Lakshman Rao
Vāyu, holding his fainted son in his arms, his face drained of all strength, his golden ornaments scattered upon his chest, wept bitterly. With deep sorrow and reverence, he prayed to Brahma, the Creator, “O great Creator, save my son! My heart aches to see him lifeless and fallen.”
Brahma, reciting the sacred Vedic hymns, gently drew his divine essence over the boy, from head to toe. Immediately, the boy arose with renewed Vigor and bowed to all the assembled deities at Mount Meru. Vasu resumed his cosmic duties, and the universe, once more, was filled with vitality. All beings afflicted by suffering were restored to health and harmony.
Then Brahma, the embodiment of supreme qualities—Success, Energy, Wealth, Beauty, Knowledge, and Dispassion—addressed the gods. “O Mahendra, Agni, Varuṇa, Maheśvara, Kubera, you are all aware of the need to honour Vāyu. I must tell you that this boy is destined to accomplish a great task in the future, one that will maintain the balance of my creation. By bestowing divine blessings upon him, we shall greatly satisfy Vāyu, the god of life and growth.”
Indra, with an auspicious air, proclaimed, “My thunderbolt, the vajra, shall never defeat this boy. In fact, it is through my vajra that he shall earn his name, Hanumān, for it struck his jaw. From this moment, he shall be known as such, a protector of the universe.”
Lord Sūrya, the venerable illuminator, blessed the boy with a remarkable boon. “When he reaches the proper age, I shall teach him the Vedas, Śāstras, and the entirety of grammar. His words shall be unparalleled, flawless in thought, word, and deed. He will possess a portion of my brilliance, which will shine around him always.”
Yama, the Lord of Death, declared, “Even after a million years, he shall remain untouched by death. My staff of judgment shall have no effect on him, nor shall sickness or disease afflict him.”
Kubera, the god of wealth, bestowed upon him a divine ace, imbued with nature’s own power, impervious to harm. The great architect Viśvakarma declared, “No weapon forged by my hands or any crafted by gods, demons, or other forces shall harm him. This boon will prove invaluable to Hanumān.”
Finally, Brahma proclaimed, “He shall be immortal and will take my place as Chaturmukha Brahma in the coming Kalpa. O Vāyu, your son will be a terror to the wicked and a friend to the righteous, maintaining the balance of nature, my most cherished duty.” With that, the gods and sages returned to their respective realms.
Vāyu, holding his fainted son in his arms, his face drained of all strength, his golden ornaments scattered upon his chest, wept bitterly. With deep sorrow and reverence, he prayed to Brahma, the Creator, “O great Creator, save my son! My heart aches to see him lifeless and fallen.”
Brahma, reciting the sacred Vedic hymns, gently drew his divine essence over the boy, from head to toe. Immediately, the boy arose with renewed vigor and bowed to all the assembled deities at Mount Meru. Vasu resumed his cosmic duties, and the universe, once more, was filled with vitality. All beings afflicted by suffering were restored to health and harmony.
Then Brahma, the embodiment of supreme qualities—Success, Energy, Wealth, Beauty, Knowledge, and Dispassion—addressed the gods. “O Mahendra, Agni, Varuṇa, Maheśvara, Kubera, you are all aware of the need to honor Vāyu. I must tell you that this boy is destined to accomplish a great task in the future, one that will maintain the balance of my creation. By bestowing divine blessings upon him, we shall greatly satisfy Vāyu, the god of life and growth.”
Indra, with an auspicious air, proclaimed, “My thunderbolt, the vajra, shall never defeat this boy. In fact, it is through my vajra that he shall earn his name, Hanumān, for it struck his jaw. From this moment, he shall be known as such, a protector of the universe.”
Lord Sūrya, the venerable illuminator, blessed the boy with a remarkable boon. “When he reaches the proper age, I shall teach him the Vedas, Śāstras, and the entirety of grammar. His words shall be unparalleled, flawless in thought, word, and deed. He will possess a portion of my brilliance, which will shine around him always.”
Yama, the Lord of Death, declared, “Even after a million years, he shall remain untouched by death. My staff of judgment shall have no effect on him, nor shall sickness or disease afflict him.”
Kubera, the god of wealth, bestowed upon him a divine ace, imbued with nature’s own power, impervious to harm. The great architect Viśvakarma declared, “No weapon forged by my hands or any crafted by gods, demons, or other forces shall harm him. This boon will prove invaluable to Hanumān.”
Finally, Brahma proclaimed, “He shall be immortal and will take my place as Chaturmukha Brahmā in the coming Kalpa. O Vāyu, your son will be a terror to the wicked and a friend to the righteous, maintaining the balance of nature, my most cherished duty.” With that, the gods and sages returned to their respective realms.
Vāyu blessed his son with the ability to move freely, assume any form he desired, and soar across the heavens. Brahma explained to the assembled gods that Hanumān would play a crucial role in aiding Rāma, who would bring an end to the reign of Rāvaṇa. The gods, awestruck by Brahma’s cryptic prophecy, realized the profound mystery behind his words.
Vāyu then took Hanumān and returned him to his mother, Anjanā. Though naturally strong, Hanumān became mighty through the blessings he received. However, influenced by his youthful nature, he began disrupting the sages’ rituals, tearing their robes, and scattering their food and tools. Frustrated by his mischief, the sages placed a gentle curse upon him: “His strength shall remain dormant until awakened by a noble purpose.”
For years, Hanumān lived humbly among the sages, learning all he could. It was only when Jāmbavān reminded him of his strength and potential at the Southern Ocean that the curse was lifted, and Hanumān emerged as the embodiment of strength, wisdom, and devotion.
At that time, the kingdom of monkeys and wild creatures was led by King Riksha, who, upon his departure from this world, left the throne to his elder son Vāli, while Sugrīva was made prince. Though Vāli and Sugrīva were like one soul in two bodies, divine intervention would eventually turn them into rivals. During this time, Hanumān, unaware of his true might due to the lingering effects of the curse, remained neutral with Sugrīva.
Hanumān’s bravery, wisdom, and dedication were unmatched. He approached the Sun God, Sūrya, and mastered the Vedas and the seven forms of grammar, becoming an unparalleled scholar in speech and presentation. No one could match his eloquence or his ability to adapt his words to the skill of his audience. His ability to travel alongside the Sun’s rays was yet another marvel of his nature, though it lay dormant under the curse.
Rāma, understanding the reasons for Hanumān’s silence during critical moments, spoke with the sage Agastya, who explained, “Many divine beings, including Sugrīva, Nala, and other mighty forces, were created to assist you in vanquishing Rāvaṇa and restoring balance to the universe.”
Thus, after paying their respects to Rāma, the sages took their leave. Rāma invited Agastya to return for future Vedic rituals and encouraged him to visit the kingdom regularly. After bidding farewell to the sages, Rāma spoke with his guests, the Vānaras and Rākṣasas, before they too returned to their quarters.
Hanumān’s story, a tale of divine purpose, dormant strength, and eventual greatness, was now woven into the very fabric of the universe’s fate.
