's stolen wife, and finds her imprisoned in the country of Lanka after a
long and laborious quest.
Hanuman is given considerably more prominence in Tulsidas'
Ramcharitmanas (a vernacular translation of the Ramayana), in which he is
converted from a formidable monkey servant to a devotee (bhakta) whose only
purpose is to serve Rama with passionate devotion.
This devotion forbids any kind of worldly connection,
including marriage and family, and Hanuman continues to be a role model for a
religious lifestyle that emphasizes celibacy and abstinence.
Celibacy is seen as a source of strength in Indian culture
since it avoids the loss of a man's vital energy that occurs after ejaculation.
Hanuman's greatest attribute, according to his worshippers,
is his capacity to function as a go-between for Rama, who is normally seen as
far removed from human matters.
People feel a connection and kinship with Hanuman since he
is also a devotee, despite the fact that his abilities are considerably greater
than theirs.
In fact, they feel Hanuman's words have a larger probability
of reaching Rama's attention and being acted upon.
Tulsidas, the poet-saint, names Hanuman as his messenger in
a poem suitably titled the "Letter of Petition" (Vinaya Patrika),
with the full assurance that his case would be heard in the heavenly court.
Hanuman's close relationship with heavenly power, his
unquestionable abilities, and his perceived accessibility and empathy have all
combined to make him one of India's most widely venerated deities, transcending
sectarian lines.
He is often said to be a Vaishnava or follower of Vishnu
because of his dedication to Rama.
However, in an unexpected twist, Hanuman is also adored by
the Shaivites, Shiva's adherents, as an avatar or "incarnation" of
the deity Shiva.
Hanuman is typically venerated on astrologically
unfavourable days as a guardian god, to keep these inauspicious forces at bay.
His colossal strength, celibacy, and unwavering devotion
have made him the patron god of Indian wrestlers, who attempt to emulate him
while training.
Finally, he serves as a healer and a source of sustenance.
On the one hand, he is known for his work as an exorcist,
assisting individuals in the exorcism of demonic spirits.
On the other hand, he protects life for those who know his
particular phrase, which allows them to select their own death moment, just as
he did.
Hanuman is just now getting the respect he deserves, despite
his relevance in modern Hindu culture.
Sudhir Kakar, Shamans, Mystics, and Doctors, 1982, has
further information.
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