Who is Hanuman? Guide to the Hindu Monkey-God of Devotion
Hanuman is one of the most beloved deities in Hindu tradition - the monkey-god whose loyalty to Rama in the Ramayana defines what devotion is understood to be. He is immensely strong. He can grow to enormous size or shrink to fit in a keyhole. He leaped across the ocean to Lanka to find Sita. He carried an entire mountain back to save the wounded Lakshmana. He is immortal, and Hindu tradition holds that he is still alive in the world today, still serving Rama. He is worshipped by hundreds of millions of Hindus, particularly by those who see themselves as devotees, servants, or protectors. His temples are among the most popular in India, and his image is one of the most reproduced in Hindu religious art.
A note on sensitivity. Hanuman is a central deity of living Hindu religion, worshipped by hundreds of millions of people. This guide describes him respectfully as he appears in Hindu tradition and does not offer specific mantras or ritual practices that belong to initiated worship.
Key Takeaways
- Hanuman is a Hindu deity in the form of a vanara (a monkey or ape-being), central to the Ramayana and one of the most beloved figures in Hindu tradition.
- His name is a Sanskrit compound whose exact etymology is debated; one common interpretation is “one whose jaw was broken,” referring to a story of his childhood.
- He is the son of Anjana (a vanara woman, sometimes described as a former celestial being) and the wind-god Vayu; in some traditions he is also considered a partial incarnation of Shiva.
- His central role is as the loyal servant and devotee of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, whom he served throughout the Ramayana.
- He is one of the seven Chiranjivi - the seven immortals of Hindu tradition - and is believed to still be alive in the world today, present wherever Rama’s stories are told.
- His most famous single feat is leaping across the ocean to Lanka to find the abducted Sita and reassure her of Rama’s coming rescue.
- His worship is enormously popular in India, particularly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and his image and the Hanuman Chalisa (a hymn of forty verses) are among the most widely recited Hindu devotional texts.
Who is Hanuman?
Hanuman is a deity of the Hindu tradition in the form of a vanara (monkey or ape-being). He is one of the central figures of the Ramayana, the great Sanskrit epic of Rama’s life, and is worshipped by hundreds of millions of Hindus.
Definition - Hanuman
A Hindu deity in the form of a vanara (monkey or ape-being), central to the Ramayana as the loyal servant of Rama. Hanuman is the son of Anjana and the wind-god Vayu, and in some traditions a partial incarnation of Shiva. He is one of the seven immortals of Hindu tradition. His worship is enormously popular, particularly on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
His name is a Sanskrit compound of hanu (“jaw”) and a term meaning “one with prominent” or “one who has [a specific quality of].” The traditional etymology - “one whose jaw was broken” - refers to a childhood story in which Indra, the king of the gods, struck the infant Hanuman with a thunderbolt when Hanuman tried to eat the sun. His father Vayu (the wind) protested the injury by withdrawing all air from the world until the gods relented and granted Hanuman various boons of immortality and power.
He is worshipped in Vaishnava tradition primarily as the loyal devotee and servant of Rama, and in Shaivite tradition as a partial incarnation of Shiva. Both traditions coexist. He is honoured across all major branches of Hinduism.
The birth of Hanuman
Hanuman was born to Anjana, a vanara woman (in some traditions, a former celestial being cursed to be born as a vanara), and the wind-god Vayu. Anjana had been performing austerities to obtain a son. The wind-god carried a piece of sacred food (payasam) that had been given to the queens of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya (this same food was what produced Rama and his brothers). The wind dropped the food into Anjana’s hands. She ate it and conceived. Hanuman was born.
As an infant, Hanuman saw the sun rising and, thinking it was a ripe fruit, leaped up to eat it. Indra, king of the gods, struck him down with a thunderbolt. Hanuman’s jaw was broken. Vayu, in outrage, withdrew all air from the world - suffocating gods and mortals alike. To appease Vayu, the gods granted Hanuman a series of boons: immortality, extraordinary strength, the power to grow or shrink to any size, and various other capacities. But they also placed on him a specific limitation: he would not remember his own powers until reminded of them. This detail becomes crucial later in the Ramayana. Read the birth of Lord Shiva as Hanuman.
Hanuman in the Ramayana
Hanuman’s central role in Hindu tradition is his service to Rama in the Ramayana.
He met Rama when Rama and his brother Lakshmana were wandering the forest in search of Sita, whom the demon king Ravana had abducted. Hanuman, then serving as minister to the vanara king Sugreeva, was sent to test whether Rama was a threat. On meeting Rama, he was overcome with devotion. From that moment he served Rama absolutely. Read Rama’s meeting with Sugreeva.
His most famous single feat is his leap across the ocean to Lanka. Rama needed to find Sita, imprisoned by Ravana on the island of Lanka. The vanara army gathered at the southern tip of India, but the ocean was too wide to cross by ordinary means. Hanuman, reminded of his powers by the wise Jambavan, grew to enormous size and leaped across the ocean in a single bound. In Lanka, he searched the palace, found Sita in the garden where she was being held, gave her Rama’s ring as a token, and reassured her that Rama would come. On his way back, he was captured, his tail was set on fire, and he used the fire to burn much of Lanka before returning to Rama with news of Sita’s location. Read Hanuman reaches Lanka, Hanuman and the Surasa test, and Hanuman s encounter with Surasa.
