One day Väyu, the wind god, saw her standing alone and he desired union with her. After uniting with her in his mystical yoga form, she conceived a child who was named Hanumän. He cried out in hunger and Anjana placed him down amid some reeds while she went to collect forest fruits. Hanumän looked up from where he lay and saw the sun. Thinking it to be a large fruit he sprang upwards with outstretched hands. Gifted with the power of his divine father, he soared through the heavens toward the sun. Väyu went with him, covering him with a cool breeze so that he would not be burned by the sun. The sun-god also withheld his blazing rays as he understood that Hanumän was a great servant of Lord Vishnu who would later assist Him on earth.
As Hanumän went swiftly upwards through the skies, a demon named Rähu was also approaching the sun with a view to envelop him. It was the day ordained for that demon to swallow the fiery sun-god, thus creating an eclipse, but Hanumän saw him and pushed him aside. Afraid of the mighty Vanara, Rähu sped away toward Indra’s abode in the heavens. Going before the deity he said, “O king of the gods, having allotted to me the sun and moon as my regular food, how is it that you have now given over my share to another? See how another Rähu has appeared in the sky, intent on consuming the sun.”
Indra immediately left his seat and, mounting his celestial elephant, Airävata, he rose up into the heavens. He approached Hanumän, who was streaking through the sky like a blazing meteor. When the Vanara saw the effulgent god nearby, he considered him to be another fruit and he turned toward him. Indra then released his thunderbolt, which struck Hanumän and caused him to drop back down to earth.
The Vanara fell onto a mountain top and lay there apparently dead. Seeing this Väyu became angry and he caused all creatures to begin to suffocate. Interrupting the flow of the vital life airs in all beings, Väyu created a great disturbance in the universe.
Indra and all the other gods quickly approached Väyu, who stood by the fallen Hanumän, and prayed to him to desist from causing so much suffering. Brahmä also appeared there and asked Väyu what was the cause of his actions. Väyu replied, “It is on account of my son being slain. See now how that innocent child lays here motionless, struck down by Indra’s terrible thunderbolt.”
Lord Brahmä then reached out and ran his hand over Hanumän. The Vanara immediately sat up and looked around. The relieved Väyu again began to move in the bodies of living creatures, and Lord Brahmä said, “Listen, O gods, as I tell you about this Vanara. He will accomplish your purpose on earth and become a famous servant of Viñëu. You should therefore all grant him boons.”
Pleased to hear Brahmä’s words, Indra took off his garland and placed it around Hanumän’s neck, saying, “From this day on he shall be invulnerable to my thunderbolt.”
The sun-god then said, “I shall bestow upon him a hundredth part of my brilliance. Also, when he begins to study the scriptures I shall enable him to quickly learn all aspects of knowledge. None shall exceed him in scriptural understanding.”
Yamaräja granted him invulnerability to his rod and freedom from ailment. Kuvera also blessed him that he would remain unwearied in battle. Lord Siva said, “He shall be immune to my weapons and from death at my hands.” Vishvakarmä added, “This Vanara shall be invulnerable to all celestial weapons forged by me and he shall be long-lived.”
Finally, Lord Brahmä said, “O wind-god, your son shall be invincible in battle. He will prove the terror of his foes and the shelter of his friends. This jewel among monkeys shall be able to change his form at will and go wherever he pleases at any speed he likes. No Brahmin’s curse will be able to kill him. His movements shall be unimpeded and he will become glorious. In war he will accomplish tremendous feats which make one’s hair stand on end, thus causing the destruction of Rävana and the pleasure of Räma.”
After this the gods departed and Väyu took Hanumän back to his mother. He began to grow up like a god. Overflowing with the exultation of his own power, and being possessed of the mischievous nature of monkeys, he started creating trouble for the åñis in the forest, knowing that they could not harm him. He would playfully throw about and break their sacrificial ladles and vessels, and tear to shreds the piles of soft bark they kept for making garments. Despite the efforts of his mother and father to check him, Hanumän continued with his pranks and went on harassing the ascetics.
Eventually the Rishis, not wanting to harm the playful young Vanara, found a way to stop him. Touching sacred water, their leader uttered an imprecation. “As this one makes trouble for us depending upon his celestial strength, he shall forget his own power. Only when someone reminds him again by reciting his glories will he recall his strength.”
Bewildered by that curse, Hanumän forgot about his might and began acting like an ordinary Vanara. He formed a strong friendship with Sugréva, going with him into exile when he was banished by Vali. He finally again remembered his power when Jambavan reminded him at the time of searching for Sita.
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