There’s little question that lord hanuman is everyone’s favorite. Although, many of us know many things about him, still there are many facts about him which we are many facts about him which we are unaware of, like- why is lord hanuman called the son of wind god? How did lord hanuman and lord ram meet? What is the story behind 5 faced hanuman? Let’s look at the answers to all these questions
1. BIRTH
There’s a plenty of stories associated with the birth of lord Hanuman. However, according to 16th century ‘Bhavarth Ramayan’ when Anjana and Kesari were praying to lord Shiva for a son, king Dashrath of ayodhya also was conducting a ritual to get sons. King Dashrath got a sacred pudding which was distributed to his wives. On eating this Ram, Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna were born. On that time a kite snatched a piece of the scared pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest and dropped it while flying over the forest. Wind god Vayu delivered this pudding in the hands of Anjana. On eating this, lord hanuman was born. Hence, lord hanuman is called the son of Anjana, kesari and wind god Vayu.
2. CHILDHOOD CURSE
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Hanuman was very mischievous during his childhood. He often played pranks on meditating sages in the forest. Thinking Hanuman was a kid, sages placed a mild curse on him stating that- he will be unaware of his own strength. This curse will be automatically lifted when a third person will remind Hanuman of his powers. He gets relief from his curse during the ‘Kiskinda Episode’ when Jambavantha reminds Hanuman of this strengths.
3. BOONS FROM LORDS
Thinking Sun is a ripe fruit, kid Hanuman leapt up to eat it. When stopped by Rahu, a vedic planet, Hanuman did not stop. Rahu complained about this to lord Indra, who became furious and hurled a thunderbolt towards Hanuman. This struck Hanumans jaw and fell on earth, unconscious. This angered Hanumans father Vayu, and he left earth taking the atmosphere with him. Seeing living beings immensely due to lack of air, lord Indra undid the impact of his thunderbolt on Hanuman. All gods brought hanuman back to life and laid several boons to please his father vayu. Lord varun declared that hanuman will always be safe from water. Lord fire declared that fire will never be able to burn hanuman. Sun god bestowed upon hanuman two yogic qualities- laghima and garima. With laghima, he could attain the smallest form with garima, he could assume the biggest form of life. Wind god vayu rewarded him with more speed than he himself had. Lord yama the god of death, blessed him with good health and immortality. Lord brahma said that no weapon would ever hurt Hanuman, from lord shiva he obtained the boon of longevity, scriptural wisdom and ability to cross the ocean and also assured safety of hanuman with a band that would protect him for life.
4. ORIGIN OF NAME
‘hanu’ in Sanskrit means a jaw and ‘man’ or ‘mant’ means disfigured. Hence, the word hanuman means ‘disfigured jaw’. According to another theory, this name has been taken from Sanskrit word ‘Haan’, meaning destroyed and ‘Maan’, meaning pride. Hence, the one whose pride has been destroyed means ‘Hanuman’. According to some Jain texts Hanuman spent his childhood in an island named ‘Hanura’ which is said to be the origin of his name.
5. MEETING WITH SHRI RAM
Lord ram and Laxman arrived at Malaya mountain range of Kishkind, in search of Sita. Sugreev and his brother Vali were at war with each other, and Sugreev though that Vali has sent them to kill him. Sugreev sent Hanuman to find out who the two men were and what the purpose of their visit was. Hanuman, disguised as a Brahmin, meets them. Lord Rama explains the purpose of their visit. He also introduces himself and Laxman to disguised Hanuman. Hanuman got to know that the two men he was talking to were none other than his beloved lord Rama and his brother Laxman, his happiness knew no bounds. He immediately appeared in his original form and fell into the feet of lord Rama.
6. KESARI BODY COLOUR
Once, hanuman saw Sita applying vermillion/shindoor on her forehead. Hanuman asked Sita the reason of this ritual. Sita answered that this was for lord Rama’s healthy and long life. Such was hanuman’s devotion towards lord Rama that he applied vermillion/shindoor all over the body for healthy and long life of his beloved lord Rama. Hence, in temple too, idols of lord hanuman are mostly saffron colored.
7. HANUMAN’S SON
After destroying lanka, when hanuman was on his way back he cooled himself by talking a bath in the ocean. When he was doing this, a fish or a crocodile swallowed a drop of sweat coming out of hanuman’s body. This is how makardhwaja was conceived, who is known as hanumans son.
8. PANCHAMUKHI HANUMAN
During the lanka war, ravanas brother ahiravana kidnaps lord ram and laxman and takes them to netherworld. Searching for them, hanuman reaches netherworld and sees his son makardhwaja guarding the entrance. Hanuman defeats hin in a fight that ensues and moves ahead. Hanuman finds out that ahiravanas life is placed in five lamps placed im different direction and in order to defeat him, these five lamps need to be extinguished together. Hence, hanuman took a 5 faced form varaha, narsimh, garuda, hayagriv and hanuman himself. Hanuman extinguishes all the five lamps together and is successful in rescuing Rama and Laxman.
9. DEVOTION TOWARDS LORD RAMA
After being crowned as the king of ayodhya lord rama decides to reward everyone officially. Sita takes out necklace from her neck and gifts that to hanuman. Hanuman observers each and every stone from that necklace carefully and searches for the name of ‘rama and sita’ written on them. If it wasn’t there, the necklace would be of no value to him. People start laughing at this act of hanuman and mention that hanumans love and devotion towards rama in merely an exaggeration. In response, hanuman tears his chest everyone is shocked to see lord rama and sita present in hanumans heart. People then have no doubt in hanumans love and devotion towards lord rama.
10. HANUMAN CHALISA STORY
Saint Tulsidas was a devotee of lord Rama. He would recite ‘Ramcharitmanas’ every evening near the Varanasi ghat. Many people would gather to listen to him. During this period, he got to know from someone that lord hanuman disguises himself as an ugly looking old man and listens to saint Tulsi Das every day. Next day, Saint Tulsi Das is successful in recognizing hanuman and after the end of evening session, he follows the old man. On meeting hanuman, he touches his lord’s feet. Then he writes ‘hanuman chalisa’ to please lord hanuman. Varanasi’s Sankatmochan temple is at the place where lord hanuman is said to have met saint Tulsi Das.
So friends, these were the interesting stories about our very own super hero hanuman! Please share this article to your friends and families and share your thoughts in the comments below.
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