Follow Hanuman (Part 2) – Birth & Early Life of Hanumān

By Prof. Dr. Nadiminty Sree Rāmachandra Śāstry

When Rāvaņa – the demon king of Lanka, was having a victorious march in heaven, a celestial nymph by name Punjikastala got frightened by Rāvaņa and was running away. Rāvaņa tried to capture her by force. She ran to Brahma for help. Brahma grew angry and cursed Rāvaņa, that if he touches any unwilling lady his head will break then and there itself into thousand pieces.

Punjikastala got a boon also that in her next birth she would have a son who can teach a lesson to Rāvaņa. Punjikastala was next born as the female monkey Anjana, married Kēsari – a monkey king with lion’s strength and bore Hanumān, as a result of the intervention of Vāyu Dēva – wind God. Power of Śiva, which Vāyu Dēva carried, was also given to Hanumān. Vishnupurāna actually describes Hanumān as an incarnation of lord Śiva.

Thus we find that Lord Śiva incarnated as Hanumān in the bodily form of a monkey through the grace and blessings of his godfather Vāyu Dēva, with Anjana and Kēśari as his earthly parents. Hanumān is also known as Ānjanēya – son of Anjana, Kēsarinandan – son of Kēśari, Ŗudrātmaka – son/Ātma of Śiva, and as son of Vāyu Dēva – Māaruti, Vāyunandana, Pavanputra etc.; the first half of each word meaning wind.

He was so strong and courageous that when He was an infant, He flew skywards to eat the raising Sun, thinking that it was a fruit. In that episode the diamond hard thunderbolt missile – Vajrāyudha thrown by Indra hit Hanumān. But could only just make a dent in His jaw. Hence He is known as Hanumān – the one with a dented jaw and Vajrangbali / Bajrangbali – strong like the diamond.

Still in his childhood, He learnt all Śāstras – sciences, from the Sun God – Sūrya. Sūrya insisted that he could not stop his daily-appointed rounds for the sake of teaching. So Hanumān followed (or moved along!)  the Sun across the sky during the period of learning, always keeping His face toward the Sun. Hanumān learned quickly and was a good student who developed many fine qualities.

Later, He joined the court of Sūrya’s son Sugrīva, prince of Vānaras – human like monkeys. Vāli, Sugrīva’s elder brother, king of the monkey-land Kişkinda, drove Sugrīva away taking possession of his wife Rumā. For fear of his brother, Sugrīva took refuge on the far away Ŗşyamūka mountain, where Vāli was forbidden to go by an old curse. There, Hanumān as a token of respect for His teacher Sūrya, was serving Sūrya’s son Sugrīva as his most trusted minister.