Current mood:	calm
Current music:	Mahavir Maharudra - Hanuman Soundtrack

Jai Hanuman



So this Saturday night along with a group of friends after a sumptuous dinner of Palak Paneer, Chole and Pulao we say the Hanuman cartoon. I liked the feature for its music and the fact that kid Hanuman was really adorable and cute. I heard a few of my friends saying that the animation wasn’t upto the mark. I agree with them but I think it’s a good start. The good thing is that in terms of content for these cartoons there is no dearth of stories to work on in India. From mythology, Panchatantra, Jataka Tales, Tenali Rama there is just a treasure trove of stories to be told. We might not need to create a Mickey Mouse or a Donald Duck. Not that we shouldn’t. Also the fact that the fast paced professional life in India might not give parents as much time to pass on the rich myth and folklore to their children through bedtime stories. A good animation feature will be a very good alternative. As I was watching the feature it came to my mind that I should blog about different mythological characters. I am not very knowledgeable but will definitely research and put up something. What better character to start out with than Hanuman.

Hanuman – Birth

There are many versions regarding birth of Hanuman. The cartoon movie talks about the Devas troubled by the chaos created by the Asuras approach Vishnu for help. Vishnu agrees to incarnate for the 7th time and says that Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) will assist Him in His cause. As planned (referred to in the cartoon movie as Daiviya Yojana) Lord Shiva blesses Anjani – a cursed apsara who is married to a monkey prince Kesari with a son. This blessing is conveyed to Anjani by Vayu Deva and therefore Hanuman is also referred to as Pavan Putra (son of wind)

Another version which I think is wee bit frivolous talks about Shiva and Parvati, ever the adventurous lovers, decided to transform themselves into monkeys and indulge in amorous games in the dense Himalayan forests. During a climactic moment, the seed of Shiva found its mark and impregnated Parvati. Since they were in simian form it was but natural that the offspring born of such a union too would be a monkey. Not desiring to go against the laws of nature, Shiva directed the wind god Vayu to carry his semen from Parvati's womb, and deposit it into that of Anjana - a female monkey, who at that very moment was praying for a male child.

Yet another version talks about Brihaspati (the preceptor of the gods) had an attendant by the name of Punjikasthala who was cursed to assume the body of a female monkey. The curse was to be removed on her giving birth to an incarnation of Lord Siva. Accordingly, she was born as Anjana and, together with her husband Kesari (so named on account of his being as brave as a lion), lived a life of chastity and purity. She performed intense Tapasya (austerities) for a great many years, during which period she worshipped Lord Siva who being pleased with her granted her a boon. She asked that He (Lord Siva) be born to her so that she may be freed from the curse.
When Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya was given the sacred payasa (pudding) by Agnideva to share among his wives so that they may have divine children (Ram, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna), by divine ordinance, a bird (kite) snatched a fragment of that pudding and, whilst flying over the forest, dropped it where Anjana was engaged in worship. Pavandev (the deity presiding over the wind) delivered that fragment of pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana who immediately swallowed it. With that grace, she, in due course, gave birth to Hanumanji.

Some Thoughts

As a child who had the good fortune of being told bed-time stories by my grandmom, I was always fascinated with Hanuman. He was my favorite god. I always used to wonder why Hanuman who is so powerful, knowledgeable and a master of senses have to worship someone like Rama who was but a prince albeit an accomplished archer. While I was watching this cartoon there is scene where Lord Shiva appears in front of Hanuman and asks “Son do you know what is the purpose of your life?” Cute baby Hanuman says “Knowledge and Bhakti”. Lord Shiva says “Son you already have gained knowledge but now its time to attain Bhakti”. Hanuman the perfect embodiment of knowledge and wisdom worships Lord Rama to show that even the most accomplished, the most virtuous are incomplete without devotion. Infact the very source of all knowledge and strength is devotion – Bhakti.
Next time – How did Hanuman become knowledgable?