BHARATA'S CHARACTER-VALUE

BHARATA

In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Bharata was the second brother of the main protagonist Rama, and the son of Dasaratha and Kaikeyi. It is said that after Rama, he was the symbol of dharma and idealism. A few commentators, however, deem Bharata to be even greater than Rama himself in virtue. He is considered to be born in the aspect of the Sudarshana Chakra, the most famous of Vishnu’s Panchayudhas. Bharata was the second of the four sons of Dasaratha. His mother was the daughter of Kekeya Kingdom. The Ramayana describes the four brothers as loving and devoted to one another. He was also the husband to Mandavi, daughter of King Janaka’s brother Kushadhvaja and thus a cousin of Sita,  who was wife of Rama.

Bharata was away from Ayodhya when Rama went into exile. When he learned of the exile, he was mortified. He severely reprimanded his mother and immediately declared his intention of bringing Rama back from the forests and, if need be, to serve out his exile for him. When the people of Ayodhya and the numerous allies of Rama learned of this, their scorn and hatred towards Bharata, and he was immediately made immortal in fame to the world by his selflessness, honour for his family's fame and tradition, adherence to truth and righteousness, and love for his elder brother.

Ayodhya's guru, Vasishta, stated that no one had learned the lessons of dharma  better than Bharata. After delivering the painful news of their father's death to Rama and Lakshmana, Bharata argued with Rama to return to Ayodhya as emperor, but the latter steadfastly refused on the grounds that such a deed would be unrighteous. Upon an explanation from King Janaka that since Bharata's love for Rama was unparalleled, it became his duty to enable Rama to live righteously. Bharata gave up his efforts to take Rama back to Ayodhya before the fourteen year exile elapsed. Though deeply disappointed, Bharata returned to Ayodhya after receiving a promise from Rama that he would return promptly at the end of the fourteen year exile and ascend the throne. He vowed to Rama that if Rama did not return immediately when the fourteen years elapsed, he would give his life up by immolation.

He agreed to govern Ayodhya, not as its ruler, but as Rama's representative¹. The people supported Bharata, as he became the 'king' of Kosala and Ayodhya, but Bharata himself placed Rama's sandals at the foot of the royal throne, and neither sat upon the throne nor crowned himself. Bharata's reign was righteous and the kingdom was safe and prosperous, but Bharata continuously longed for Rama's return. During this time he did not forgive his mother Kaikeyi, and diligently served Kousalya, Rama's mother, and Sumitra, Lakshmana's mother.

 The deep love and esteem that Rama had for Bharata is evident from Rama's declaration that his love for Hanuman was on par with that of his love for Bharata.It is also known that Bharata conquered Gandhara and created his kingdom of Takshasila comprising present day Punjab, Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia. The present-day Pakistani city of Taxila is also a mark of his rule. Pushkalavati, which is present day Peshawar, was named after his second son Pushkal.

When the 14-year period of exile elapsed; Rama had just vanquished Ravana, the Rakshasa emperor of Lanka. Remembering Bharata's vow, an anxious and worried Rama sent Hanuman ahead of himself to prevent Bharata from sacrificing his life. Upon Rama's return to Ayodhya, Bharata led the procession to greet the rightful king and queen, and his brother Lakshmana. Although Rama intended to crown Lakshmana the Yuvaraja, or Crown Prince after his own coronation, Lakshmana pointed out that Bharata's great virtues and years of experience as Ayodhya's administrator qualified him better, and thus he was immediately made Yuvaraja by Rama. When Rama decided to retire, Bharata and Shatrughna joined him. When Rama walked into the river Sarayu, he transformed into his eternal and original Mahavishnu form. Bharata and Shatrughna walked into the river also and united with him. The Koodalmanikyam Temple in the state of Kerala is the only temple of Bharata in India.

DASHRATHA'S CHARACTER-VALUE

DASHRATHA

Dasharatha was, according to Ramayana, the king of Ayodhya and a descendant of the Ikshvaku dynasty (also known as Suryavamsha or Raghuvansa). His life story is narrated principally in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He was a descendant of Raghu and was the father of prince Rama, the principal character in the Ramayana. Dasharatha was the son of Aja and Indumati. Dasharatha had three wives namely, Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. Kaushalya was from the King of Kosala. Sumitra was from Kashi. Kaikeyi was from Kekeya Kindom. Dashratha, who had no sons from his previous wives, had promised Kaikeya (Kaikeyi's father) that the son born to her would become the successor. Dashratha had a daughter from his 1st wife Kaushalya. Her name was Shanta. She was given in adoption to Romapada   of Anga. This daughter married Sage Rishyasringa. Dashratha performed two yajnas with the help of Sage Rishyasringa on the advice of Vashistha. One was the Ashwamedha and other was the Putrakameshti. As the conclusion of the Yagna drew near Agni sprang out from the yagnakunda and handed Dashratha a pot of kheer advising him to distribute it among his queens. Kaushalya ate half the kheer, Sumitra ate a quarter of it. Kaikeyi ate some and passed the pot back to Sumitra who consumed the kheer a second time. Thus the princes were conceived after the consumption of the kheer. Since Kaushalya had consumed the largest portion she gave birth to Rama. Sumitra had eaten it twice so she gave birth to two sons Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Kaikeyi gave birth toBharata.  

