Hanuman-1- How AnjanEya became Hanuman

10/21/09

Anjana Devi and Veerakesari, a monkey couple,  did penance to Lord Shiva and Parvathy to bless them with a son. Finally through Wind God or Vaayu Bhagavaan, Anjana was given a mango. She became pregnant after eating the auspicious mango given by Vaayu Bhagavaan . After a full term of pregnancy  Anjana Devi gave birth to a beautiful, energetic baby monkey. He was known as Aanjaneya or the son of Anjana.

As a baby monkey, Anjaneya was very mischievous. He could never sit in one place for more than a few minutes. He ate very well and Veerakesari was hunting for fruits and berries almost everyday to satisfy beloved Anjaneya's extraordinary hunger. One day Veerakesari had gone to collect fruits and Anjana went to the river for her early morning bath with Aanjaneya. Leaving Aanjaneya on the river bank in a safe place, Anjana went into the water.

Sun was about to rise and a beautiful red ball appeared on the eastern sky. Hanuman looked at it and thought it was some great fruit he could devour. He was hungry and with out a moment's hesitation, just jumped and progressed through the sky to get the "sun fruit". His speed was greater than the speed of his father, the Wind God. When Anjana looked to see her beloved son, she saw him progressing faster than the wind and approaching the glowing sun. Before she knew, she lost sight of him and Aanjaneya went straight to taste that beautiful fruit. Sun was disturbed to see the strong baby monkey advancing towards him and requested the help of Devendra to keep him away. 

Meanwhile Surya Bhagavaan increased his warmth ten fold and this made the baby Aanjaneya very uncomfortable. He was feeling the extreme heat and Vaayu Bhgavaan saw this and came between Aanjaneya and Surya Bhgavaan and protected his son from the heat by blowing cool air. 

 Devendra responded to the request of Surya Bhagavan and threw the Vajraayudham, the most powerful weapon, at Aanjaneya. Becasue of Anjaneya's limitless strength, Vajraayudham came and hit his chin and went back with out causing any further harm to him. But he got a cut in his chin or Hanu and it became elongated.

Devendra's vajraayudha made a permanent mark on his chin or Hanu and this gave him the name Hanuman. Also I have heard that Hanuman means one with a long jaw or chin. Anyway, both the mark and elongation was the consequence of hitting with Vajraayudha.

VaayusoonO namaamyaham