14 Interesting Unknown Facts about Lord Hanumanji

Lord Hanuman is a highly respected god in Hinduism for his bravery and strength. His epic stories are well-recorded in the Ramayana where he held a key position. Bajrangbali is a playful child and devoted follower of Shree Ram and was blessed by many Gods giving him exceptional abilities.

Our knowledge of Hanuman mostly comes from tales of the Ramayana and TV shows, but there are also mentions of his holy nature in other texts like Puranas, Jain and the Mahabharata.

Here are some lesser-known facts about the life of Lord Hanuman.

1. Hanuman, the Divine Son of Lord Shiva

Pawanputra Hanuman, the incarnation of Lord Shiva, has different versions of the story with various dialogues. His birth was brought about by a curse on a celestial being (Apsara), a boon from Lord Shiva, and the assistance of the God of wind, Vayu.

Hanuman is the son of Kesari and Anjana and is also called Pawanputra (Son of Wind). While Vayu fulfilled the deed, the natural course of events ordained Shiva to be a loyal companion to Rama during his reign. This led to the birth of Hanuman.

Hanuman incarnation of Lord Shiva
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2. The Origin of Hanuman’s Name

The name “Hanuman” wasn’t his first name. It came from an injury to his jaw after Indra hit him with a thunderbolt. When he was a child, Maruti (another name for Hanuman) thought the sun was a ripe fruit because he was hungry, and he tried to reach it with all his might.

This made Indra angry, who then hit the child with a lightning bolt. This left him with a hurt cheek and jaw.

The word “Hanuman” comes from the Sanskrit word “Hanumat.” This is a mix of “Hanu” or “Hanoo,” which means jaw, and the ending “Mat.” So, Hanuman means someone with a big or misshapen jaw.

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3. Lord Hanuman’s Five Brothers

The Brahmanda Purana, in verses 223–227, says that Anjana and Kesari had five sons in total. Hanuman was the oldest of them all. The names of Lord Hanuman’s brothers, in the order they were born, are Matiman, Srutiman, Ketuman, and Drtiman.

In the time of the Mahabharata, people also called Bhima, the son of Pandu and Kunti, a brother of Lord Hanuman.

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4. The Significance of Red/Orange in Lord Hanuman’s Idol

Once, Lord Hanuman observed Sita applying vermilion on her forehead and inquired about the reason behind this daily ritual. Sita explained that Sindoor (vermilion) symbolizes Shree Ram’s long life and her deep love and respect for her husband.

Inspired by his devotion to Shree Ram, Lord Hanuman covered his entire body with Sindoor. Impressed by this act, Lord Rama granted a boon that those who worship Hanuman with Sindoor in the future would find their difficulties vanished. This is why temples Lord Hanuman’s idol is in the color of vermilion.

why sindoor applied on lord hanuman
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5. Makardhwaja

Despite being known for his vow of celibacy, Lord Hanuman had a son named Makardhwaja. The story tells us that after setting Lanka on fire with his tail, Hanuman cooled it off in the sea. A fish happened to swallow some sweat from his body, which resulted in the birth of Makardhwaja.

Lord Hanuman son Makardhwaja
Makardhwaja Temple at Odadar village near Porbandar, Gujarat. wikipedia

6. Lord Hanuman’s Role in the Kurukshetra War

During the Kurukshetra war, Lord Hanuman silently played a part by featuring on Arjuna’s chariot flag as a mark of reverence to Lord Krishna, an incarnation of God Vishnu.

This presence bestowed protection upon the chariot and its occupants. After the victorious battle, when Hanuman resumed his original form, the now empty chariot turned to ashes.

lord hanuman on arjuna's chariot
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7. Lord Hanuman Personally Listened to the Teachings of Bhagavad Gita

Being present atop Arjuna’s chariot in the form of the flag, Lord Hanuman is believed to be one of the four individuals who directly heard the teachings of Bhagavad Gita from Lord Krishna. The other three were Arjuna, Sanjaya, and Barbarik.

Sanjay to dhritarashtra Mahabharat
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8. Lord Hanuman’s Manuscript of Ramayana

People believe that Lord Hanuman wrote his own version of the Ramayana on the walls of his cave. His version was reportedly more splendid and grand than Valmiki’s.

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But, Lord Hanuman wrote it just to remember the events and honor his dear Shree Ram. So, he chose to discard his version to uphold Valmiki’s poetic telling of the Ramayana.

9. Panchamukhi Hanuman

It is said that Lord Hanuman assumed the form of Panchamukhi (The Five-Headed) to defeat the demon king of Patala (netherworld) who had abducted Rama and Lakshmana.

During the mission to rescue them, Hanuman discovered that to defeat Ahiravana, one must extinguish five candles, where the demon king’s soul resides, simultaneously. Therefore, Lord Hanuman transformed into Five heads:

  • In the center was Hanuman.
  • In the south, Narasimha, a lion’s visage.
  • In the west, Ahiravana, an eagle’s head (Garuda).
  • In the north, Varaha, the head of a boar.
  • Facing the sky, Hayagriva, the head of a horse.
Panchamukhi Hanuman
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10. Lord Hanuman’s 108 names in Sanskrit

The Ashtottara Shatanamavali of Lord Hanuman consists of 108 names in Sanskrit, such as Anjaneya, Hanumanta, Mahavira, and so on.

11. Lord Hanuman’s Immortality

Hindu scriptures mention eight Chiranjivis, or immortal beings, and Lord Hanuman is one of them. It’s said that he will roam the earth, reciting Shree Ram’s name and tales until the end of Kaliyuga.

Famous religious reformers like Madhvacharya (13th century CE), Tulsidas (16th century), Samarth Ramdas (17th century), Raghavendra Swami (17th century), and Swami Ramdas (20th century) have reportedly seen Lord Hanuman during their lives.

The Immortals- Lord Hanuman
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12. Lord Hanuman as a protector

Lord Hanuman was blessed by Goddess Kali to serve as her dwara-paal or gatekeeper, ensuring protection. Lord Shani granted him a boon that those who worship Lord Hanuman would find an end to their troubles.

13. Lord Hanuman, the scholar

Lord Hanuman, famous for his might, was also a scholar. He studied under Lord Surya, the Sun God, and knew Hindu scriptures like the Vedas and Tantra inside out. People who practice Tantra believe that Hanuman was a master in this area, having control over eight mystical powers:

  • Anima: The ability to shrink in size.
  • Mahima: The power to grow larger.
  • Laghima: The skill to become as light as a feather.
  • Garima: The capacity to become heavy.
  • Prapti: The gift of being able to travel anywhere and get anything.
  • Parakamya: Control over one’s willpower.
  • Vastiva: Dominance over all beings.
  • Isitva: Divine power, which allows for the creation and destruction of things.

14. The Surya Namaskara was devised by Hanuman

In addition to his strength, Lord Hanuman is also called a yogi. He is recognized as the creator of Surya Namaskara (sun salutation), a practice developed to greet his teacher Surya Devta. Lord Hanuman is also recognized as the first teacher of Pranayama to mankind.

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