Dashratha is reminded by Kaikeyi about the two boons he has yet to fulfill for her. She talks of the time when she had saved him from the demons during a battle. Dashratha is obliged to fulfill those boons. Kaikeyi demands that Bharata be crowned the king and Rama should be sent to the forest for fourteen years. Hearing this Dashratha falls into a swoon and passes the night in a pitiable condition in Kaikeyi’s palace. After Rama’s departure to the forest, Dasharatha lies in his bed with a wailing Kaushalya. He suddenly remembers an incident which had occurred in the past. He narrates to Kaushalya about how, by accident, he had killed a young boy named Shravan mistaking him to be an elephant. Dashratha who was then a crown prince had gone hunting on the banks of River Sarayu. He was an expert in hunting by determining the direction of sound and heard the gurgle of an animal drinking water. Mistaking it to be an elephant Dasharatha shot the arrow. He became mortified when he heard a human cry as the arrow found its target. Dasharatha hurried there to find a boy lying sprawled on the banks of the river with an arrow lodged in his chest. The boy rebukes Dashratha for his unrighteous act and demands that he pull the arrow out of his chest. He also tells him to take the pitcher of water to his blind parents who must be waiting for him. The boy dies. Dasharatha approaches the blind couple and tells them about his unfortunate death. The parents, grief-stricken curse the prince “Just as we are dying due the separation from our beloved son you too shall have the same fate.” Dasharatha concludes the chapter by saying that his end is near and the curse has taken effect.

Following his narration of Sharavan Dasharatha passes away in the night due to pain and misery of his separation from Rama. His funeral rites are performed by Bharata and Shatrughna who were called back from Kekeya.

JATAYU'S CHATACTER-VALUE

JATAYU

In the hindu epic Ramayana, Jatayu is the son of Aruna and nephew of Garuna. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, he was an old friend of Dasharatha.  He tries to rescue Sita from Ravana when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but as Jatayu was very old Ravana soon got the better of him. As Rama and Lakshmana chanced upon the stricken and dying Jatayu in their search for Sita, he informs them of the fight between him and Ravana and the direction in which Ravana had gone (i.e., south).

Jatayu and his brother Sampati, when young, used to compete as to who could fly higher. On one such instance Jatayu flew so high that he was about to get seared by the sun's flames. Sampati saved his brother by spreading his own wings and thus shielding Jatayu from the hot flames. In the process, Sampati himself got injured and lost his wings. As a result, Sampati lived wingless for the rest of his life.

The spot where a wounded Jatayu was found by Lord Rama is on the outskirts of the Taaked village in Nashik District in the state of Maharashtra. While Jatayu was wounded and lying on the ground when Lord Rama arrived, Lord Rama sensed the end result and decided that Jatayu get moksha. Lord Rama hit an arrow in the ground so as to call all seven sacred rivers, called teertha. Six rivers' waters arrived, one river water failing to obey Lord Rama's call. Since Lord Rama was himself an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, He forced the Gaya teertha to arrive at the spot. Finally Jatayu was given the waters of seven rivers and he attained moksha. Today, the six river waters are seen together in one pond, whilst the seventh is a few feet away as a punishment. It mixes with the remaining six waters in an invisible manner. Taaked village remains a tourist and religious attraction today. A fair is organized on the Mahashivratri festival near the sacred water pond. According to other legends, Lepakshi is the place where Jatayu fell after being wounded by Ravana. Rama is said to have commanded the bird to rise Le Pakshi, and hence the name for that town.

