After invocating Lord Raama on the occasion of Gudhi Paadwaa, it would be quite appropriate to pay obeisance to his foremost devotee Shrii Hanumaan. We are approaching (Shrii Hanumaan’s birth-anniversary) which is celebrated on the Full moon day of the Hindu month ‘Chaitra’. This year it occurs on the 18th of April 2011.

 

According to scriptures like Wishnu-puraana and Naarada-puraana , an apsaraah ( a celestial-maiden) named Anjanaa , was born as a female-ape due to a curse. She then married another ape named Kesari , the son of Brihaspati ( Lord Brahma), who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. They both performed strict penance of Lord Shiva and the Lord being pleased by their devotion granted them a boon that they would beget a very noble and mighty son who would be an incarnation of Rudra .

At that time, King Dasharatha () was performing a sacrifice for begetting children. Lord Agni ( the Fire-God), pleased with his offerings, appeared in his sacrifice and awarded him with a pot of divine and potent Paayasa ( milk-pudding) to be shared among his three queens. Accidentally a crow (who was also an apsaraa, cursed to be a crow to be relieved from the curse after being touched by the divine paayasa) picked up the share of one of the queens and flew in the sky. After the crow was freed from the curse and returned back to her celestial form, the paayasa was carried by Waayu ( Wind-God) to the same mountain where Anjanaa & Kesarii lived. The couple welcomed Waayu and paid obeisance to him who, being pleased with their devotional service, offered the paayasa to Kesarii and advised him to give it to his wife.

It is believed that blessings of Rudra, Waayu and the energy of Agni that was there in the paayasa, together contributed in the birth of Hanumaan as a Mighty, Intelligent and Noble Ape, who was supposed to be the greatest devotee of the Supreme being.

Consequently, he has inherited nobility, might ( wiirataa) & ferocity ( raudra) from Rudra, swiftness in speed ( jawa) from Wayu and splendour (  tejas) from Agni.

Hanumaan is believed to have performed many valorous feats since childhood, like, persuading the Sun himself to become his preceptor and acquiring all knowledge from the Sun, being able to enlarge his body as big as a few planets in the universe, being as swift as the Wind, etc.

Even after he met Raama, he has performed numerous incomparable tasks for him, a few of which are:

• Flying to Lanka as a messenger of Raama (which is why he is called Raamaduuta ( )
• Crossing the Indian ocean in a single flight
• Burning Lanka with his ignited tail
• Lifting the DroNa () mountain that contained the herb for healing Laxmana who fell unconscious in the war
• Flying to Ayodhya to inform Bharata about Raama’s return from exile
• Tearing off his own chest and displaying the images of Lord Raama & Siita in his heart in the court during coronation of Raama

It is believed that when Shri Raama and Siita were about to end their awataara, and offered Hanumaan to ask a boon for his unparallel service, he requested to be able to live as long as there is life on erath, so that he could propogate the name and fame of his Lord forever in the world. Siita granted this boon, thereby making him Chiranjiivin (an immortal). Shrii Hanumaan is one of the eight ‘Chiranjiivins’, the other seven being Ashwatthaman , Mahaabalin , MaarkaNDeya, Wyaasa , WibhiiShaNa , kRipaachaarya , Parashuraama

Shrii Hanumaan is the embodiment of qualities like:

• Unconditional devotion
• Unparalleled intelligence
• Incomparable might
• Complete submission to the Lord
• Complete control over oneself

Shrii Hanumaan is the favorite diety of many saints all over India, namely Saint Tulsidas, Saint Thyagaraja, Saint Raamadaas Swami, etc. and temples of Shri Hanumaan can be found all over the country and outside India as well.

A devotional hymn containing 40 verses, composed in the Awadhi language by Saint Tulsidas (17th century), is famous by the name Hanumaan Chaalisa . It is recited by many people for gaining might and intelligence. It is believed that reciting this hymn provides protection against evil spirits. A mythological legend states that Shani Saturn), who is considered to be a mischevious planet in Astrology, was defeated in a contest with Shrii Hanumaan and consequently agreed that he would not trouble the sincere devotees of Shrii Hanumaan who regularly recited the Hanumaan Chalisa.

Saint Raamadaas Swami (17th century) from Maharashtra, the pioneer founder of Raama-sampradayaa () and who is believed to be the spiritual preceptor of Chhatrapati Shivaji, used Shrii Hanumaan as an icon and propogated physical and mental fitness among the youth of India, urging them to fight againt injustice, since the country was facing constant foreign invasions and even internal safety and security was also not  in a good state.

The Saint, also an accomplished Marathi poet, composed a short hymn invocating Shrii Hanumaan known as ‘Bhimarupi Stotra’. He has been instrumental in constructing over 500 Hanuman Shrines and established over 1400 Gyms for sports and physical fitness all over the country. He also propogated the Suurya-namaskaara, a kind of unique physical exercise that blends yoga and gymnastics.
Since then, an image/idol of Shrii Hanumaan can be invariably found in all Indian gyms and people desirous of exelling in any kind of sports/physical activities worship Lord Hanumaan with undivided devotion.

Hanumaan is addressed with different names by his devotees with love and affection as:

• Hanumaan () – The one with a special chin
• Rudraawataara () – The incarnation of Lord Rudra
• Aanjaneya () – The son of Anjanaa
• Maarutii () – The incarnation of Wind
• Raamadoota () – The messenger (devitee) of Lord Raama

We bring forth for you, the famous verse from Raamaraksha () hymn which describes Shri Hanumaan as the foremost of Lord Raama’s devotees. It has been composed in the anushtubh meter by the poet Budhakaushika ().