Hanuman Hanuman by Sumanta Sanyal Hanuman, together with Ganesha and Garuda , is one of the three major Hindu deities with animalistic physical features. He is loved all over India as the monkey-god who so faithfully served Rama , Vishnu 's seventh avatar (incarnation), in his war against Ravana , the demon king. Hanuman is a major deity in North India where he is regarded as a propitiator against all evil. Temples to him have been erected all over that part of the country each small villages and towns having their own "Hanuman" shrine to keep the populace within the ambit of his able and benign prowess. Myth has it that Hanuman was one of the many creatures the gods created to assist Vishnu in his incarnation as Rama. The monkey god is the son of Vayu , the wind god, and Anjana, an apsara who was turned into a monkey by a curse. Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya, a kingdom in the north of India at that time, did not have a son and was advised by the holy men to perform a ceremony with which he would ask the gods to favor him with one.

He did so, with great pomp and piety, and was bequeathed with a cake of divine origin that he was instructed to share among his three queens. He did so but his second queen, Kaikeyi, was allotted her share last and took affront at this late treatment. She threw the cake away and a crow flew away with. Kaikeya repented and later became the mother of Bharata, the second of the four sons which Dasaratha was blessed with as a result of the ceremony. His first son Rama, born of his first wife Kaushalla, is the seventh incarnation of Vishnu and the epic battle he conducted to rid the universe of Ravana, the tyrannous demon king of Lanka, is well-depicted in the Indian epic Ramayana. Dasaratha's youngest wife Sumitra, bore him the twins Lakshman and Satrughna. They were the youngest and Lakshman was inseparable from Rama, his eldest brother, and his devotion to his eldest brother throughout their strife against the demon-king is still considered as symbol of fraternal devotion in India.

Going back to the birth of Hanuman, it is found that the crow who stole the cake after Kaikeyi threw it away flew with it into the forest. There it came upon Anjana, in her cursed monkey form, performing worship. Vayu, the wind god, was also fortuitously there at that moment and, seeing the crow flying past with the piece of cake in its beak, he blew hard and a strong wind immediately swept the piece of cake out of the crow's beak and into Anjana's hands. Vayu went away but was immediately replaced by Shiva, who instructed Anjana to eat the cake. She did so and conceived Hanuman, who is thus considered to be the son of Vayu. From when he was born Hanuman proved to be such a voracious eater that is mother was beyond herself feeding him. He even attempted to eat the sun, an attempt foiled by Indra , the king of the gods, who threw his thunderbolt at the tremendous baby to discourage him from devouring the only source of light to the earth.

This created a slight commotion in the heavens with Vayu coming to the rescue of his son but the gods intervened and persuaded Indra to apologize to Vayu. Peace returned and the gormandizing baby was returned to the safe folds of his mother while Surya , the sun god, was spared a horrible fate. Nevertheless, there was always enough foodstuff for Hanuman and he grew up to become a warrior of immense strength and agility. He could move, both run and fly, at the speed of the wind, an attribute bequeathed by his father. He could also change his size at will � he could become so tiny that he could get into any room through the keyhole and he could expand into such an enormous figure that he could carry a whole mountain on his back. These abilities stood in good stead in the war he assisted Rama in against Ravana. Ravana, the evil demon king of Lanka, was such a terrible despot that people, gods and all other creatures of the three Hindu realms prayed to the gods to save them from him. After Rama grew to marriageable age he became betrothed to Sita , daughter of king Janak.

Subsequently, Ravana, being the despot he was, was presented with a chance to get to Sita alone while her husband Rama was away on a hunt and he forced her to leave her husband's hut in the forest and go with him to his kingdom across the sea. When Rama came back from his hunt he was overcome with grief and immediately set out after the demon king. Ravana was a devout worshiper of Shiva and that benevolent god had bequeathed him with immortality and such strength that none could defeat him in battle. Rama circumvented this by invoking Durgha , Shiva's powerful consort, at a time of the year she was not usually worshiped. She blessed him with such extra strength that he was finally able to defeat Ravana and cut off that demon king's ten heads one by one. Hanuman played a pivotal role in the battle against Ravana, which Rama fought with the assistance of his ever-faithful brother, Hanuman and an army of monkeys, bears and other creatures affiliated to him.

When none could dare cross the sea to Lanka and get news of Sita who was imprisoned there in the palace of Ravana, Hanuman changed size to such a huge creature that he flew across from the Indian mainland across the strait of water separating it from the island of Lanka. There he again assumed his normal size and stole into the gardens of the palace. Finding that Sita was imprisoned in a room he again changed size, assuming the stature of a fly this time, and entered the room through the keyhole. Though Sita was inconsolable and beside herself with grief at the misfortune that had befallen her he somehow managed to reassure her that her lord would soon attack Ravana's army of demons, defeat them and come across to Lanka to rescue her from a fate worse than death. While stealing out of the palace grounds on his way back to the mainland and to Rama Hanuman was spotted by some palace attendants. Ravana's demon warriors chased after the monkey god and captured him. Ravana, with his evil turn of mind, decided to have some fun with the peculiar god with his red monkey face, golden body and long curling tail. Ravana told his attendants to tie the god up and set fire to his tail.

