Lord Hanuman
हनुमान — The Mighty Devotee, Son of Vayu
Iconography & Symbolism
Monkey-faced with a strong muscular body. Red/orange colored (sindoor). Carrying a gada (mace). Tail sometimes shown burning (Lanka episode). Often depicted opening his chest to reveal Rama and Sita in his heart. Flying while carrying the Sanjeevani mountain.
Story & Mythology
As a child, Hanuman mistook the sun for a fruit and flew towards it. Indra struck him with his vajra (thunderbolt), disfiguring his jaw (hanu — hence Hanuman). The gods then blessed him with numerous powers. In the Ramayana, Hanuman leapt across the ocean to Lanka, found Sita, burned Lanka with his tail, and later flew to the Himalayas to bring the Sanjeevani herb to revive Lakshmana. When Rama asked what he could give Hanuman, Hanuman said: only to serve you forever. Rama embraced him and granted him immortality.
Sacred Mantras
Major Temples
- 🛕Hanuman Garhi, Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh)
- 🛕Sankat Mochan Temple, Varanasi
- 🛕Jakhu Temple, Shimla (tallest Hanuman statue)
- 🛕Hanuman Dhara, Chitrakoot
- 🛕Mehandipur Balaji (Rajasthan)