In the great battle at Lanka that followed, Hanuman was one of Rama’s most important warriors. When Lakshmana was mortally wounded by Ravana’s son Indrajit, the only cure was a specific medicinal herb from a mountain in the Himalayas. Hanuman flew north, and unable to identify the specific herb, simply lifted the entire mountain and carried it back on his palm. Lakshmana was saved. Read Hanuman brings the Sanjeevani herb, Hanuman and the demon Kalanemi, Hanuman and the mayavi demon, and Hanuman s journey to Patala Loka.
After the war, when Rama returned to Ayodhya and was crowned king, Hanuman remained his most devoted servant. When Rama offered him any gift he desired, Hanuman asked only to remain in the world as long as Rama’s story is told. Rama granted this. Hanuman is therefore one of the seven Chiranjivi - the seven immortals of Hindu tradition - and is believed by many Hindus to be still alive in the world today, present wherever the Ramayana is recited or Rama’s name is honoured. Read Hanuman in the court of Rama and Hanuman during and after Rama Rajya.
Hanuman’s worship
Hanuman is worshipped enormously across contemporary Hinduism. His temples are among the most numerous in India. Devotees visit them on Tuesdays and Saturdays (the days especially associated with him) to offer prayers, garlands of red flowers (marigolds especially), and sindoor (red powder) applied to his images.
The most widely recited devotional text dedicated to him is the Hanuman Chalisa (“Forty Verses to Hanuman”), composed by the sixteenth-century poet-saint Tulsidas in the Awadhi language. The Chalisa is recited by millions of Hindus daily, particularly on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It is one of the most-recited devotional texts in the Hindu world.
Hanuman is invoked especially for protection, strength in adversity, courage in difficulty, and success in undertakings. Many Hindu wrestlers, athletes, and bodybuilders consider him their patron deity - one reason his image is prominent in gyms and training centres across India.
Hanuman compared to other faithful companion figures
Hanuman occupies a distinctive place in world religion.
| Tradition | Figure | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu | Hanuman | Loyal servant of Rama | Immortal; worshipped as god |
| Chinese | Sun Wukong | Monkey King | Companion of Xuanzang; achieves buddhahood |
| Norse | Vidar | Silent avenger of Odin | Survives Ragnarok |
| Greek | Patroclus | Companion of Achilles | Dies in his place |
| Anglo-Saxon | Wiglaf | Companion of Beowulf | Only warrior to remain loyal |
The parallel with Sun Wukong is close and has been noted for centuries - both are monkey figures with extraordinary powers who serve as companions to a human/semi-divine figure on a great quest. Some scholars have proposed that the Chinese Sun Wukong may have been partially inspired by Hanuman, whose stories reached China through Buddhist travellers. Others treat the parallel as a case of convergent development.
Read the stories
Hanuman appears throughout the Indian tradition. Some entry points:
- Hanuman Reaches Lanka
- Hanuman Brings the Sanjeevani Herb
- The Birth of Lord Shiva as Hanuman
- Hanuman and the Surasa Test
- Hanuman’s Journey to Patala Loka
- Hanuman in the Court of Rama
- Hanuman During and After Rama Rajya
Hanuman is what Hindu tradition kept as its representation of devotion at its purest. He is extraordinarily powerful, but every use of his power is in service of Rama. He is immortal, but he asked for immortality only so he could continue to serve. His worship is one of the most widespread in Hinduism today, and his figure is a reminder to millions of devotees that greatness can be measured by whom one serves rather than by what one accomplishes for oneself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hanuman?
Hanuman is a Hindu deity in the form of a vanara (monkey or ape-being), central to the Ramayana as the loyal servant and devotee of Rama. He is the son of Anjana and the wind-god Vayu. He is one of the seven Chiranjivi (immortals) of Hindu tradition and is worshipped by hundreds of millions of Hindus today, particularly for strength, courage, and protection.
What does Hanuman’s name mean?
The Sanskrit name is a compound of hanu (“jaw”) and a term meaning “one having.” The traditional etymology - “one whose jaw was broken” - refers to a childhood story in which Indra, king of the gods, struck the infant Hanuman with a thunderbolt when Hanuman tried to eat the sun, injuring his jaw.
What is the Hanuman Chalisa?
The Hanuman Chalisa (“Forty Verses to Hanuman”) is a devotional hymn composed by the sixteenth-century poet-saint Tulsidas in the Awadhi language. It consists of forty verses (plus two introductory couplets) in praise of Hanuman. It is one of the most widely recited devotional texts in the Hindu world - millions of Hindus recite it daily, particularly on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Is Hanuman still alive?
In Hindu tradition, yes. Hanuman is one of the seven Chiranjivi - the seven immortals of Hindu tradition. When Rama offered him any gift he desired after the war in Lanka, Hanuman asked only to remain in the world as long as Rama’s story is told. Rama granted this. Many Hindus believe Hanuman is still alive today, present wherever the Ramayana is recited or Rama’s name is honoured.
What is Hanuman’s most famous feat?
His leap across the ocean to Lanka. Rama needed to find Sita, imprisoned by Ravana on the island of Lanka. The vanara army gathered at the southern tip of India, but the ocean was too wide to cross. Hanuman - reminded of his powers by the wise Jambavan - grew to enormous size and leaped across the ocean in a single bound. In Lanka he found Sita, reassured her, and returned with news of her location. This feat is celebrated in innumerable retellings and religious art.
When is Hanuman worshipped?
Especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days particularly associated with him in Hindu tradition. Devotees visit his temples on these days to offer prayers, red flower garlands (especially marigolds), and sindoor (red powder). His birthday, Hanuman Jayanti, is celebrated annually and falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Chaitra (usually in March or April, though the date is calculated differently in different regional traditions). Hanuman is invoked particularly for protection, strength, and success in undertakings.