So, while the entire set of demon spectators looked on in anticipation of Hanuman's imminent live immolation the attendants quickly set out to do what their king had ordered them to. Hanuman, sensing his tail on fire and desperate to go back to his lord with news of Sita, decided not to waste any more time in futile efforts and changed size again. He quickly started expanding to his huge form. His expanding body tore the ropes that bound him apart and he was soon free but he kept expanding and even the demon army around their king began to feel alarmed at the monkey god's enormous proportions. Their foreboding of ill proved correct for the by then gigantic monkey god began laying about him with his enormous hands and legs and demons started spewing around like matchsticks. The god's tail was still on fire and when he swished it this way and that the fire spread onto the city and soon Ravana's beloved Lankapuri (puri: city in Indian languages) was aflame. In the commotion that ensued Hanuman was able to escape, albeit with a burnt tail and mouth.

That is why it is to this day that the monkey god's images in his temples all over India depict him with a blackened face and a blackened tip of his tail. Hanuman returned to the mainland with news of Sita and subsequently was hugely successful in helping Rama defeat Ravana and get back his faithful wife. The monkey god also helped Rama get back his rightful heritage. He helped reinstate Rama to the throne of Ayodhya. Dasaratha was dead and Rama ruled now in his place, just and caring of his subjects. Hanuman remained with Rama to the last, serving intelligently and strongly, with love and devotion. Rama relinquished his mortal self and left for the heavens to return to his divine self as Vishnu. The monkey god continues to roam the three realms, having being granted immortality, ready always to bless those who propitiate him in hope of succor from the evils of the world. Article details: Lord Hanuman, the Hindu Monkey God Vedic Astrology Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Lord Rama in his expedition against evil forces, is one of the most popular idols in the Hindu pantheon.

Believed to be an avatar of Lord Shiva , Hanuman is worshiped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance and devotion. Hanuman's tale in the epic Ramayana - where he is assigned the responsibility to locate Rama's wife Sita abducted by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka — is known for its astounding ability to inspire and equip a reader with all the ingredients needed to face ordeals and conquer obstructions in the way of the world. The Necessity of a Simian Symbol Hindus believe in ten avatars of Lord Vishnu among a multitude of gods and goddesses . One of Vishnu's avatars is Rama, who was created to destroy Ravana, the evil ruler of Lanka. In order to aid Rama, Lord Brahma commanded some gods and goddesses to take the avatar of 'Vanaras' or monkeys. Indra, the god of war and weather, was reincarnated as Bali; Surya, the sun god as Sugriva; Vrihaspati, the preceptor of the gods, as Tara, and Pavana, the god of wind, was reborn as Hanuman, the wisest, swiftest and strongest of all apes.

Sing & Listen to the Hanuman Hymn or Aarti The Birth of Hanuman The story of the birth of Hanuman goes thus: Vrihaspati had an attendant called Punjikasthala, who was cursed to assume the form of a female monkey — a curse that could only be nullified if she would give birth to an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Reborn as Anjana, she performed intense austerities to please Shiva, who finally granted her the boon that would cure her of the curse. When Agni, the god of fire, gave Dasharath, the king of Ayodhya, a bowl of sacred dessert to share among his wives so they may have divine children, an eagle snatched a part of the pudding and dropped it where Anjana was meditating, and Pavana, the god of wind delivered the drop to her outstretched hands. After she took the divine dessert, she gave birth to Hanuman. Thus Lord Shiva incarnated as a monkey, and was born as Hanuman to Anjana, by the blessings of Pavana, who thus became Hanuman's godfather.

Download Hanuman Chalisa, MP3 Aartis & Bhajans Hanuman's Childhood The birth of Hanuman released Anjana from the curse. Before she returned to heaven, Hanuman asked his mother about his life ahead. She assured him that he would never die, and said that fruits as ripe as the rising sun would be his food. Mistaking the glowing sun as his food, the divine baby leapt for it. Indra struck him with his thunderbolt and hurled him down to earth. But Hanuman's godfather, Pavana carried him to the nether world or 'Patala'. As he departed from the earth, all life panted for air, and Brahma had to beg him to return. In order to appease him they conferred a lot of boons and blessings on his foster child that made Hanuman invincible, immortal and super powerful. Hanuman's Education Hanuman selected Surya, the sun god as his preceptor, and approached him with the request to teach the scriptures. Surya agreed and Hanuman became his disciple, but had to face his constantly moving guru by traversing the sky backwards at equal pace, while taking his lessons.

Hanuman's phenomenal concentration took him only 60 hours to master the scriptures. Surya considered the manner in which Hanuman accomplished his studies as his tuition fees, but when Hanuman requested him to accept something more than that, the sun god asked Hanuman to assist his son Sugriva, by being his minister and compatriot. View Hanuman Photo Gallery Worshiping the Monkey God On Tuesdays and in some cases, Saturdays , many people keep fast in honour of Hanuman and give special offerings to him. In times of trouble, it is a common faith among Hindus to chant the name of Hanuman or sing his hymn (" Hanuman Chalisa ") and proclaim "Bajrangbali Ki Jai" — "victory to thy thunderbolt strength". Once every year — on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Chaitra (April) at sunrise — Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman. Hanuman temples are among the most common public shrines found in India. The Power of Devotion The character of Hanuman teaches us of the unlimited power that lies unused within each one of us.

