On Hinduism

In Hindu temples, homes, and countless folktales, you will hear of Hanuman, “the Monkey God”. What is important about him is neither that he’s a “monkey” nor that he is considered a divinity or “God”; he is revered as a powerful heroic figure filled with devotional surrender.  

Hanuman is one of the dearest deities in the Hindu tradition, imbued with valor, mischief, strength, and devotion. He is the personification of strength and devotion, and that is why his tales are loved all over the world.

Hanuman in Ramayana

It is his complete Devotion that sets him apart.  The story of Hanuman comes to us from Ramayana, the earlier of the two major epics in Hinduism (the other being the Mahabharata).  In the epic, Lord Sri Rama, (God incarnate in human form) is engaged in an epic battle with the king of Lanka, who has wrongfully kidnapped his wife.  Hanuman is part of a tribe of monkeys that meet Sri Rama, and this ragtag army of monkeys help Sri Rama (and his younger brother, Lakshmana) win against the rich, mighty and arrogant Ravana. 

Hanuman as Yogi

Hanuman is a complete yogi.  One of his names is  Bajrang (or Vajra-anga, the thunderbolt Bodied one), which is one of the highest achievements for a yogi, to have a thunderbolt energy body (in yoga the subtle body is an energy body).  He is the son of the Wind, a reference also to his mastery of the breath, which you know as Pranayama.  He has all the mystical powers that a yogi can acquire (there are eight siddhis, or yogic superpowers, such as the ability to be tiny, heavy, fly, and so on).  He is also the symbol of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion, being completely surrendered to his master. So Hanuman is the complete yogi, with excellence in all the yogas of Action, Meditation, and Devotion.

Hanuman Chalisa

Many western adherents to the Bhakti tradition (like the singer Krishna Das) make it a point to memorize the Hanuman Chalisa, the forty verses in praise of Hanuman.  Singing the Chalisa is a tradition followed all over India, and a large percentage of modern Hindus will be able to recite and chant along.  The chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa brings joy, relief, and a connection with a powerful-yet-surrendered Yogi. Something we should all aspire to become.

Sundar Kand

There are many fun stories associated with Hanuman.  Let me tell you just one. He was born with immense powers but was very playful as a child.  After one such naughty episode, he was cursed to forget all his powers. He would stay forgetful until someone reminds him.  As it happens, he is reminded of his powers at a pivotal point in the epic, when someone is needed to cross the Ocean to go to the island of Lanka to look for Rama’s wife. This is the beginning of some of the most beautiful poetry in the epic, and even today many Hindus chant the “Sundar Kand”, (beautiful chapter) which describes the exploits of Hanuman in Lanka. 

We all have powers that we don’t remember.  A mentor or coach can help us by reminding us of our own super-powers. Isn’t that a memorable story?

Ask for His help!

Hanuman is one of the few Chiranjeevis in the Hindu tradition (Chiran-jeevi means “lives forever”), and it is said that he still roams this Earth and comes to help when he is invoked.

Other reading material: Hindu God Hanuman,

Relevant videos:  Krishna Das on Hanuman Chalisa

Contributor: Gaurav Rastogi

Location of this post (2b): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/can-you-explain-more-about-the-monkey-god-hanuman/