HANUMAN

Hanuman is a monkey god. He has immense courage and abundant power. He is faithful and selfless in service.

There are different versions about his identity. One version is that he is the son of monkey king. Another version is that he is the son of Anjana, an Apsara (virgin lady from heaven) incarnated into a monkey by a curse. Yet another version is that he is the son of Vayu (wind).

Hanuman was always hungry. This phenomenon persisted even when he born. His mother was not able to give enough food required by him. Once he attempted to get hold of the sun and eat it on the assumption it is a food item. Sun ran away and the Hanuman chased it till the abode of Indra where Indra stopped Hanuman. Indra hit Hanuman with his thunderbolt when the Hanuman’s jaw became flat. Hearing the incident, Hanuman’s father Vayu (wind) penetrated to the bodies of all the gods, as a revenge, to turn them colic. This forced Indra to make Hanuman immortal.

In the childhood Hanuman was naughty. He used to abuse his god-power in various ways. Pestering the saints, creating whirlwind with his breath, pulling down pillars with his tail and dousing sacred fires are some among them.