Hanuman directed all his energies towards the worship of Lord Rama, and his undying devotion made him such that he became free from all physical fatigue. And Hanuman's only desire was to go on serving Rama. Hanuman perfectly exemplifies 'Dasyabhava' devotion — one of the nine types of devotions — that bonds the master and the servant. His greatness lies in his complete merger with his Lord, which also formed the base of his genial qualities. The Hindu Mythology | The Indian Mythology The Indian Mythology mythological blog by Apurva Beniwal Menu by Apurva Beniwal The Hindu Mythology pays respects to Animals and treat them as a sacred Animals. many Hindu Gods like Hanuman , Nandi and Garud were Animals. Lord Ganesha is blessed with a boon to be worshiped prior to all Gods by Lord Shiva . he is associated with two animals i.e the Elephant And Mouse. ELEPHANT : Lord Ganesha has a face of elephant which also a Symbol of Big Brian , Lord Ganesha is the God of Wisdom.

Goddess Lakshmi , rides a white Elephant she is also worshiped as Gajja Lakshmi , Gajja is a sanskrit word for elephant. Lord Indra the King of Devtaas (god) also ride an Elephant Airavat with three heads. Elephant is also a symbol of Samridhi . Elephants are worshiped in India ,and it is a very sacred Animal. Many temples in South India raise elephants as a property of their own , Some kings, Ministers and very rich people have a capability to donate Elephants in the temples. Gajja Lakshmi elephant's age is guessed by its long tusk Indra riding three headed elephant Airavat Cow: Cow is worshiped as Gavu Mata in India. there are many Avatar like Krishna and Parshuram realeted to holy cow Surabhi and Kaamdhenu . Bal Krishna ji Trideva (Brahma ,Vishnu and Mahesha) with a cow Nandi : Nandi is an OX , Lord Shiva Rides Nandi. Nandi is booned by Shiva that who so ever recites a prayer in Nandi’s Ear it will surely reach Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva is Devo ke dev which means God of Gods. he is even called Mahadev , maha means the great and Dev means God. Goddess parvati or Say Mata gauri also rides an OX. Mata Maha Guri Snake : Lord Shiva wear a Snake as a Garland around his Neck. Lord Vishnu sleeps on a SheshNaag. Krishna fought with Snake Kaliya ,who had 100 heads. when Krishna was born a snake Vasuki came to protect him from rain. Snake Vasuki also helped Matsay Avatar . Lord Vishnu on Shesh Naag with Goddess Lakshmi and Brahma on lotus krishna dancing on snake Kaaliya Bal Shiva Mouse : mouse is called Mushak in Sanskrit. Lord Ganesha Rides on a Mouse. A story Related to Goddess Karni , an incarnation of Goddess Durga . Goddess Karni was born in Swaup village , she asked yama to restore life of son of a story teller , but yama was bund to his Dharma.

Goddess Karni took a mid way between both the story tellers and Yama , she incarnated the dead son and all of the storytellers as a rat, under her protection. Her temple in Deshnog is filled with Rats and the Devotees offer them the food. Ganesha riding Mouse Karni Mata mouse drinking milk Monkey: Hindu God Hanuman is a monkey. Nal and Neel who built Raamsetu (Adam’s Bridge) were also monkey. Mayur : Mayur is Sanskrit word for peacock . Lord Kartika, the second son of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva , rides a Peacock. Goddess Saraswati , the Goddess of Knowledge and wisdom, has a Garden full of Peacocks . Symbolically the feathers of Peacock is used for writing. Goddess Sarasvati lord kartika on peacock kartika Garud : Lord Vishnu Rides on Garud. Garuda even helped Hanuman to protect the life of Sri Raam and Lakshman. Garuda Krishna ride on Garuda to kill Narakasura. Lord Vishnu rides on Garuda to save the devotee Elephant Gajendra.

Sacred Animals | The Indian Mythology The Indian Mythology mythological blog by Apurva Beniwal Menu by Apurva Beniwal The Hindu Mythology pays respects to Animals and treat them as a sacred Animals. many Hindu Gods like Hanuman , Nandi and Garud were Animals. Lord Ganesha is blessed with a boon to be worshiped prior to all Gods by Lord Shiva . he is associated with two animals i.e the Elephant And Mouse. ELEPHANT : Lord Ganesha has a face of elephant which also a Symbol of Big Brian , Lord Ganesha is the God of Wisdom. Goddess Lakshmi , rides a white Elephant she is also worshiped as Gajja Lakshmi , Gajja is a sanskrit word for elephant. Lord Indra the King of Devtaas (god) also ride an Elephant Airavat with three heads. Elephant is also a symbol of Samridhi . Elephants are worshiped in India ,and it is a very sacred Animal. Many temples in South India raise elephants as a property of their own , Some kings, Ministers and very rich people have a capability to donate Elephants in the temples.