RAVANA'S CHARACTER-VALUE

RAVANA

Ravana is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu epic Ramayana; who was the Rakshasa king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama’s wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister Surpanakha. Ravana is described as a devout follower of the god Shiva in addition to his tribe's religious beliefs, a great scholar, a capable ruler and a maestro of the   Veena. He has his apologists and staunch devotees within the Hindu traditions, some of whom believe that his description as a ten-headed person (Daśamukha or Daśagrīva) is a reference to him possessing a very thorough knowledge over the 4 Vedas and 6 Upanishads, which made him as powerful as 10 scholars. However, there is mention in Atharvaveda of demonic Brahmans called Dasagva (ten-headed) and Navagva (nine-headed) and the metaphor of a supernatural number of bodyparts to symbolize powers is an ancient one in Indian mythic depictions. Yet another interpretation of the ten-headed Ravana describe him to be a complete man with nine of his heads representing nine emotions that a man may possess (viz.anger, pride, jealousy, happiness, sadness, fear, selfishness, passion, ambition) and one representing the intellect.

Ravana also authored Ravana Sanhita, a powerful book on the Hindu   Astrology. Ravana possessed a thorough knowledge of Ayurveda and political science. He is said to have possessed the nectar of immortality, which was stored under his navel, thanks to a celestial boon by Brahma. The lake Rakshastaal a salt water formation in Tibet, high up in Himalayas located right next to fresh-water lake Manasarovar is considered to be the place of severe penance tapasya by Ravana.

The name 'Ravana' obtains from the root 'ru' 'raavayati iti raavanah' 'one who makes god love by his compassion actions.' The name Ravana obtains from the root, 'Ra' signifies the sun and 'vana' signifies generation according to a nationalist Sinhala scholar, Arisen. Ravana had many other popular names such as Dasis Ravana, Ravan, Raavan, Ravula, Lankeshwar, and Ravanaeshwaran all signifying the qualities of life. Ravana was a cross of Brahmin and Daitya thus attaining a status of Brahma Rakshasa. Ravana was born Minuwangoda, Gampaha in Sri Lanka in village called the Hindan River that time known as the Hir River. Ravana was born to a great sage Vishrava (or Vesamuni), and his wife, the daitya princess Kaikesi. He was born in the Devagana gotra, as his grandfather, the sage Pulastya, was one of the ten Prajapatis or mind-born sons of Brahma and one of the Saptarishi (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the first Manvantara. Kaikesi's father, Sumali (or Sumalaya), king of the Daityas, wished her to marry the most powerful being in the mortal world, so as to produce an exceptional heir. He rejected the kings of the world, as they were less powerful than him. Kaikesi searched among the sages and finally chose Vishrava, the father of Kubera. Ravana was thus partly Brahmin and partly Daitya. Ravana later conquered Sri Lanka from his half brother Kubera and became the King of Lanka.Even though he was partly Brahmin and partly Rakshas, Rama praised Ravan as Mahabrahmin. Rama had to do Ashwamedha yagna as penance for killing a Brahmin (Brahmahatyadosha). His brothers were Vibhishana, Kumbhakarana and Ahiravana. Through his mother, he was related to the daityas Maricha and Subahu. Kaikesi also gave birth to a daughter, Meenakshi ("girl with fish like eyes"), although later she was dubbed the infamous Shoorpanakha "winnow-like nails". Father Vishrava noted that while Ravana was aggressive and arrogant, he was also an exemplary scholar. Under Vishrava's tutelage, Ravana mastered the Vedas, the holy books, and also the arts and ways of Kshatriya (warriors). Ravana was also an excellent veena player and the sign of his flag had a picture of veena on it. Sumali, his mother's father, worked hard in secret to ensure that Ravana retained the ethics of the Daityas.

The Ramayana tells that Ravana had close connections with region of the Yadus, which included Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra and Rajasthan up to Mathura south of Delhi. Ravana is believed to be related to Lavanasura, also regarded as a Rakshasa, of Madhupura (Mathura) in the region of the Surasenas, who was conquered & killed by Shatrughna, youngest brother of Rama.

After worshipping a Shiva Linga on the banks of the Narmada, in the more central Yadu region, Ravana was captured and held under the control of King   Kartavirya Arjuna, one of the greatest Yadu kings. It is very clear from the references in the Ramayana that Ravana was no commoner among the Humans or Asuras, a great chanter of the Sama Veda.

