KarmaVaani
Vaishnava tradition
हनुमानHanuman
Anjaneya · Bajrangbali · Maruti
The mighty devotee of Rama; embodiment of strength, courage, and surrender.
- Abode
- Kishkindha; wherever the Rama story is told
- Consort
- None; a lifelong brahmachari
- Vahana
- None; he flies, as the son of the wind
- Colour
- Saffron-red, covered in sindoor
- Arms
- 2
Hanuman is the vanara hero of the Ramayana, whose boundless strength is surpassed only by his devotion to Rama. He leaps across the ocean to find Sita, carries a mountain of healing herbs, and serves without thought of reward. He is revered as the perfect devotee and a protector who removes fear and adversity.
Mantra
ॐ हनुमते नमः
Om Hanumate Namaha
Salutations to Hanuman: a prayer for courage, strength and freedom from fear.
How Hanuman is shown
A mighty vanara with a monkey face, either kneeling with folded hands before Rama or flying with the Dronagiri mountain on one palm.
- Gada (mace)
- Strength placed in service of dharma.
- Mountain on his palm
- Nothing is too heavy for devotion.
- Rama and Sita in his heart
- The devotee who carries the divine within.
Stories
The leap to Lanka
Reminded of his forgotten powers by Jambavan, Hanuman grew to a great size and leapt across the ocean to Lanka. He found Sita in the Ashoka grove and gave her Rama's ring as a sign.
The healing mountain
When Lakshmana fell in battle, only the sanjivani herb could save him. Unable to tell which plant it was, Hanuman carried the whole mountain back before dawn.
