Hanuman

A detailed Summary of Hanuman

Hanuman is a God who helped Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, in rescuing his wife, Sita, from King Ravana of the Rakshasas, and symbolizes the pinnacle of bhakti, a Sanskrit term from Hinduism meaning loving devotion to the supreme God (Hanuman pp). He is also believed to be an avatar of Shiva, and also the source for the Chinese mythological character Sun Wukong, and is most popular in the north of the Indian subcontinent (Hanuman pp).

Hanuman is the son of a cursed apsara, a celestial being called Punjisthala, who due to the curse becomes Anjana, a female monkey, so Hanuman is also called Anjaneya (Hanuman pp). She is the wife of Kesari, a "mighty monkey who once killed a mighty elephant that caused trouble to sages and hermits, therefore he got the name of Kesari, namely the lion, and is also called kunjara sudana, the elephant killer (Hanuman pp). One day the Wind-god, Vayu deva, blew the clothes of the body of Anjana, and became so enticed by her charms that he "possessed her," resulting in the birth of Hanuman, whose birthday is celebrated as Hanuman Jayanti (Hanuman pp).

According to legend, Hanuman inherited his father's activities of "quick flying, forceful travel, and mighty strength, so soon after his birth he dec

Ultimately Hanuman becomes endowed with superhuman

Ramayana, Hanuman's story is also expanded. New exploits

are added, such as the burning of Lanka, flying to the Himalayas, and bringing the mountain peak back to the battle site.

powers and skills and he acquires immortality (Anderson pp).

Hanuman is often portrayed kneeling at Rama's feet, and also shown leaping through the air holding a mountain with medicinal herbs growing on, which he took to Rama's brother who had been wounded in a battle (Hanuman1 pp). Hanuman is also helped "Rama rescue Sita from the island of Lanka by ordering all the monkeys to make a bridge from Lanka to India with their bodies" (Hanuman1 pp). There are virtually hundreds of images of Hanuman in various forms and circumstances.

As Rama becomes recognized as an incarnation of Visnu

Hamnuman Jayanti is celebrated beginning on the full moon in April throughout Asia, there he is one of the most beloved deities and is seen as Rama's greatest devotee and chief of the monkey army which fought Rama's war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka (April pp). According to another legend relating to his birth, Dasharath, the king of Ayodhya had three wives, Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi, none of whom had children, so the king performed a homa or havan to pray for progeny, and as a reward, the fire god, Agni, gave him three portions of payas, a sweet for his queens to eat to bear divine children (April pp). Kaikeyi, however, accidentally droppe

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1001
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Religion