The birth of Sri Hanuman

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The birth of Sri Hanuman

by Mantra & shlokas on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at 4:43pm

It was the dasami (tenth) tithi in the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the lunar month of Vaisakha. The star of the day was Purvabhadra, with Vaidhniti yoga. It was in that afternoon, Anjana delivered Sri Hanuman, in Karkataka lagna, at a very auspicious time.

Sri Hanuman was infact an incarnation of all Gods. Accordingly he took birth at a very auspicious time. He took birth decked in silk dress, diamond earrings, a golden YAJNPAVEETHA (sacred thread), diamond studded anklets, a kaupina (loin cloth) fixed to his skin. He had a mountain like body. He had broad shoulders. He had diamond crown and matching ornaments on the shoulders. He had auspicious signs on his soles. He had a huge tail and prominent cheeks.

He appeared as if he was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, due to his luminescence.

To celebrate the birth of the divine child, the gods showered flowers. Divine drums started ringing in the Heavens. Gods and other celestial beings danced in happiness. Nature became very pleasant. There were pleasing winds. Sages who were involved in fire worship found good omens. Flowers started oozing honey and spread their aroma all round.
While the virtuous had pleasant experiences, the demons had unpleasant experiences. They encountered bad omens. Diamonds fixed on the crowns of the demons fell to ground. They experienced a great turbulence. Foetuses in the wombs of the demon women trembled.

The divine child born to the Anjana was called “Anjaneya”. As he took birth due to the kindness of VAYU, he was called Vayunandana, Pavanasuta, or Anilakumara (the son of Vayu). As he was born as an aspect of Lord Siva he was called Sankarasuta (Son of Sankara) and Parvathi nandana (Son of Parvathi).

He was also called Kesari Nandana (the son of Kesari). Since he took birth with Yajropavita (sacred thread), he was called Bala Brahmachari (the child celibate) He could verily be called with any divine name, as he is an incarnation of all that is divine.

Where did Sri Hanuman take birth?

It was at Tirumala. PURANAS and PARASARA SAMHITA support this opinion. It is stated in BRAHMANDA PURANA that since Anjana delivered a child through a great penance at the hill, the hill was blessed to be known as “Anjanadri”. Anjanadri indeed is one among the seven hills that make the Tirumala Hills.

Sri Hanuman went to Kishkinda, as per his mother’s advice, to become the minister of Sugriva. Sage Jabali performed penance at Sri Hanuman’s birthplace atop Tirumala and Sri Hanuman revealed himself at the spot. It is known as JAPALI HANUMATH KSHETRA. The spot is on the way to Akasa Ganga from Tirumala. It was in a very inhospitable state.

I (Annadanam Chidambara Sastri) made many representations to the endowments department of the government of Andhra Pradesh and the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams authorities. It is heartening to note that the sacred spot is now easy to reach and worship. It is requested that those devotees who under take Hanumad Deeksha relinquish their deeksha at the sacred birthplace of Sri Hanuman atop Tirumala Hills. It would be only a matter of time before this sacred place gets renowned as a renowned Kshetra of Sri Hanuman. All devotees who undertake a pilgrimage of Tirumala must visit the sacred birthplace of Sri Hanuman.

Puranas differ on arriving at the birthday of Sri Hanuman. They mention CHAITRA BAHULA CHATURDASI, CHAITRA SUDDHA EKADASI, VAISKHA BAHULA DASAMI or MARGASIRA BAHULA DASAMI as per different Puranas. While some say it is a Saturday, others feel that the day was either a Tuesday or a Wednesday. VAISAKHA BAHULA DASAMI is recognized as the birthday of Sri Hanuman. VAISAKHA BAHULA DASAMI occurs in May. MARGASIRA SUDDHA TRAYODASI is observed as HANUMADVRATAM. It occurs in December. Some people observe the day as the birthday of Sri Hanuman.