Following his initial training, Ravana performed an intense penance (or tapasya) to Brahma (the Creator God), lasting several years. During his penance, Ravana chopped off his head Ten times as a sacrifice to appease brahma. Each time he sliced his head off a new head arose, thus enabling him to continue his penance. At last, Brahama, pleased with his austerity, appeared after his 10th decapitation and offered him a boon. Ravana asked for immortality, which Brahma refused to give, but gave him the celestial nectar of immortality. The nectar of immortality, stored under his navel, dictated that he could not be vanquished for as long as it lasted. Ravana also asked for absolute invulnerability from and supremacy over gods, heavenly spirits, other rakshas, serpents, and wild beasts. Contemptuous of mortal men, he did not ask for protection from these. Brahma granted him these boons in addition to his 10 severed heads and great strength by way of knowledge of divine weapons and magic. Thus ravana known as 'Dasamukha' (Dasa = ten, mukha =face). After winning these boons, Ravana sought out his grandfather, Sumali, and assumed leadership over his army. He then set his sights on capturing the island city of Lanka. Lanka was an idyllic city, created by the celestial architect Vishwakarma for kKubera, the treasurer of the gods. Kubera had generously shared all that he owned with Ravana and the latter's siblings, who were Kubera's half-brothers and half-sister through his stepmother Kaikesi. However, Ravana demanded Lanka wholly from him, threatening to take it by force. Vishrava, their father, advised Kubera to give it up to him, as Ravana was now undefeatable.  Although Ravana usurped Lanka, he was nevertheless regarded as a benevolent and effective ruler. Lanka flourished under his rule, to the extent that it is said the poorest of houses had vessels of gold to eat and drink off, and hunger was unknown in the kingdom.

Following his conquest of Lanka, Ravana encountered Shiva at his abode in Kailash. Ravana at first went to meet Shiva. Nandi the vehicle of Shiva, refused to let Ravana in. He got annoyed and started teasing Nandi. Nandi in turn got annoyed and cursed Ravana that Lanka would be destroyed by a monkey. To show Nandi his love for Shiva, Ravana attempted to uproot and move the mountain on a whim. Shiva, annoyed by Ravana's arrogance, pressed his littlest Toe on Kailash, pinning him firmly and painfully under it. His ganas informed Ravana of whom he had crossed, upon which Ravana became penitent. He plucked his nerves and used them as strings to compose music and sang songs praising Shiva, and is said to have done so for years until Shiva released him from his bondage. Pleased with his resilience and devotion, Shiva gave to him the divine sword Chandrahas (Chandra-Moon, Has-laugh, literally 'the laughter of the moon' but referring to the shape formed by a crescent moon which resembles a smile). It was during this incident that he acquired the name 'Ravana', meaning "(He) of the terrifying roar", given to him by Shiva - the earth is said to have quaked at Ravana's cry of pain when the mountain was pinned on him. Ravana in turn became a lifelong devotee of Lord Shiva and is said to have composed the hymn known as Shiva Tandava Stotra.

Lord Shiva had given his sword Chandrahasa with a caveat that if it was used for unjust causes, it would return to the three eyed one and Ravana's days would be numbered. After Ravana had been given the Celestial juice of Immortality by Brahma, he went on to please Shiva. He cut his head & put it as sacrifice for pleasing Shiva, but Shiva replaced his head with a new one. This was repeated Nine times, on which Shiva was happy & pleased with Ravana's resilience & devotion. Thus he also got name Dasa-sheesha. Kubera at one point chastised Ravana for his cruelty and greed, greatly angering him. Proceeding to the heavens, Ravana fought and defeated the devas, singling out his brother for particular humiliation. By force he gained command over the devtas, celestials, and the serpent races. At the time of the Ramayana, set several hundred years later, Ravana is shown as dominating all human and divine races - so much so that he can command the Sun's rising and setting Ravana was known for his virility and his aggressive conquests of women but he had only one wife, Mandodari- daughter of Mayasura and an apsara named Hema. Mandodari was renowned for her wisdom and grace as well as beauty and chastity. The first was the encounter with the sage-woman Vedavati. Vedavati had been performing penance with the intention of winning Lord Vishnu as her husband. Ravana met her at her hermitage, her beauty enhanced by the austerities she had performed. He proposes to her and is rejected. Ravana mocks her austerities and her devotion to Vishnu; finding himself firmly rejected at every turn, he tries to molest Vedavati, pulling her hair. This greatly incensed her, and she forthwith cut off her hair, and said she would enter into the fire before his eyes, adding, "Since I have been insulted in the forest by thee who are wicked-hearted, I shall be born again for thy destruction." So she entered the blazing fire, and celestial flowers fell all around. It was she who was born again as Sita, and was the moving cause of Ravana's death, though Rama was the agent. Vedavati is said to have been reborn as Sita, causing Ravana's death and winning Vishnu (as Rama) as her husband.

LAKSHMANA'S CHARACTER-VALUE

LAKSHMANA

Lakshmana was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayan. Within a number of Hindu traditions Lakshmana is considered to be an avatar, in a secondary form to  Rama’s main appearance. In some Hindu traditions he is worshiped as an avatar of Sheshanaga.The name may also be written as Lakshman or Laxman. Lakshmana is the twin brother of Shatrughan, born in Ayodhya to Sumitra,   the third wife of Dasharatha, king of Kosala. Thus, Rama is the eldest, Bharata is the second, Lakshmana is the third, and Shatrughana is the youngest of the four brothers. Despite being the twin of Shatrughna, Lakshmana is specially attached to Rama, and the duos are inseparable. When Rama marries Sita,  Lakshmana married the younger sister of Sita named Urmila.

