Rare Facts about Sri Hanumanji

1. Hanumanji’s name from his birth was Sundar.  When Indra struck him with a vajra and he fell down, his chin had a dent and he was called Hanuman
2. When Sri Rama was to take incarnation, Shiva informs Sati of his intention to incarnate on earth in order to serve him. When Sati protests that she will miss him, Shiva promises to send only a portion of himself and hence to remain with her on Kailash. The two then discuss the problem of what form Shiva should take.   if he assumes human shape, it will violate the dharma of service, for the servant should be lower than the master. Shiva finally decides that if Rama is a Nara(human), then he will take the form of a Vanara(Monkey)  because it is humble and has simple needs and lifestyle: no shelter, no cooked food, and no observance of the rules of caste and stage of life. This will allow maximum scope for service.  When Shiva decides to manifest his amsha as Hanuman, Sati also thinks that what can she do?  She comes to the conclusion that the beauty of a monkey is his tail.  The monkey also loves his tail the most.  So an amsha of Sati becomes the tail of Hanuman.  So Hanumanji is an amsha of both Shiva & Sati.  Hanuman is the 11th Rudra-Avataar of Lord Shiva.  
3. Background to Hanumanji’s Birth and why is he called - Shankara suvana, Kesari Nandana, Anjani-Putra, Vayu-kumara:
   Lord Brahmaji’s loka was a heavenly abode and beautiful apsaras also lived there. Among them was a beautiful apsara named Anjana. Happy with her services Brahmaji decided to reward her. He asked Anjana her desire and she replied hesitatingly “Lord! Please remove my curse which was placed on me by a Rishi Agnirasa(sage).” Brahmaji asked her to tell him about her curse and assured her that he will try to help her. Anjana started narrating her story, “When I was a child I used to get bored of my luxurious lifestyle and in search of amusement one day I came down to earth to play with earth’s strange creatures. As I was wandering around to look for some friends, I saw a monkey meditating in a forest. Little did I know about this monkey, I started laughing and making fun of that monkey because he was seated with folded legs just like a lotus. Seeing that monkey pose like a human sage, I threw some pebbles and fruits at him.
   
   Since I was a small child the Sage tried to ignore my foolishness at first but eventually he lost his temper. Soon his eyes opened and I could see anger in his eyes. He was not an ordinary monkey. He was a powerful sage who had disguised himself as a monkey to do his tapasya. My mischief had disturbed his meditation and in his thundering voice he said,” Young apsara, you have committed a sin and you should be punished for that. Since you mocked me of being a monkey, I curse you that whenever you fall in love with someone you will turn into a monkey.”
   
   I begged and cried in front of him. But sage Agnirasa said that the curse could not be changed but said that inspire of my monkey face someone will fall in love with me.” Anjana said to Lord Brahma, ” This is my curse story, O Lord! please save me from this curse.”
   
   After hearing her story Brahmaji felt sad for her and uttered, “I think I can help you in removing this curse. As per the curse go and live your life on earth, get married and you’ll remain this way until you give birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva.”
   
   Anjana was happy to learn that and followed Brahmaji’s advice. Soon she took birth on earth and lived in Kunjar family – one who dwells in forest. One day while returning home from forest she saw a man fighting a mighty lion. She stood there and watched that brave man fight. She looked at that man with love and admiration and after killing the lion when that man turned, he saw Anjana standing there. The moment he looked at her, because of the curse Anjana turned into a monkey as she was in love with that man!
   
   On seeing this transformation, Anjana covered her face and started to cry. Seeing her crying the man rushed towards her and inquired what the matter was.
   “Talk to me, O beautiful lady, face me,” said the man.
   “Oh brave man, how can I face you. I am cursed and as per the curse if I fall in love I will change into a monkey and I have, so please leave me alone and go, ” said Anjana.
   That man said smiling,”Look at me lady, I am not human but as per a boon from Lord Shiva I can take any form I want.” Peeking through her fingers Anjana saw a monkey- faced man standing in front of her. She was surprised. The man said,” I am Kapiraj Kesari of Mount Sumeru, the king of monkeys. On seeing you I fell in love with you, I ask your hand in marriage – will you marry me?”Anjana accepted his proposal and thought that the Sage’s words came true. This man is willing to marry me besides my appearance.Later both of them got married in the forest.
   But Anjana still wanted to get out of monkey body, she was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and she started performing intense meditation to please Lord Shiva. After seeing her devotion Lord Shiva appeared and asked what she desired. Anjana requested Lord Shiva to be born as her son and free her from the Sage’s curse. So pleased with her bhakti; Lord Shiva granted her, her wish.
   
