Hanuman: The Monkey-Faced Man in Hindu Mythology

Monkeys are always doing before they think, they are single object focussed. They think they do. Same the case of Hanuman's character so the epics portrayed Hanuman as the figure of a Monkey-faced man. But in reality, it's not.

In this blog post, I will explore the origin and meaning of Hanuman's monkey face, and how it relates to his personality and actions in the Hindu epics. Hanuman is one of the most popular and revered deities in Hinduism, known for his devotion, strength, courage, wisdom and self-discipline. He is a devotee of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, and plays a crucial role in the Ramayana, where he helps Rama rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.

But why does Hanuman have a monkey face? There are different versions of this story, but one common theme is that Hanuman was born with a human face and body, but acquired a monkey face later due to some divine intervention or curse. Here are some of the possible explanations:

- Hanuman was born as a son of Vayu, the wind god, and Anjana, a nymph who was cursed to be a monkey by a sage. As a result, Hanuman inherited both human and monkey traits from his parents. He had a human face and body, but also a tail and fur. He was also called Anjaneya, meaning "son of Anjana".

- Hanuman was born as a human prince named Kesari, who was an incarnation of Shiva. He was very handsome and powerful, but also very arrogant and proud. He challenged Indra, the king of gods, to a duel and defeated him. Indra was furious and threw his thunderbolt at Kesari, hitting him on his jaw and disfiguring his face. Kesari then became known as Hanuman, meaning "prominent jaw".

- Hanuman was born as a human child named Anjeyanadri, who lived on a hill near Kishkindha, the kingdom of monkeys. He was very curious and adventurous, and one day he saw the sun shining brightly in the sky. He thought it was a ripe fruit and wanted to eat it. He jumped into the air and flew towards the sun, but Indra saw him and feared that he would swallow the sun and cause darkness in the world. He threw his thunderbolt at Anjeyanadri, hitting him on his jaw and knocking him down to earth. Anjeyanadri then became known as Hanuman, meaning "prominent jaw".

Regardless of how he got his monkey face, Hanuman did not let it affect his personality or actions. He remained loyal to Rama and his cause, and used his powers for good. He also learned humility and wisdom from his mentors and friends, such as Jambavan, the king of bears, who reminded him of his forgotten abilities when he needed them most. Hanuman's monkey face symbolizes his playful nature, his agility and speed, his intelligence and resourcefulness, and his devotion and service to Rama.

Hanuman's monkey face also shows that he is not bound by any limitations or expectations based on his appearance or origin. He transcends all barriers of caste, class, race or species. He is respected and worshipped by humans and animals alike. He is also revered by Buddhists in many Asian countries, where he is depicted differently from his Hindu counterpart. For example, in China he is known as Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), who accompanies the monk Xuanzang on his journey to India in search of Buddhist scriptures.

Hanuman's monkey face is not a flaw or a curse; it is a blessing and a mark of distinction. It represents his unique identity and role in Hindu mythology and culture. It also inspires us to look beyond appearances and stereotypes, and to appreciate the inner qualities and potential of every being.