- Hanuman is a Hindu god and an ardent devotee of the god Rama.
- A vanara (Monkey) who participated in Rama's war against the demon king Ravana.
- He is an incarnation of the god Shiva.
- He is central character in the Hindu epic Ramayana and is also mentioned in several other texts, including Mahabharata, the various puranas and some jain texts.
- One legend is that Indra, the king of the gods, struck Hanuman's jaw during his childhood.
- The child received his name from the Sanskrit words Hanu (Jaw) and Man (Disfigured).
- Hanuman spent his childhood on an island called Hanuruha, which is the origin of his name.
- He is the son of Anjana and Kesari, and is also described as the son of the wind god Vayu.
- His mother Anjana was an Apsara and his father Kesari was the son of Brihaspati (Jupiter)
- Brahma the creator has blessed him with power to induce fear in enemies.
- Shiva the cosmic yogi has blessed him with scriptural wisdom.
- Yama the lord of death has blessed him with immortality.
- Vayu the wind god has blessed him with more speed than he himself had.
- Surya the all knowing sun god has taught him.
In Ramayana
- Hanuman brings about friendship and alliance between Rama and Sugriva
- Sugriva and his vanaras, most notably Hanuman, help Rama defeat raavana and reunite with Sita.
After the Ramayana War
- After the victory of Rama over Ravana, Hanuman went to the Himalayas.
- There he scripted a version of the Ramayana on the Himalayan mountains using his nails, recording every detail of Rama's deeds.
- Hanuman requested from Rama that he will remain on earth as long as Rama's name was venerated by people.
- Thus, he is one of the Immortals of Hinduism.
In Mahabharata
- Hanuman is considered brother of Bhima, on the basis of their having the same father, Vayu.
- Hanuman is one of the four people to have heard the Bhagwad Gita directly from Krishna
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