   At that same time King Dasharath was also performing the ritual of Putra-kameshti yagna (spiritual ritual in order to have children) in Ayodhya. As a result of that yagna, he received a sacred pudding (Kheer) to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of Lord Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughna. While Dasarath was giving that prasad to his wife, a kite snatched a fragment of that pudding, flew over the forest and dropped it where Anjana was engaged in meditation. This all happened because of Lord Shiva’s boon.
   
   Lord Shiva commanded Vayu to deliver that prasad to Anjana. Vayu, the deity of wind, delivered the falling prasad to the outstretched hands of Maa Anjana. Thinking it to be prasad from Lord Shiva, Anjana consumed it with delight. As a result,Hanuman was born to her and she was freed from the curse of Sage Agnirasa. Kesari and Anjana were was very happy to see their monkey- faced baby boy. He was named as Sundar.  He was also called Anjaneya  the son of Anjana or Shankar Suvana as he was born with Lord Shiva’s blessing or Kesari Nandan - son of Kesari and Pavana-Putra - the son of Pavan Devata.
   
4. Hanumanji is one of the 7 Chiranjeevis who will be alive till the end of the kalpa.  He is having a form even now and hence his birthday is celebrated as Hanuman Janmotsava and not as a Jayanti (Celebrated for one who has dropped the body).   Bali, Vyasa, Markandeya, Ashwatthama, Vibheesha, Kripacharya are the other Chiranjeevis.  
5. Hanumanji is the Bhavishyad-Brahma.  After the tenure of the present Brahmaji(Creator) will be completed, Hanumanji will be the next Brahmaji.  Hanumanji visits Brahmaloka for Sri Rama’s Mudrika and there shows his Vishwarupa and  he obtains the boon from Brahmaji that he will be the future Lord of Creation.  
6. Hanumanji learnt the entire Vedas from Lord Sun, while walking backwards to keep facing Lord sun,  in just 60 hours. Hanumanji asked him what gurudakshina can he give?  Lord Sun told him that his amsha is Sugriva and that Hanumanji should always protect him.  Hanumanji promised to do so.  
7. Hanumanji marriage:  Being an Aajanma Brahmachari, Lord Hanuman was not eligible to study the Nava Vyakarnas (nine grammers) of Sanskrit, for which the status of being a grihastha (married man) was essential. In order to facilitate the completion of his education, the Trimurtis approached Surya Bhagavan and created a beautiful Kanya, Suvarchala Devi, an Aajanma Brahmacharini, from the Sun’s Kiranas (rays) and arranged a marriage with Hanumanji to make him a Grihastha without Brahmacharya being affected. Whereby he learnt and became a genius in the nine vyakaranas (sanskrit grammar). These details can be found in Parasara Samhita written by Sri Parasara Maharishi(Disciple of Baskala, Not the father of Sri Vedavyasa).    Sri Parasara Maharishi has written the life history of Lord Hanuman from his birth and goes on to depict his life even after the Ramayana. 
8. There is also a composition called ‘Hanuman Mangalashtakam’ that depicts the Lord thus and a shloka from it says:
   
   suvarchalaa kalathraaya chaturbhuja dharaaya cha
   ushtraa roodhaya veeraya mangalam sri hanumathe
   
