HANUMAN
By
Vikram Gupta
Hanuman: The Greatest
Devotee of Shri Ram
How Hanuman was born
 There was a very
beautiful Apsara called
Punjikasthala
 She was cursed by
Brihaspati to be born
as a monkey
 So she prayed to Lord
Shiva and got a boon
that she will get back
her form after he is
born as her son
How Hanuman was born
 Lord Vishnu decided to be
born as Ram on earth
 He wanted Lord Shiva to
come with him
 So, Lord Shiva was born as
the son of monkeys Kesari
(Brihaspati’s son) and
Anjana (Punjikasthala)
 The wind god, Pavan,
carried a drop of divine pie
from Dasarath’s palace to
Anjana and is considered
Hanuman’s Godfather
How Hanuman got his name
 One morning Hanuman
woke up hungry
 He thought the morning
sun was fruit and jumped
to get it
 Rahu told Indra to protect
his unique right to swallow
Surya
 Indra struck Hanuman with
Vajra (lightning) and broke
his Hanu (jaw)
How Hanuman got his name
 Pavan was extremely angry
 He carried Hanuman to a
cave and took all the air
from the three worlds,
suffocating all beings
 Lord Bhamha came to the
rescue. He fixed the broken
bone and named the baby
Hanuman
 He also blesses Hanuman
with immense powers and
protection from
Bramhastra
Hanuman’s education
 Hanuman wanted Surya
to be his teacher
 Surya refused saying he
is always on the move
 Hanuman grew to an
enormous size, put each
leg on two mountain
ranges and made his
request again and again
always facing the sun
 Surya was pleased and
taught him everything
How Hanuman lost his power
 Hanuman was very
naughty
 He was disturbing
all the rishis and
gurus
 Realizing who he
was, they gave him
a minor curse to
forget about his
powers until
somebody
reminded him
Meeting of Hanuman and Ram
 Ram and Lakshman were
searching for Ma Sita
 They met a group of
monkeys led by Sugreev
who were banished by
his brother Bali
 Hanuman was in
Rishyamukh Parvat with
Sugreev’s group where
Ram and Lakshman
came during their search
Search for Sita
 The monkeys searched
everywhere but could not
find her
 Finally bird Sampati told
them about Ravan abducting
her across the ocean in his
flying chariot
 None knew how to cross the
ocean
 But the wise bear Jambavan
reminded Hanuman of his
powers
Search for Sita
 Then Hanuman grew to an




immense size and jumped
across the ocean
Sursa a huge demon rose out
of the water and wanted to
swallow him
Hanuman kept growing and
so did Sursa’s mouth
Suddenly Hanuman turned
tiny, and flew in and out of
her mouth
Finally, Hanuman found land,
the island of Lanka,
Rakkhosher Desh
Messenger of Ram
 After a long search Hanuman
found Sita in a garden (Ashok
Vatika) in Lanka surrounded
by Rakkhoshi guards
 But then Hanuman chased all
the guards away and
identified himself by showing
her Ram’s ring
 Before leaving Hanuman said
he was hungry, and Sita told
him to take the fruits from
the trees
 Then Hanuman wreaked
havoc in the garden, breaking
trees
Burning of Lanka
 Ravan sent larger and larger




forces to tame “the
monkey” but they were all
badly bashed up
Ravan’s son Indrajit used
Bramhastra to tie him up
Hanuman let himself be
captured
Then Ravan ordered
Rakkhoshes to wrap
Hanuman’s tail with cloth
and set fire to it
Hanuman kept growing his
tail longer.
 Once the tail was on fire
Hanuman broke his bonds and
grew enormous
 He leaped from building to
building burning everything
Building the Bridge
 Hanuman brought back Sita’s
news and jewelry to Ram
 He and the rest of monkeys
and bears then built a bridge
across the ocean to Lanka
 Many think that the underwater structure seen from
satellite photos is that of the
bridge built by Ram and his
army
Saving Lakshman
 Indrajit (or Meghnad)
shot Lakshman
unconscious with
Shakti
 Hanuman got Lanka’s
best doctor Sushen
who said that only
Sanjeevani herb can
revive him but it has to
be brought before
dawn
Saving Lakshman
 Hanuman jumped all the way across India to
the Himalayan mountain
 On the way, he killed Kalnemi who was sent by
Ravan to kill him
 Hanuman could not recognize the herb, so
lifted the whole hill and brought it back just in
time to save Lakshman’s life
Rescuing Ram and Lakshman
 Ahiravan abducted
Ram and Lakshman
and took them to
Patalpuri
 As he was preparing to
sacrifice them,
Hanuman reached and
killed Ahiravan and
returned with Ram and
Lakshman
Hanuman: Devotee of Ram

Lord Ram said to Hanuman, ‘I am greatly indebted
to you, O mighty hero. You did marvelous,
superhuman deeds. You do not want anything in
return. … you have not asked for anything at any
time. You threw away the precious garland of pearls
given to you by Sita.

How can I repay my debt of gratitude to you? I will
always remain deeply indebted to you.

I give you the boon of everlasting life. All will honor
and worship you like myself. Your idol will be placed
at the door of my temple and you will be worshipped
and honored first. Whenever my stories are recited
or glories sung, your glory will be sung before mine.
You will be able to do anything, even that which I
will not be able to!’
Did you know?
 Hanuman is one of the seven immortals
 He can take any shape at will
 His body is strong like thunder (Vajranga or Bajrang);
No weapon can penetrate him
 Hanuman is Ram’s greatest devotee and is said
to come wherever people worship Ram
 “Sankat Mochan”: Those who worship Hanuman
are free from danger
 Much, much later, during Mahabharat, Hanuman
helped Bheem (his ‘brother’) and Arjun (by riding
on his chariot’s flag)
Hanuman Temples
New Delhi
Ayyoddha
Hempstead, NY
Trinidad
Udgir
Songs about Hanuman
 16th century poet, Tulsidas, the author of
Ram-charit-manas, wrote 40 verses on
Hanuman called Hanuman Chalisa
Quiz!
 Who was Hanuman’s mother?
 Anjana (or Punjikasthala)
 Why is Pavan considered Hanuman’s
Godfather?
 Because he brought a drop of divine pie to Anjana
 How could Punjikasthala’s curse be lifted?
 By Shiva’s Avatar being born as her son
 What made Pavan withdraw all the air from
the world?
 Because Indra struck Baby Hanuman with his
thunderbolt
Quiz!
 Who was Hanuman’s teacher and why was he
so persistent to learn from him/her?
 Surya, because he has complete knowledge.
 Where did Hanuman meet Ram?
 Rishyamukh mountains
 How did Hanuman escape Sursa?
 By making her mouth grow wider and wider by
enlarging himself and then shrinking and flying
through
 Where did Hanuman find Sita?
 In a garden in Lanka (Ashok Vatika)
Quiz!
 How did Hanuman burn Lanka?
 By jumping around with his burning tail
 What did Hanuman do to save Lakshman?
 He jumped across India and carried a mountain full
of medicinal herbs back before sunrise
 From which abductor’s grasp did Hanuman
save Ram and Lakshman?
 Ahiravan, the ruler of the underworld (Patal)
Final Question!!
 Where is this temple?
 Trinidad
Acknowledgment
 I thank Neepa Mashi for giving me the
opportunity to present the story of Hanuman
 I thank my dad without whose technical help
this presentation would not be possible
 I thank my mom for letting me use her
computer
 I thank all of you for listening to my
presentation