Gajja Lakshmi elephant's age is guessed by its long tusk Indra riding three headed elephant Airavat Cow: Cow is worshiped as Gavu Mata in India. there are many Avatar like Krishna and Parshuram realeted to holy cow Surabhi and Kaamdhenu . Bal Krishna ji Trideva (Brahma ,Vishnu and Mahesha) with a cow Nandi : Nandi is an OX , Lord Shiva Rides Nandi. Nandi is booned by Shiva that who so ever recites a prayer in Nandi’s Ear it will surely reach Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is Devo ke dev which means God of Gods. he is even called Mahadev , maha means the great and Dev means God. Goddess parvati or Say Mata gauri also rides an OX. Mata Maha Guri Snake : Lord Shiva wear a Snake as a Garland around his Neck. Lord Vishnu sleeps on a SheshNaag. Krishna fought with Snake Kaliya ,who had 100 heads. when Krishna was born a snake Vasuki came to protect him from rain.

Snake Vasuki also helped Matsay Avatar . Lord Vishnu on Shesh Naag with Goddess Lakshmi and Brahma on lotus krishna dancing on snake Kaaliya Bal Shiva Mouse : mouse is called Mushak in Sanskrit. Lord Ganesha Rides on a Mouse. A story Related to Goddess Karni , an incarnation of Goddess Durga . Goddess Karni was born in Swaup village , she asked yama to restore life of son of a story teller , but yama was bund to his Dharma. Goddess Karni took a mid way between both the story tellers and Yama , she incarnated the dead son and all of the storytellers as a rat, under her protection. Her temple in Deshnog is filled with Rats and the Devotees offer them the food. Ganesha riding Mouse Karni Mata mouse drinking milk Monkey: Hindu God Hanuman is a monkey. Nal and Neel who built Raamsetu (Adam’s Bridge) were also monkey. Mayur : Mayur is Sanskrit word for peacock . Lord Kartika, the second son of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva , rides a Peacock.

Goddess Saraswati , the Goddess of Knowledge and wisdom, has a Garden full of Peacocks . Symbolically the feathers of Peacock is used for writing. Goddess Sarasvati lord kartika on peacock kartika Garud : Lord Vishnu Rides on Garud. Garuda even helped Hanuman to protect the life of Sri Raam and Lakshman. Garuda Krishna ride on Garuda to kill Narakasura. Lord Vishnu rides on Garuda to save the devotee Elephant Gajendra. Share this: HANUMAN Top 10 Facts : Hindu Mythology - YouTube HANUMAN Top 10 Facts : Hindu Mythology Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Feb 16, 2016 Hanuman is a Hindu god and an ardent devotee of the god Rama.

A vanara (monkey)who participated in Rama's war against the demon king Ravana.He is an incarnation of the god Shiva.He is a central character in the Hindu epic Ramayana and is also mentioned in several other texts, including Mahabharata, the various Puranas and some Jain texts. Category Treatment of Animals in Hinduism Treatment of Animals in Hinduism by Jayaram V Do animals have souls? Yes say the Hindu scriptures. Every living being, from the animals down to the insects and tiny organisms, possesses souls. Like humans, they are also beings (bhutas) subject to the laws of Nature and the cycle of births and deaths. We may consider them ignorant, but they have their own language and intelligence. They also perform an important duty in creation and occupy an important place in the manifestation and evolution of life. Their duty is to nourish the humans through milk and through self-sacrifice. This article examines the importance of animals in Hinduism and how they are treated in general by various sections people. Animals occupy an important place in Hinduism.

They are frequently mentioned in the Hindu myths and legends and enjoy a place of their own in Hindu pantheon as vehicles of many gods and goddesses, as divinities and also as incarnations or aspects of Vishnu or Siva. They embellish and beautify Hindu decorative art and temple architecture, adorning the outer walls and towers of temples as objects of beauty or being installed inside as objects of veneration. Animals appear in Buddhism and Jainism both as divinities and as a part of their decorative art and architecture. Before Mahayana Buddhism became popular the Buddha was depicted symbolically as an elephant. Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, is often shown under the hood of a multi headed serpent, a practice, according to some, was later followed by Vaishnavism. Treatment of animals in Hinduism Hinduism is a compassionate religion and treats all living beings from animals down to insects and tiny creatures with great respect as aspects of God, having souls of their own, going through the same process of births and deaths as human beings. Depending upon how they are born, they classify all living beings into three kinds: those who are born from seeds and sprouts, those who are born from eggs and those who are born from womb.

The scriptures urge us to treat the animals fairly and, not harm them and not subject them to cruelty and pain. Non-violence towards all, including plants and animals is the highest virtue. Non-violence means not even having the intention to disturb others. Sacrificing animals to appease the deities was a prehistoric tradition which continued in the tradition for long, but as time went by became increasingly uncomfortable with such practices to the extent that it is no more appreciated in Hinduism by all sections of people. The historical attitude of Hindus towards animals can be guessed from the fact that until the arrival of the British into India, the Indian forests were teeming with all kinds of wildlife. It was the British who made hunting a great sport and virtually wiped out the wildlife population from the country. The status of gods, humans, and animals in creation According to various schools of Hinduism, spiritually there is no distinction between human beings and other life forms. All life forms, including plants and animals, are manifestations of God as limited beings (jivas) and possess souls. All beings are children of Prajapati only. There are no exceptions. God is the lord of the animals (pasupati).