   The meaning of the above sloka is: “Salutations to Lord Hanuman, having four arms, accompanied by His consort Suvarchala Devi, seated on a camel and exhibiting extraordinary valour.”
   Khagendra samhita, Saunaka Samhita and Sudarshana Samhita also mention about Hanumanji’s marriage.  
9. Sri Suvarchala-Hanuman wedding is celebrated and performed on the 10th day before the full moon day in Jyestha month.  
10. At the temple at Thailavaram, the moolavigraha is eight feet tall. The Lord holds the customary mace in his hand that he rests on his right shoulder. His left hand is placed on his hip. The utsava moorthi of Anjaneya is with his consort Suvarchala Devi. The Lord is depicted with four arms and is descriptively called Suvarchala Devi Sametha Chaturbhuja.
11. Without his Brahmacharya being affected, Hanumanji also had a son - Makaradhvaja. He was a half monkey and a half crocodile.   When the mighty Hanuman set fire to the city of Lanka, he extinguished his tail in the great ocean. He spilled his seed, that had been generated due to the heat of the fire on his tail, into the ocean and without his knowledge, this seed was consumed by a female crocodile and a child was thus conceived. Once this crocodile was brought to the kitchens of Mahiraavana in Paathaala and when her gut was torn open,  the child emerged. Mahiraavana gave him protection and education and he was named Makaradhvaja.  When Hanumanji went to fight Mahiraavana, Makaradhvaja prevented him and it is at that time Hanumanji came to know about his son.  Yet, to free Sri Rama & Lakshmana from Mahiraavana, he fought Makaradhvaja, disarmed him and bound him to finally kill Mahiraavana.   
12. Before Vali & Sugreeva became enemies, Hanumanji was one of the chief ministers of Vali. 
13. Hanumanji always served everyone.  He never ruled as a King.  But he was a great king-maker.  He was instrumental in the destruction of enemies and coronation of many kings.  Vali was killed and Sugriva was coronated.  Hanumanji was instrumental in the friendship of Sri Rama & Sugriva.  Ravana was destroyed and Vibheeshana became the King.  Hanumanji had told Vibheeshana to seek refuge of Lord Rama.  Mahiraavana was killed by Hanumanji and Makaradhvaja was crowned the king of Paataala.  In Sri Ram’s Coronation also Hanumanji played a very vital role.  Though Hanumanji did not rule any kingdom, yet he rules the hearts of all. 
14. Why does Hanumanji have Sindoor all over his body?  One day after the coronation of Sri Ram, Hanumanji saw Sitaji wearing sindhoor and asked what does it signifies? Sitaji replied that it is customary for married women to put sindhoor for the longevity of their husband’s life and his well-being. So Hanumanji thought that if a pinch of sindoor can be good for Sri Ram, then what if i use more.  So he went and smeared Sindhoor all over his body for Lord Rama. That day happened to be a tuesday and  Sri Ram was impressed.  He blessed Hanuman that whoever offers you sindhoor and oil on tuesday,  will find strength to overcome obstacles in their life.  
15. Hanumanji had met Sri Rama first at Ayodhya when he was taken there by Shivji who assumed the form of a Madari to entertain Sri Ram as a child in his Bal-roop. Sri Ram told him after a few months to return and that he will meet him in Kishkindha and they will be together after that.  
16. Hanumanji had first met Bharat, on his way back while carrying the Dronachal mountain.  As he was crossing over Ayodhya, Bharat saw him and assumed that some Rakshasa was taking this mountain to attack Ayodhya. Bharat then shot Hanuman with an arrow, which was engraved with Sri Rama's name. Hanuman did not stop this arrow as it had Rama's name written on it, and it injured his leg. Hanuman landed and explained to Bharat that he was moving the mountain to save his own brother, Lakshmana. Bharat, very sorry, offered to fire an arrow to Lanka, which Hanuman could ride in order to reach his destination more easily? But Hanuman declined the offer, preferring to fly on his own, and he continued his journey with his injured leg.  The place where Hanumanji landed to meet Bharat is said to be the Bade Hanumanji’s temple at Prayag.  
17. There are 9 incarnations of Hanumanji:
1. Prasanna-Anjaneya
2. Vira-Anjaneya
3. Vimshati-bhuja-Anjaneya. He has 20 weapons in 20 hands. 
4. Pancha-mukha-Anjaneya.  He has 5 faces in this.  Four on four sides and 5th is on top - Urdhva Muka
5. Ashta-dasha-bhuja-Anjaneya. He has 18 hands in this incarnation.  
6. Suvarachalapati. Consort of Suvarchala Devi
7. Four-Shouldered Hanuman
8. Thirty two shouldered Hanuman with 32 weapons
9. Anjaneya as a monkey form who has been Sri Rama’s emissary to Sitaji.  There are stories related to each of the incarnations of Hanumanji. 
18. There are 11 Pithas(seats) of Hanumanji, like the Shakti-peethas of Devi and Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva
1. Kundina Nagara
2. Sri Bhadram
3. Kusa Tarpanam
4. Pampa Tiram
5. Candra Konam
6. Kambhojam
7. Gandhamaadanam
8. Brahmaavartapuram
9. Naimishaaranyam
10. Sundaranagaram
11. Sri Hanumatpuram

Jai Sri Ram! Jai Hanuman!

(The above legends are inspired from Parashara Samhita & Anand Ramayana)