Hanuman

Hanuman (Sanskrit: m, हनुमान्, Hanuman or Hanumat "the one with the jawbone .") Is a Hindu divine figure, which manifests itself as a monkey and enjoys great popularity in Hinduism. He is the son of Anjana Apsara and Vayu the Wind God Pavana or other myth has it that the son of Shiva. He is the Indian monkey god, god of learning and patron deity of the villages.

Siddhis and representations

Hanuman is often associated with various siddhi ( magical powers or abilities ) in conjunction. Hanuman is swift as the wind, has the power to uproot mountains and clouds, is large as the mountains, has a voice like thunder and can fly. If he flies through the air, it roars it. He has the Siddhi to downsize its shape at will, to increase or change. Many myths deal with his pranks, he is said to have played in his youth, and his enormous power, he is often unaware properly. Basically, he is a deeply good-natured, if somewhat careless and clumsy God. The Rishis ( sages ) in the forest, according to other versions of the god Indra, had him about his awesome power and responsibility to properly deal with her, teach. The in India, especially in the Himalayas, living Hanuman langurs are named after him and because of him revered as sacred. They are regarded as its incarnations, so enjoy absolute fools freedom in India and are often fed by temple visitors.

Hanuman representations are different. The most popular shows him with a head, two arms and a long tail. Normally he has a monkey face and a muscular, big human body. But also in various other forms, he is known approximately with ten arms and five heads, to which the bird Garuda heard a boar, a horse and a lion which avatars of Vishnu incarnate. It is of yellow body color, has a red face and wears often a mace as a weapon in his right hand and a mountain herbs. Are widespread representations on which Hanuman in his open heart bears an image of Rama and Sita.

Hanuman in the Ramayana

Hanuman worship is closely associated with the worship of Rama and Ramayana, the epic of the history of this important god, it plays a central role. He is the general of an army of his king Sugriva monkeys. As the embodiment of devotional servant, boundless loyalty and superhuman strength, he always comes back on as a helper and savior of his Lord and his family. The demon Ravana was Sita, wife of Rama, was abducted to Lanka, Rama and she could only free with the help of Hanuman and his army. Hanuman is the first to find Sita's whereabouts. Here, Hanuman jumping with a kit to Lanka to rescue Sita. This refuses, however, in spite of a ring as a distinctive mark, the Rama gave him to go with him, since they remain true to Rama and his honor not want to jeopardize. Hanuman Rama proposes, therefore, to build a bridge of stones over which the monkeys can come across. Move Hanuman is attacked by a demon living in the water that swallowed his shadow, so that Hanuman endlessly enlarged and forces them to him spit again. In the struggle against the demon army of Ravana, Hanuman is lit the tail. But God continues to fight anyway and continues with his tail lashing the city of Lanka on fire. The fire god Agni later healed his wounds. He flew to the Himalayas and tore a mountain with medicinal herbs to patch up lying on the battlefield wounded. As thanks for Hanuman support and faithful services Rama Hanuman gives later immortality. When Sugriva breaking up with his monkey, Hanuman decides to stay forever in Rama. He punishes those who insult or dishonor Rama. According to the Ramayana, no one can surpass Hanuman strength, gentleness and wisdom. He embodies the ideal type of the servant and stands for loyalty, devotion and obedience to the Lord. He is the faithful friend and admirer of Rama.

In each of Rama is also a statue of Hanuman. His most important holiday is Hanuman Jayanti, which is considered his birthday and is celebrated according to the Hindu lunar calendar in March / April. Many believers visit a temple and spread his portrait with red powder color, sindoor, and decorate it with flowers. They sing the popular hymn Hanuman Chalisa and reads the audience stories from the Ramayana before.

In the 7th book of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, the seer told ( Rishi ) Agastya who has returned from Lanka Rama from childhood Hanuman and how it got its name: Einstein jumped the hungry little Hanuman in the absence of his mother Anjana to the sun up, because he for a large fruit held. At the same time, however, came Rahu, the mythical demon of eclipse, to devour the sun, whereupon Indra intervened on his riding elephants Airavata. Hanuman was now holding the elephant for a fruit and ran up to it. Then Indra threw his thunderbolt ( vajra ) for him and the little boy fell. He broke his jaw on a mountain or cheekbones (Sanskrit ' hanu ', hence his name ). Vayu, the wind god and father of Hanuman brought the lifeless body of the monkey child to Indra who revived him. The gods gave him the gifts such as invulnerability and everlasting health, and Brahma prophesied the end of the demon Ravana using Hanuman on the side of Rama.

The various versions of the Ramayana and several Puranas tell different versions of this story.