All humans are also animals until they learn to use their intelligence and overcome their ignorance and delusion. Like humans, animals are also subject to the cycle of births and deaths, karma, triple gunas, aspects of Nature, mortality and the possibility of salvation. All are subject to mortality and food for Death who rules the mortal world. Even microorganisms are jivas, having souls of their own. 1 The difference is in terms of their physical bodies and the number of tattvas (principles), gunas (qualities), elements (mahabhutas) and senses associated with them. The jivas are subject to the limitations of consciousness and capacity, induced by the activity of Prakriti or nature. When they overcome their limitations and regain their true consciousness, they become liberated. Saivism goes one step further and considers all living beings as pasus (animals) in contrast to pati or Siva who is the lord of all (pasupathi). The pasus are Siva differentiated as individual beings subject to the bonds (pasas) of egoism, delusion and karma. When they overcome these bonds and realize their true consciousness they become liberated. According to Hinduism.

animals are not inferior creatures, but manifestations of God on the lower scale of evolution compared to man, each containing a spark of the divine, capable of becoming human and achieving salvation like the rest of us. Human life is precious because it comes after many lives of existence in the lower life forms. In the whole creation only human beings, not even devas (gods), have the opportunity to achieve salvation or ascend to the planes of divinity. Human life is therefore very valuable and unique. But if human beings choose to ignore the great opportunity earned by them through their previous karma and indulge in irresponsible actions, they may very likely regress into animal existence and have to start all over again. We have therefore a special responsibility to practice dharma and work for our liberation. Animal Welfare Hinduism upholds all acts of kindness. Since Hinduism recognizes all animals as beings with souls, it has been a tradition in Hinduism since the earliest times to protect them and nourish them. Nourishing the animals along with gods and ancestors has been a traditional practice and part of the five daily sacrifices of Hindu tradition. Just as humans depend upon gods for their protection, the animals depend upon humans for their welfare.

Just as we nourish gods through sacrifices, animals nourish humans through milk and their flesh. Killing animals except for rituals or for food was a taboo. Even in case of the latter, the law books prescribed many restrictions. Hindus consider compassion for animals (bhuta daya) one of the highest virtues and mark of divine quality. It has been a tradition in Hinduism since long not to slaughter cattle that are past their prime. Even if they serve no purpose, they are allowed to die naturally. Hindus (who practice their religion, not the namesake Hindus) care for sick cattle and take are of their welfare. iItentionally they do not harm animals, because they know the consequences of such bad karma. Animal Science In ancient India people used various types of animals for domestic, military, commercial, recreational or medicinal purposes. Hindu scriptures mention the use of cows, sheep, oxen, buffaloes, rhinoceros, camels, asses, elephants, birds, boars, pigs, dogs, snakes, fish, tigers, lions and many mythical creatures.

Animals were used in trade and commerce, hunting, animal fights, gambling, defense, transportation, sacrificial ceremonies, medicines and as gifts and food. Snakes or snake poison were used to kill enemies or even kings. Animal science (pashu vidya) dealt with various aspects of animal life and how to tame them, train them and use them for domestic or military use. There were separate treatises on taming and training elephants. Animals were classified into groups based on their origin (oviparous or mammalian), anatomy, number of legs, number of sense organs, diet, behavior, dominant quality (guna), habitat and so on. People believed that animals had the ability to communicate in their cryptic languages and that gods had the natural ability to communicate with them while human beings needed to develop psychic ability to do so. In the Hindu mythology we find animals trying to acquire spiritual knowledge from enlightened masters by loitering around them and listening to their discourses. Animals such as cows, lizards, crows, cats, vultures and owls were used to read signs and portend future or determine auspicious and inauspicious moments.

There was a whole branch of science dealing with the medicinal value of certain animal parts and products. The Animal Within and Without In ancient India ascetics and religious teachers lived in forests surrounded by wild life, practicing tapas (austerities) or teaching students in the gurukulas (religious schools). The adverse and difficult conditions in the forests offered them an opportunity to practice the virtues of detachment, humility, equanimity and compassion. Living in harmony with nature, carrying no weapons and embracing the insecurity and fear they tried to tame and transcend their animal nature and achieve liberation. Animals in History Excavations at the Indus valley sites show that animals played an important role in the religious and economic lives of the Indus people. The Indus people domesticated cows, buffaloes, sheep and bulls and probably worshipped animals along with mother goddess and a prototype of Lord Siva who is depicted in the seals as a yogi seated in a meditative pose surrounded by animals. Unfortunately the Indus seals have not been deciphered so far. So we do not know much about what the Indus people did or how they lived. Vedic people valued cattle as wealth and preferred to receive them as gifts.

The scriptures repeatedly emphasize the virtue of donating cows to Brahimins on every opportunity. But they were not much into worshipping animal divinities. They used animals for milk, ghee (clarified butter), leather, medicine, barter, gifts, cooking and sacrifices. The early vedic people sacrificed cows, sheep, oxen, buffaloes and horses 2 . They protected their farmlands from birds, pests and insects and hunted animals both for recreation and protection of their villages and cattle. They tanned the hides of animals and used the leather to make bags, reigns, slings and bowstrings. Animals were also used for meat. Cooking was considered an art. Both Bhima and Nala excelled in the art of cooking. As time went by, sacrificial ceremonies became increasingly symbolic with the exception of horse sacrifice. Cows became sacred animals which cannot be killed both for religious and economic reasons. Killing cows became a social taboo and a capital offence. Hunting Animal fights were a regular feature in the post vedic India. People participated in animal fights for betting and recreation. Hunting was a regular sport in which the kings and his family participated.

