Hanuman

Suiting an inspirational figure from one of the two great Hindu Epic Scripture (Ramayana and Mahabharata), let poetic flow share spiritual and religious gratitude.

"To Rise Up and Shine"

Great Hanuman,

let us fly with you through trees of life

afixxed in visions where we transcend the self,

yes, teaching us about complete devotion,

sometimes heroic in lifelong service to God

as you even leapt through the air

striving to grab hold of the very Sun,

yet more than just for fun

comes a willingness to always share,

send shiny light rays to all who care.

So let us rise up with you Hanuman

to lead, guide and even pave our ways;

help us emulate each supreme trait  

connecting loyalties from humanity, to God,

strengthened to overcome evil and its fright

taught to stand up for truth and what’s right.

Hanuman, with his monkey face and long tail is a very popular figure in Hinduism. Hanuman primary stems the Ramayana Epic, one of the two great Hindu Purana Scripture. [Purana means “ancient,” and forms a class of Sanskrit scripture that surround mythological-like accounts from the ancient days.]

Before discussing the actions of Hanuman from the Ramayana, we need to highlight how Hindus serve God, especially God in the form of Vishnu. Hindus who worship God, represented as Vishnu, will often worship an incarnation of God like Rama or Krishna. [Read more on Vishnu.] Hanuman stems from a Ramayana Purana Scripture, said to happen in ancient times, along with Mahabharata Purana with Lord Krishna. [Krishna is said to be the next incarnation of God following Lord Rama. Some Hindus belief he was the last incarnation of God until the Christ-like Kalki reigns on Earth.]

[Note: even though we could find many symbolic parallels between Christianity and Hindus, these cultures develop in distinct ways. Christianity uses Bible Scriptures which write about precise years, each generations traced from God’s Creation of Adam and Eve. Similar to the Bible being the word of God, the Veda and Hindu Scripture are claimed to be Eternal words of God. Although the Purana seems more magical, like in Greek Mythology, we could symbolically compare the Bible pre-Noah, pre floods days to these Hindu Vishnu Incarnations of God. In those pre-flood days, or Plato Atlantis days, the Bible states many who lived about 1000 years.]

Based on holy Hindu Scripture, Hanuman represents one who completely serves and assists God. God being represented in the form of Lord Rama and Sita. While Rama is away with his brother, the Demon King Ravana imprisons Sita. In order to save Sita, Lord Rama requests help from Hanuman, the Monkey King. Hanuman becomes the Messenger who leaps across the intervening ocean to find Sita. [Yes Hanuman also represents God’s Messenger.] Hanuman gives Sita a ring from Lord Rama, and is then captured. When brought to the throne of the evil Ravana, Hanuman rises above the throne on the coils of his tail. Ravana rises higher upon his throne, yet always remains below the heights of Hanuman. To punish Hanuman, Ravana wraps Hanuman’s tail in an oil-soaked cloth and sets it on fire. Unharmed, Hanuman rushes through Ravana’s domain, burning down the buildings and crops. During the great war between the forces of good and evil, Rama’s brother Laksmana is mortally wounded. To serve, Hanuman travels to and uproots Mount Kailash, moving this Sacred Mountain to the battlefield so that its healing herbs can save the life of Laksmana. After conquering the evil Ravana, the Lord Rama rewards Hanuman’s devotion, with a long life, filled with eternal youth.

We will update this page with more links and Hanuman pictures. Please feel free to share your comments, personal stories about your Hanuman and or your Bhaki devotion related to Hanuman.