HOW ANJANEYA BECAME HANUMAN!

                                                       

Anjaneya has a number of names like Vayu putra, Maruthi, Hanuman, Kapivara and many others! He is the chief character in the Ramayana who crossed the great Indian ocean and found SITA, spouse of sri RAMA! It is said that Lord Siva came down to earth as Hanuman to assist Lord Vishnu who took avatar as Sri RAMA! How did Anjaneya become Hanuman? What is the interesting story behind this? After hearing the exploits of Ravana and his humiliation at the hands of Karthviryarjuna and Vali, Sri Rama points out that they are not comparable to Anjaneya in strength, courage, presence of mind and knowledge. It was through the great effort of Anjaneya that Sri Rama could bring back his wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana. Sri  Rama  did not know Anjaneya till he met Sugriva near kishkinda! He did not know anything about the antecedents of Anjaneya.  He requested the renowned sage Agasthya to narrate all details of his birth and other activities. He wondered why Anjaneya did not realize his own strength early in his life.

        Anjaneya was the son of KESARI, the king of Sumeru  mountain and Anjana Devi. Through the grace of the wind God Vayu she had this child and hence he is called ANJANEYA! The moment he was born he became hungry and could not wait for his mother who went to procure some fruits. He cried of hunger and mistaking the rising Sun for a fruit, flew into the sky!  He flew with tremendous speed that out did the speed of the wind, and even the great Garuda! The Devas, asuras  and yakahas  were petrified at the phenomenal power and speed of the child Anjaneya! VAYU followed his child to protect him. The Sun did not harm the child since he was to perform great deeds in the future. Mistaking Rahu who was to eclipse the Sun at the moment, for a better fruit, the child approached the node! Rahu ran out of fear and complained to Indra king of Heaven. Angered and surprised, Indra  came to the spot on his white elephant, Iravata! Seeing Rahu, the child pounced on him! Noticing Iravata, Indra’s elephant, the child suddenly jumped on it to the utter dismay and anger of Indra! Enraged at this childish act of Anjaneya, Indra hit him with his terrible Vajra that none can escapefrom. Child Anjaneya fell down on a mountain rock senseless! His jaws were badly damaged!

          Angry and sad at what Indra has done to his child Anjaneya, Vayu took his son to a cave, and withdrew himself from all his activities in the world! As a result all respiratory and excretory activities of people were affected! Vedic Chanting came to a standstill! All Yagnas and sacrifices and homas stopped! Devas suffered a lot and went to Lord Brahma for relief from this extraordinary emergency! Brahma and the Devas met Vayu in the cave caressing his child on his lap! Pacifying Vayu, Lord Brahma passed his divine hand on the unconscious and injured child! Immediately child Anjaneya came back to life like the starved crop that is fed with water! Vayu was immensely pleased and came out of his shell!  He continued his free movement through all creatures in the universe! Lord Brahma bade all Devas to grant different boons to the child as he is to achieve great deeds in the future!

            Indra presented a garland of lotus flowers and declared that he will become famous with the name” HANUMAN”( hanuma = jaw) as his jaw was damaged. He granted that hence forth  his VAJRA will not have any effect on Hanuman! The Sun granted Hanuman a hundredth part of his radiance! He promised to take Hanuman as his student and teach him all sasthras and grammar! Varuna granted that his deadly ‘ Pasa’ and water will be ineffective on him! Yama blessed him and said his ‘ Kaladanda will not affect him! He shall be healthy and without worries! Kubera the God of wealth  said that his terrible mace shall be ineffective on him! Lord Siva granted that none of his arms shall destroy him! Finally Lord Brahnma granted him safety from his ‘Brahma danda’ and longevity! Viswakarma the divine sculptor gave protection against great and mighty arrows!

               Conscious of the boons granted to him and in his unbridled enthusiasm and power, young Hanuman created nuisance to the sages! He entered their ashrams, broke their holy pots,  put out their sacrificial fires and tore apart their dress items! He destroyed their peace of mind! He did not heed the words of his parents who felt sorry for his destructive activities! Unable to tolerate his pranks, the sages finally cursed that Hanuman would not realize his oAwn strength and energy till they are praised by some other individual  after a long time! Thus Hanuman was shorn of his real strength and was as good as gold and as gentle as lamb from that time! Hanuman became the bosom companion of Sugriva, brother of Vali who ruled Kishkinda after the death of his father.

                There is none equal to Hanuman in strength, intellect, conduct and character, dignity and decorum, skill and smartness! He learnt all sasthras and grammar under the Sun God! He compares well with Devaguru Bruhaspathi in knowledge and tapas1 He is called ‘ nava vyakarana panditha’ Sage gsthya concluded by saying that with the grace of Sri Rama, Hanuman shall become the next Brahma!