76 Facts About Hanuman

Hanuman, called Maruti, Bajrang Bali, and Anjaneya, is a Hindu god and a divine vanara companion of the god Rama.

Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Rama and one of the chiranjivis.

Hanuman is regarded to be the spiritual son of the wind-god Vayu, who in several stories played a direct role in Hanuman's birth.

Hanuman is mentioned in several other texts, such as the epic Mahabharata and the various Puranas.

Evidence of devotional worship to Hanuman is largely absent in these texts, as well as in most archeological sites.

Lutgendorf writes that the skills in Hanuman's resume seem to derive in part from his windy patrimony, reflecting Vayu's role in both body and cosmos.

Hanuman is viewed as the ideal combination of "strength, heroic initiative and assertive excellence" and "loving, emotional devotion to his personal god Rama", as Shakti and Bhakti.

Hanuman is considered to be a bachelor and an exemplary celibate.

One interpretation of "Hanuman" is "one having a disfigured jaw".

Hanuman combines two of the most cherished traits in the Hindu bhakti-shakti worship traditions: "heroic, strong, assertive excellence" and "loving, emotional devotion to personal God".

The earliest mention of a divine monkey, interpreted by some scholars as the proto-Hanuman, is in hymn 10.86 of the Rigveda, dated to between 1500 and 1200 BCE.

The orientalist F E Pargiter theorized that Hanuman was a proto-Dravidian deity.

Lutgendorf writes, "Other skills in Hanuman's resume seem to derive in part from his windy patrimony, reflecting Vayu's role in both body and cosmos".

Hanuman emerged as a champion of those religiously persecuted, expressing resistance, a yogi, an inspiration for martial artists and warriors, a character with less fur and increasingly human, symbolizing cherished virtues and internal values, and worthy of devotion in his own right.

Hanuman is called the son of the deity Vayu because of legends associated with Vayu's role in Hanuman's birth and is said to be the incarnation of lord Shiva.

Surya returns him to life, but Hanuman is left with a disfigured jaw.

Hanuman is said to have spent his childhood in Kishkindha.

Some time after this event, Hanuman begins using his supernatural powers on innocent bystanders as simple pranks, until one day he pranks a meditating sage.

However, Jambavan knows from prior events that Hanuman used to be able to do such a feat with ease, and lifts his curse.

The curse lifted, Hanuman now remembers all of his dynamic divine powers.

Hanuman is said to have transformed into the size of mountain, and flew across the narrow channel to Lanka.

Hanuman reveals that Ravana kidnapped her and is forcing her to marry him soon.

Hanuman offers to rescue her but Sita refuses, stating that her husband must do it.

Regardless of the tale, he ends up captured in the court of Ravana himself, who laughs when Hanuman tells him that Rama is coming to take back Sita.

Hanuman was the only one who could make the journey so quickly, and was thus sent to the mountain.

Hanuman replied that rather than needing a gift to remember Rama, he would always be in his heart.

Some court officials, still upset, asked him for proof, and Hanuman tore open his chest, which had an image of Rama and Sita on his heart.

Now proven as a true devotee, Rama cured him and blessed him with immortality, but Hanuman refused this and asked only for a place at Rama's feet to worship him.

Bhima encountered Hanuman lying on the ground in the shape of a feeble old monkey.

Hanuman revealed himself, much to Bhima's surprise, and the brothers embraced.

Hanuman prophesied that Bhima would soon be a part of a terrible war, and promised Bhima that he would sit on the flag of his brother Arjuna's chariot and shout a battle cry for Bhima that would weaken the hearts of his enemies.

Content, Hanuman left his brother to his search, and after that prophesied war, would not be seen again until early 1600s.

The canon is part of a dialogue between Rama and Hanuman dealing with the inquiry into mukti in the Muktika Upanishad.

Hanuman meets Rama in the last year of the latter's 14-year exile, after the demon king Ravana had kidnapped Sita.

Hanuman claimed to have visions where he met face to face with Hanuman.

Hanuman was an adherent devotee of Devi and Ravana convinced him to sacrifice the valiant fighters of Ayodhya to the goddess, to which Mahiravana agreed.

On his journey, he met Makardhwaja who claimed of being Hanuman's son, being born from his sweat which was consumed by a Makara.

Hanuman defeated and tied him and went inside the palace.