Hunting provided them with a good opportunity to perfect their skills in archery, chariot racing and marital arts, get acquainted with the conditions of the region and clear the forests of wild animals which menaced the people living there. Accompanied by an entourage of soldiers, officials, ministers and entertainers, they went out on hunting expeditions either to kill or capture wild animals such as lions, tigers, bears, elephants, wild boar, deer and wild bulls. On occasions they visited the ascetics who lived near by and engaged them in spiritual conversation. Use of Animals in Warfare Elephants and horses constituted a significant part of a king's military might, which were replenished regularly through hunting and conquests. The Greek historians accounted 4000 horses, 300 chariots and 200 elephants in the army of Porus who ruled a small principality in the Punjab region. The Nandas and Mauryans who ruled vast empires maintained huge armies consisting of hundreds of thousands of bulls, bullocks, horses and elephants.

Chandragupta Maurya sent a gift of several hundred elephants to Selukas who was appointed by Alexander as the viceroy of the territories he conquered east of Hindukush. Animals were used in military either for warfare or in transportation. Hindu law books declare that it was king's responsibility to protect his people from wild animals and pestilence. According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, a king should protect his territory from eight kinds of adversities namely, fire, flood, pestilence, famine, rats, snakes, tigers and demons. He should create separate departments to manage the forest and cattle wealth of his kingdom. Megasthanese, who was an ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya, mentioned in his Indika that the Mauryan King went on hunting expeditions on the back of an elephant surrounded by women bodyguards. The king was fond of animals and enjoyed animal fights involving bulls, rams, elephants and other animals. Bullock carts were used in the transportation of food and other materials to the soldiers during war time. People used various types of animals for riding including horses, camels, asses, elephants and tigers.

Shepherds and cowherds lived in open in tents. In post Mauryan period there were professional guilds of hunters, snake charmers, bird catchers and pig dealers. The growing popularity of Jainism, Buddhism, Saivism and Vaishnavism created a new awareness among people about animals and the need for compassion towards them. Animal Sacrifices But their influence was not sufficient enough to stop animal sacrifices. Ancient Indians regularly indulged in animal sacrifices and rarely in human sacrifices. In some remote areas of India animal sacrifices continue even today. The raise of Tantricism in the post Mauryan period and the integration of folk religions into Hinduism contributed to the rise animal sacrifices. Kings sacrificed animals to appease divinities seeking their blessings and support. Inscriptions belonging to the Gutpa period suggest that people had an obligation to supply sacrificial animals on demand to their king. Sometimes the kings exempted some villages from this obligation. Sri Adishanakaracharya disapproved extreme methods of tantric worship which included animal and human sacrifices. During his travels in the subcontinent, he encouraged the worship of shaktis through the traditional methods of rituals and puja rather than sacrifices and offerings of blood and flesh.

Animal as Divinities Hindus revere many divinities in animal form. Lord Vishnu incarnated upon earth first as a fish, then as a tortoise and next as a boar. In another incarnation he appeared as half lion and half man. He is worshipped in all these forms. Lord Siva appeared once in the form of a sharabha a mythical monster with multiple horns, legs and spikes instead of hair on the body. Hanuman is a monkey god who assisted Lord Rama ably in the battle of Ramayana. He is worshipped through out India and, though of a lesser god, ranks among the foremost in the Hindu pantheon. Ganesha the elephant headed god and son of Lord Siva and Parvathi is equally popular, if not more. Adishesha is a thousand hooded primeval serpent associated with Lord Vishnu, who arises from the primeval waters (ksiramudra) in the beginning of creation resting on his endless coils, his thousand hoods providing him the canopy. The serpent symbolically represents the time and the thousand hoods divisions of time. Besides Hanuman, animals played an important role in the epic battle of Ramayana.

Jatayuvu, a mythical bird, loses his life fighting against Ravana when he is carrying away Sita after kidnapping her. During his wanderings in search of Sita, accompanied by his brother Lakshman, Rama comes across Sugriva, the monkey king of Kishkindha whom he helps against his brother Bali. Jatayuvu's brother provides a clue to the search party of monkeys headed by Hanuman that Sita was held in captive by the demon king Ravana. Then accompanied by an army of monkeys, bears and other animals Rama leaves for Lanka to rescue his wailing wife. The monkeys and other animals build an incredible bridge across the ocean to the island country of Ravana. They destroy the vast army of Ravana and help Rama in rescuing his wife. The story of Ramayana is a reminder of the Hindu belief that in the universal scheme of things God does not distinguish between humans and animals and that all living beings have an equal status but play different roles. Animals as Vehicles of Gods In the Hindu pantheon each god and goddess is associated with an animal as a vehicle.

Symbolically the vehicles represent the animal energies or qualities or skills which need to be strengthened or sublimated in our lower nature with the help of the divinities who can transform them. The knowledge of vehicles is therefore very useful in knowing which divinity can help us in transforming our inner energies. The list of gods and goddesses and their vehicles are mentioned below: Divinity Crocodile Animals as Symbols Animals serve as symbols in Hinduism. We have already discussed the symbolic significance of animals as vehicles of gods and goddesses. The elephant is used as a religious symbol by the Hindus, the Buddhists and the Jains. The symbol of ashta diggajas or eight elephants standing in eight different directions represent the ashtadikpalas or rulers of the eight directions of space. The elephants are also associated with goddess Lakshmi as symbols of abundance. The fish and conch shell are associated with Lord Vishnu. The conch is an attribute of Lord Vishnu while two fish juxtaposed to each other is considered as a symbol of fertility and good luck. Makara, a mythical figure, with the head of a crocodile, body of a reptile and tail of foliage, is a symbol of the zodiacal sign of Capricorn.

