Hanumanji is known by many names as Anjaneya, Anjali
Putra, Bajarangabali, Hanuman, Mahaveer, Maruti, Pavanputra etc.
Hanuman, the monkey god, is the son of Vayu or Marut, the wind god.
Hanuman's mother is Anjana. Hanuman is fast, the most agile and
oriented god. Hanuman was the chief of the armies of Sri Ramachandra
and took a prominent part in the war against Ravana, the king of
Lanka, in the Indian epic poem Ramayana. Hanuman helped restore Sri
Sitadevi back to Sri Rama.
Hanuman,
worshipped for his strength, valor, agility, is a man of great
teaming. He is considered to be an avatar (incarnation) of Lord
Shiva. Hanuman, a great devotee of Sri Rama, is the symbol of
devotion and dedication. Hanuman carried Sri Rama and Lakshmana on
his shoulder when they were in search of Sugreeva, the king of
Vanarav in Kishkindha and helped them to find Sita. Prior to the war
between Sri Rama and Ravana, Anjaneya visited Lanka, met Ravana,
created havoc and burnt down the city of Lanka (Lanka Dahan). During
the war, when Lakshmana was injured seriously, Sushena, the
surgeon/physician of the monkey army, despatched Maruti to bring
herbal medicine, Jadi Buti, from the far-off Sanjeevini mountain in
the Himalayas, before sunrise. Flying over the Himalayas and unable
to identify the particular herb fast, Hanuman uprooted and carried
the entire Sanjivini mountain in time to save the life of Lakshmana.
Hanuman was blessed by Sri Rama with immortality (chiranjeevi).
Hanuman
was a bachelor and is worshipped in all the temples of India. Every
temple of Sri Rama contains an icon of Hanuman. Worship of Sri Rama
is complete only with the worship of Hanuman. Sant Tutsidas composed
the 40 stanzas of Hanuman Chalisa in praise of Hanuman. Hanuman
Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman. One cannot
understand Hindu Dharma unless one knows
Hanuman.