Hanuman, the heroic monkey god
Depiction of Hanuman in the big studio.
Hanuman is the hero of the Indian epic, the Ramayana (recorded by the poet Valkimi, 5th century BCE–1st century BCE). He also appears in the Mahabharata and some Puranas. What strikes me about his central location in yogic devotion is that he started out as a supporting character in an epic, and has evolved into a symbol of intelligence, wit, and bhakti (devotion). It is his relatability that has made him increasingly popular in yoga and Hinduism.
The Ramayana tells the story of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. (An avatar is the incarnation of a deity into human or animal form.) Vishnu has seven avatars, the last of which is Rama, the Prince and King of Ayodhya. Rama and his wife, Sita, are exiled to the forest. Sita is then kidnapped by Ravana, king of the demons. Rama meets Sugriva, the king of the forest dwellers i.e. monkey tribe. Sugriva offers his monkey army, led by Hanuman, to find Sita and return her to Rama. It is thanks to Hanuman’s bravery, wit, and superpowers that Sita is at last recovered. Hanuman leaps across the Indian Ocean to Sri Lanka, where Sita is captured, and then later carries a mountain (yes, a mountain) with a very special herb that is needed to bring Sita home.
These are Hanuman’s greatest acts of service to Rama. Based on this synopsis, you might wonder why people find Hanuman so relatable. For instance, have you ever carried a mountain?
I think that Hanuman’s lovability comes from his coming-of-age tales. Hanuman is a sort of avatar, as Vishnu sends a piece of himself to earth as Hanuman, which is partly what gives him super abilities. Many of his birth stories say that he is the son of Vayu, the wind god, and Anjana, the daughter of the monkey ruler. In many of these tales, Anjana does not consent to this pregnancy. Shapeshifted into human form, Vayu finds Anjana so beautiful that he blows between her legs and impregnates her. Hanuman is then raised by Anjana and her husband, Kesari.
Hanuman is a trickster. As a child, he thinks the sun is a big, juicy mango and eats it. (Another version says he thinks it is a big yellow ball.) As Hanuman approaches the sun, Indra, the thunder god, strikes him and he falls toward the earth, caught by his father Vayu. Hanuman is injured from the bolt, and has a broken jaw. One interpretation of the etymology of “Hanuman” is that it means “one with a broken jaw.” Vayu is upset, and demands that the gods bestow boons (god-given gifts) upon Hanuman for his injury, so each of the gods gives Hanuman a superpower.
Later, Hanuman plays pranks on sages who grow so frustrated with him that they make him forget his superpowers, which he only remembers when reminded by a friend.
Hanuman is not a “perfect” character. He is proud and overly curious. He makes mistakes. But he learns from his mistakes and he makes a huge impact, even though he is imperfect. He represents imagination and skill, and he creates the space where life and love can be, symbolized by Rama and Sita, which makes him both vulnerable and powerful.
I have always loved that Hanuman is a forest-dweller too, someone who traverses the light and dark places. Rama, King of Ayodhya, represents culture, ethics, and morality; a place of order, dharma. The forest is wild and unpredictable. It is not a safe or happy place, where the ascetic yogis and demons dwell and enchantment lurks. Yet, Rama needs Hanuman’s help to navigate this unfamiliar place.
Hanuman traverses the dangerous parts of consciousness, and tells us where we should and shouldn’t go.
Since we are every character in the story, we are Hanuman. We are broken by our lives, and yet we choose to live in devotion and service. At our best, we are curious, playful, intelligent, even mischievous. We see our vulnerability as our power, and we need our friends to remind us of how powerful we are. We are shapeshifters, constantly transforming into the objects of our desire. Everything of value that we are given is a divine boon, a gift given a long time ago. In order to receive, we must show up with devotion. When we receive, we are able to give to others.
In the iconography of Hanuman in our studio, he is shown holding the mountain with the magical herb, with one leg lifted, ready to leap across the Ocean. In his other hand he holds a mace. Central to this depiction is his monkey tail, which, according to some legends, is an incarnation of Parvati, Shiva’s wife. Even as Hanuman is said to be ugly because of his disfigured jaw, his tail is strikingly beautiful. It is imbued with shakti, the power of the goddess. Bestowing powers in the upper right corner are the three gods of the trimurti: Brahma (with many heads), Shiva (holding a war discus and a conch shell), and Vishnu (holding a trident).
Hanuman is celebrated on his birthday, which is linked with the full moon. Some celebrate his birthday in late March–April, which is when we celebrate him at Yoga Sanctuary! He is also featured in Ramlila celebrations, folk reenactments of the Ramayana.