A hymn in RIGVEDA proclaims: ----------. It indicates that the day on which the birth of the star of a god occurs has to be reckoned as the birthday of the god. Sri Hanuman’s birth star is PURVABHADRA. But his “Adhisthana” star is Swathi. The birth of the star of Sri Hanuman occurs on VAISHAKHA BAHULA DASAMI and the day has to be observed as his birthday.
It is appropriate to celebrate Sri Hanuman’s birthday in May.

How Sri Hanuman got his Name?

It was VAISAKHA BAHULA AMAVASYA (New Moon Day). Anjaneya was five days old. The divine child was feeling hungry. He asked his mother to feed him. She replied: “I will get you some ripe fruit. You can also look for any ripe fruit and eat them”. So saying, she left. Anjaneya looked up. It was about to dawn. The rising sun appeared to be a ripe red fruit. Anjaneya felt very happy. He spontaneously sprang into skies and caught hold of the rising sun. A solar eclipse was to occur on the particular new moon day. Rahu was just than moving to capture the sun. Rahu was astonished to see the capture of the sun by some one else. He went near Anjaneya and cautioned: “you… monkey boy, why are you grabbing the Sun – contrary to nature?”

Perhaps the black colored Rahu looked like a black colored fruit to Anjaneya. He wanted to grab Rahu as well. Rahu was terrified. He swiftly moved away and went to Devendra. Rahu told Devendra: “An extra ordinary boy is about to swallow the image of the Sun contrary to the established practice of my eclipsing the Sun. Stop the danger and let the established practice take place”.

Devendra left at once on his elephant Iravata. The white elephant attracted Anjaneya. He quickly moved towards it. Indra was astonished by the strength of the extra ordinary boy who was holding the sun. He threw his weapons, the Vajrayudha at Anjaneya. Anjaneya stopped it with a hair follicle. Angered Indra set the Brahmastra at the boy.

Anjaneya pushed it aside with another hair follicle. All the gods were astonished. Brahma and other gods arrived at the scene and started to pray Anjaneya thus: “ Dear child of Anjana, one of valor, the one who took birth because of Parvathi and Parameswara, O great warrior, the one with great strength and powers, you have taken birth to benefit human beings, gods and sages. O Anjaneya, you have taken birth as the son of Vayu who provides life to the World. Since you have grabbed the Sun, all sacred activities including those prescribed by the Vedas, have come to a halt. So please leave the Sun”.

On hearing the prayer, Anjaneya released the Sun. Indra who was looking at the astonishing event was enraged as Anjaneya belittled the Vajrayudha. He wanted to have the upper hand. He noticed that Anjaneya was distracted. Using the opportunity he struck at Anjaneya’s jaw with the Vajrayudha. Anjaneya fainted and fell on the rock ground. His jaw area became blood red. Vayu saw the plight of his dear child.

Vayu was pained. His pain led to anger. He withdrew the life winds from all living beings and nature and remained motionless. With the withdrawing of the wind, all life activities of the Universe came to a halt. All the celestial beings, sages and Gods including Devendra and the trinity came to Vayu. The Gods realized that Vayu had to be pleased to save the Universe. Brahma sprinkled holy water from his kamandala on Anjaneya, to awaken the boy. Anjaneya awakened.

Brahma wanted all the Gods to bless Anjaneya and grant him boons to pacify and please Vayu deva. The gods bestowed special and unique boons to Anjaneya. Such boons were never given to any one in the past. The boons bestowed on Anjaneya included Longevity, strength, valor, health, piety, intellect, knowledge, gift of good speech, compassion, bravery, equanimity, devotion to Lord Vishnu, ability to bear any onslaught, celibacy, ability to withstand attack by any divine or demonic arms and many others. Indra asserted that Anjaneya would not be slain by the Vajrayudha. Since Anjaneya was bestowed with strong jaws, which with stood the blow of the Vajrayudha, Indra said that the boy would be known as HANUMANTHA. Thus Anjaneya came to known as HANUMANTHA.We have already noted that
Madhavacharya explained the word Hanumantha as the name of one who is “Gnani”.

Chanting the name of Hanumantha results in many a boon.