Hanuman then shrunk his size to that of a bee and went towards the huge idol of Maha-Kali.

Hanuman asked her to let him save Rama, and the fierce mother goddess agreed as Hanuman took her place while she slipped below.

Hanuman later took Shri Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders and as he flew outside Shri Rama saw Makardhwaja tied with his tail.

Hanuman immediately ordered Hanuman to crown him the King of Patala.

Also, in the Tibetan version, novel elements appear such as Hanuman carrying love letters between Rama and Sita, in addition to the Hindu version wherein Rama sends the wedding ring with him as a message to Sita.

Further, in the Tibetan version, Rama chides Hanuman for not corresponding with him through letters more often, implying that the monkey-messenger and warrior is a learned being who can read and write.

Hanuman is the son of Pavangati and Anjana Sundari.

Hanuman goes to Lanka on Rama's behalf, but is unable to convince Ravana to give up Sita.

The Sikh texts such as Hanuman Natak composed by Hirda Ram Bhalla, and Das Gur Katha by Kavi Kankan describe the heroic deeds of Hanuman.

Hanuman became more important in the medieval period and came to be portrayed as the ideal devotee of Rama.

Hanuman's prominence grew after the arrival of Islamic rule in the Indian subcontinent.

Hanuman is viewed as the ideal combination of shakti and bhakti.

Hanuman is stated to be a gifted grammarian, meditating yogi and diligent scholar.

In 17th-century north and western regions of India, Hanuman emerged as an expression of resistance and dedication against Islamic persecution.

Hanuman is typically shown with Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, near or in Vaishnavism temples, as well as by himself usually opening his chest to symbolically show images of Rama and Sita near his heart.

Hanuman is shown carrying a saffron flag in service of the Goddess Durga along with Bhairava.

Hanuman is often worshipped along with Rama and Sita of Vaishnavism, and sometimes independently of them.

Lutgendorf writes, "Other skills in Hanuman's resume seem to derive in part from his windy patrimony, reflecting Vayu's role in both body and cosmos".

Hanuman is a central character in the annual Ramlila celebrations in India, and seasonal dramatic arts in southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand; and Bali and Java, Indonesia.

Hanuman is featured in many parts of the folk-enacted play of the legendary war between Good and Evil, with the celebrations climaxing in the Dussehra night festivities where the giant grotesque effigies of Evil such as of demon Ravana are burnt, typically with fireworks.

Hanuman's birthday is observed by some Hindus as Hanuman Jayanti.

Hanuman is a revered heroic figure in Khmer history in southeast Asia.

Hanuman is the central character in many of the historic dance and drama art works such as Wayang Wong found in Javanese culture, Indonesia.

Hanuman picked it up and ate it until it became pregnant.

Hanuman gave birth to a baby monkey with white hair, while herself again had a beautiful face and was taken to heaven as an angel.

Hanuman managed to capture the spirit of Ravana and imprisoned him in Mount Kendalisada.

Hanuman was credited with finding Yudhisthira's lost heirloom named Kalimasada.

In that war, Hanuman died, moksha with his body, while Yaksadewa returned to his original form, namely Batara Kala, the god of death.

Hanuman plays a significantly more prominent role in the Ramakien.

In contrast to the strict devoted lifestyle to Lord Rama of his Indian counterpart, Hanuman is known in Thailand as a promiscuous and flirtatious character.

Hanuman is depicted as wearing a crown on his head and armor.

Hanuman is depicted as an albino white, strong character with open mouth in action, sometimes shown carrying a trident.

Hanuman is the mascot of the 1st Asian Martial Arts Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

However, once Hanuman was flying above the seas to go to Lanka, a drop of his sweat fell in the mouth of a crocodile, which eventually turned into a baby.

One day, Hanuman, when going to save Rama and Lakshmana from Ahiravana, faced Makardhwaja and defeated him combat.

Hanuman was referenced in the 2018 Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Black Panther and its sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda; the Jabari tribe often is seen saying Glory to "Hanuman" as the tribe worships its ancestral gorilla deity.

Each song on the album was made to pay tribute to a different musician that inspired the band, and the song Hanuman is dedicated to Carlos Santana.

Hanuman is the protagonist in the 2022 film Hanuman White Monkey, a fantasy film combines special effects with a Khon performance style.