Hanuman is often called Bajarangbali and Pavan-suta (son of Vayu, the God of air). Hanuman was the son of Anjana. Anjana, a celestial maiden, was born as a female vanara (monkey) on the earth due to a curse. After her mother's name, Hanuman is called Anjaneya (Anjana's son).
Hanuman is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. As a child, he was very mischievous. Once, he took flight to get hold of the Sun and eat it, thinking the Sun to be a fruit. Later, he got Surya, the solar deity, as his teacher and gained knowledge with a lot of dedication. After finishing his studies, Hanuman expressed his desire to give the teacher's fee to Surya. Surya initially refused but on his pupil's insistence, asked Hanuman to help Sugriva, his spiritual son. Later, Hanuman served as a devotee of Lord Rama and helped him to rescue his wife, Sita from the clutches of Ravana, the Rakshasa king of Lanka. He also played a great role in defeating the army of Ravana.  |