It is also depicted as the vehicle of the river goddess Ganga. In northern India the lion, bull and elephant are included among the ashtamangalas or the eight auspicious objects. Animals as Source of Food Meat eating was not forbidden in ancient India. The Vedic people ate cooked meats of certain animals. Meat was also cooked and consumed at the end of certain sacrificial ceremonies such as the horse sacrifice. Vedic people ate fish, buffaloes, oxen and various other animals. Cows were often sacrificed but they were subsequently banned from slaughter. Jainism exercised a great influence in changing the food habits of the people of the subcontinent. The Jain monks lived austere lives and encouraged people to avoid animal food. Many ancient rulers of India were Jains including Chandragupta Maurya which must have contributed greatly to the increasing preference among urban people for vegetarian food. Although Buddhism emphasized the virtues of compassion and non injury to animals, meat eating was not disallowed by Buddhism altogether. The monastic rules of Buddhism provided a code of conduct for the monks to follow in choosing vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods of various types without craving.

Asoka introduced his law of piety (dhamma), which was a mixture of Vedism, Jainism and Buddhism, in which he emphasized the need for compassion and respect for animal life. He also banned animal fights and made provision for animal care. The post Mauryan period saw a revival of Hinduism. The Sungas, the Nagas, the Guptas and the Vakatakas, who ruled large parts of India patronized Hinduism and revived many ancient traditions. They participated in vedic sacrifices, worshipped Hindu gods and goddesses and built temples in their honor. The Dharmashastras prescribed elaborate rulers regarding food and drinks. The Apastamba Sutras forbid meats of certain animals such as the one hoofed animals, camels, certain birds, fish, deer, village pigs and cattle, but allowed the meat of cows and oxen, tortoise, porcupine, hedgehog, the rhinoceros and the hare were allowed 3 .

The Guatama sutras forbid meat of animals that had five toes, or double rows of teeth or excessive quantity of hair, but exempted the meat of hedgehog, hare, porcupine, the iguana, the rhinoceros and the tortoise. Certain animal parts such as the testicles of bulls and the meat of rhinoceros were used as aphrodisiacs. Serpent Deities The worship of snakes has been a very ancient tradition in India. The vedic people did not worship snakes. But many native people across the length and breadth of the subcontinent worshipped them. Some of the tribes became popular as Nagas because of their association with serpent deities. In the urban settlements snake worshippers worked as snake charmers and medicine men. They entertained people with magic and cured snake bites using a combination of prayers and medicine. Between First century BC and second century AD, a group of Nagas claiming themselves to be Barasivas rose to prominence in central India. They established an empire that stretched from Jabalpur in the south to Mathura in the north. They contributed to the downfall of the Kushana empire and freed parts of northern India from foreign rule.

They revived many vedic traditions including the horse sacrifice and played an important role in the reemergence of Saivism in the Gangetic valley and central India in the face of growing popularity of Buddhism. Their contribution to Hinduism is perhaps never fully appreciated as they left no monuments of their own. The Puranas mention names of several Naga rulers who ruled central and northern India. The Nagas initiated a process of revival of Hinduism that was later taken up by the Satavahanas in the south and the Gutpas and the Vakatakas in the north. As pointed out by Dr.Jaiswal 4 , had there been no Nagas perhaps there would have been no Gutpas. According to Hindu mythology, the the serpent deities are semi-divine beings who descended from sage Kashyapa and Kadru. They live in the subterranean world of Nagaloka ruled by Ananta with Bhogavathi as its capital. They act as guardians of subterranean treasures such as gems, precious stones and minerals.

Known for their quick temper, wisdom, skill and magical powers, they are depicted in Hindu iconography with a lower snake body covered by bejeweled garments and a human head adorned by three to seven cobra hoods. The snake deities are charming personalities, who can bewitch human beings with their grace and beauty. Garuda, the celestial bird and vehicle of Vishnu, is their cousin with whom they have an eternal enmity. In certain parts of southern India, the serpent deities are associated with fertility and tree worship. Women, desiring offspring, worship snake stones having the images of a snake goddess carrying two offspring in her arms. The stones are installed under either a pipal or a neem tree after keeping them submerged under water for six months and worshipped with flowers and vermilion. Prominent serpent deities include Ananta, Kaliya and Vasuki. Ananta is the king of the serpent world. Kaliya was a five headed serpent who was subdued by Lord Krishna after a prolonged fight. Vasuki was a giant serpent who helped both gods and demons in the churning of the oceans for the nectar of immortality. The serpent deities constitute an important aspect of Hinduism even today.

Devout men and women in the rural areas of both northern and southern India worship them with milk, incense and flowers, seeking their help and grace. In some parts of the country killing a snake is a bad karma and a bad omen. People avoid killing cobras because of the belief that they can recognize their attackers and take revenge. If a snake, or a cobra, is killed by an accident, it is customary to perform certain rites before cremating or burying it to avoid retribution from the serpent deities. Horses The horse was not indigenous to India. It was either imported from outside by the Indus valley people or came along with the Rigvedic people. In the early vedic period horses and chariots were used mainly for transportation but in the later vedic period they became an integral part of the army. Horses were also used in sacrificial ceremonies such as horse sacrifice. According to the vedic mythology, horses originated from Ucchaishravas a mythical horse that was white in color and had wings.

It emerged out of waters during the churning of the oceans by gods and demon and was taken by Indra, the leader of the gods, who cut its wings in order to restrict its movements and donated it to the mankind for their welfare and convenience. The horse played an important role in the formation of large empires by facilitating efficient and effective functioning of the administrative machinery in consolidating the monarchies and ensuring better control in collecting taxes, mobilizing large armies and maintaining hold over border areas that were often the centers of rebellion. Ancient Indian rulers made adequate arrangements for the maintenance and procurement of horses. The Mauryan rulers had separate department for this purpose. Horses were used both for transportation and warfare but rarely in agriculture. They were drawn by reins as saddles were unknown in ancient India. During war time they were given fermented drinks before taking them to the battle field. Cows Cows occupy an important place in Hinduism. Hindus consider killing cows and eating their meat a serious taboo. Every part of a cow's body is said to be occupied by a divinity and everything it produces is considered sacred including the cow dung and urine which are used in certain rites and rituals. Cows are worshipped on certain occasions.

Hindus do not appreciate the idea of sending old cows to slaughter house. Certain charitable Hindu trusts maintain cow pens to keep old cows and look after them till they die naturally. Though India is a secular country where the government does not interfere in the religious affairs of the people, no political party would like to hurt the sentiments of Hindus by making any adverse statements on the cows or passing laws permitting their slaughter. It is no exaggeration to say that if cows have a mind of their own, perhaps they all would like to migrate to India and make it their permanent home! The cows were considered sacred from the early Rigvedic period. The Vedas expressly prohibit the killing of cows either for religious or secular purposes. Vedic people regarded cows as wealth and demanded them as donation from the rulers and merchants in return for their priestly services. Cows were used in barter and as dowry. Cow products such as cow dung, cow milk and ghee were used in ceremonies and medicines. During the Gupta rule, cow slaughter became a capital offence and remained so for a long time under successive generations of Hindu rulers. According to Hindu mythology, the cows were created along with Brahma, the creator.

Kamadhenu and Surabhi were considered sacred cows that emerged from the churning of the oceans. They had the ability to grant any wish to their owners. Cows played an important role in the life of Lord Krishna who spent most of his childhood in the midst of cowherds tending the cows. His flute had a soothing effect on the cows causing them to produce more milk. Goloka or the land of cows is another name for Vaikuntha the world of Vishnu. Dog The dog is associated with Indra, Yama and Siva. Indra had a bitch by name Sarama whose progeny became the watchdogs of Yamaloka the nether world of Lord Yama. In the epic Mahabharata there is a story in which Lord Yama accompanies the Pandavas all the way to the paradise in the guise of a dog to test the wisdom of Dharmaraj, his god son and the eldest brother of the Pandavas. The dog is also associated with Lord Siva who is known as svapathi or the lord of the dogs. Bhairava a fierce form of Siva, has a dog as an attendant.

Khanoba, an aspect of Siva, who is worshipped in Maharashtra, had a dog as his vehcile. Lord Dattatreya who is a personification of the Brahma, Vishnu and Siva is always accompanied by four dogs who symbolize the four Vedas. Suggestions for Further Reading BBC - Religions - Hinduism: Hanuman Jayanti Hanuman Jayanti Hanuman Jayanti marks the birth of Hanuman, the Monkey God. On this page Find this year's date in the multifaith calendar Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman Ji, the monkey God. He is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is worshipped for his unyielding devotion to Rama and is remembered for his selfless dedication to the God. Hanuman is considered the living embodiment of the Karma Yogi (one whose meditation and devotion are demonstrated through hard work or service). A sacred monkey (Hanuman langur) at Agra. Hanuman is ruler of the monkeys. Hanuman said "I am a humble messenger of Sri Rama. I have come here to serve Rama, to do His work. By the command of Lord Rama, I have come here.

I am fearless by the Grace of Lord Rama. I am not afraid of death. I welcome it if it comes while serving Lord Rama." In return for his unconditional love, Lord Rama granted him everlasting life. He promised that he would be worshipped alongside Rama and that his idol would be placed next to his. This is a very popular festival. It can be celebrated individually or in the temple. On this day, the sacred text, Hanuman Chalisa, is recited - a set of prayers glorifying Hanuman, describing his past times. Depending on the devotee, the text is either recited non-stop for 24 hours or sometimes it's performed a set number of times. Special Pujas are performed and offerings are made to Lord Hanuman. Some people have different rituals, such as sacred fire ceremonies. In India particularly, colourful processions fill the streets. People dance, carry idols of Lord Hanuman and some people wear masks and tails to imitate the monkey God. Every celebration is always accompanied by a period of fasting and then a big vegetarian feast.

Question: In Hindu myth, which creature is associated with the god Hanuman?
Answer: MONKEY