In Puranic scripture Lakshmana is described as the incarnation of Ananta  Shesha naga, the thousand-headed Naga upon whom rests Lord Vishnu in the primordial ocean of milk (Kshirasagar). The Lord of Serpents, Sheshanaga was incarnated to the earth in the form of Lakshmana and during the Dvapara Yuga, he incarnated as Balarama. He is said to be an eternal companion of Vishnu in all incarnations.

Lakshmana is part of the Mariyada Purshottamm, or The Perfect Man personified by Rama, by his unswerving loyalty, love and commitment to his elder brother through times of joy and adversity alike. He is an invincible warrior committed to virtue and the service of his brother. He never covets the throne of Ayodhya, nor hesitates from joining his brother in exile, even though he does not have to. Early in their exile Bharata enters the forest with the royal entourage to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya and rule as king. Lakshmana initially mistakes his intentions; he jumps to the conclusion that Bharata was approaching with malicious intent. Rama, however, knows of Bharata's love for him and explains to Lakshmana that Bharata would never try to harm them.

Lakshmana serves Rama and Sita reverently during the exile, building them a home in the forest and devotedly standing guard during the night, and accompanying them on tiring journeys and long passages of lonely forest life without complaint or care for himself.

One day Ravana's sister Surpanakha sees Rama's beauty and desires to marry him. She takes on the appearance of an equally beautiful girl and goes towards Rama's hut. There she proposes marriage to him, but he declines, saying that he has vowed to have only one wife. She sees Lakshmana and asks him to marry her, since he is equally as handsome. He also declines, explaining that he cannot take care of her as he is a servant to Rama and has duties to fulfill. She is angered by their rejections, so she insults Sita and threatens to eat her. Lakshmana comes to Sita's defense and cuts off Surpanakha's nose in anger.

When Sita asks Rama to fetch the magical, golden deer for her, Rama asks Lakshmana to guard Sita and their home, and to take special care since he felt bad omens and sensed danger and evil. The golden deer is in fact the demon  Maricha,  who must distract Rama and Lakshmana away from the hut so as to allow Ravana to kidnap Sita.

When Rama kills the deer, even as he is dying, Maricha cries out in Rama's own voice, crying for Sita and Lakshmana to help him. Although Lakshmana knows that Rama is invincible and beyond any danger, Sita panics and frantically orders Lakshmana to go to Rama's aid immediately. Unable to disobey the frightened and panicky Sita, and genuinely beginning to fear for Rama's safety, Lakshmana goes out to search for him. He however uses his mystical power to draw the Lakshmana Rekha or Lakshmana's Limit, a perimeter line across the hut that Sita must not cross, and no other being save Lakshmana or Rama may enter uninvited. If any intruder enters, it will be instantly killed.

Sita however, out of compulsion of religious duty and compassion for a poor  Brahmin, who is actually the disguised Ravana, crosses the line to give him alms. Thus Ravana was safely able to seize Sita. The Lakshmana Rekha has become a metaphor in situations where a certain limit must not be transgressed by human beings in any circumstance whatsoever. Ramacharitamanas, the wildly popular North Indian rendering of story of Rama, does not feature the Lakshmana Rekha story in the Aranya Kanda. Neither does the original, the Valmiki Ramayana. However in Lanka Kanda of the Ramcharitmanas, Mandodari rebukes Ravana on his boisterous claims of valour by hinting that his claim of strength and valour is shallow for he could not even cross a small line drawn by Rama's younger brother Lakshmana.

Durvasa, Rama, and Lakshmana in the Uttara Kanda of Valmiki's Ramayana, Durvasa appears at Rama's doorstep, and seeing Lakshmana guarding the door, demands an audience with Rama. At the time, Rama was having a private conversation with Death disguised as an ascetic. Before the conversation began, Death gave Rama strict instructions that their dialogue was to remain confidential, and anyone who entered the room and saw or heard them was to be executed. Rama agreed and entrusted Lakshmana with the duty of guarding his door and fulfilling his promise to Death. Thus, when Durvasa made his demand, Lakshmana politely asked the sage to wait until Rama had finished his meeting. The sage grew angry and threatened to curse all of Ayodhya if Lakshmana did not immediately inform Rama of his arrival. Lakshmana, in a dilemma, decided it would be better that he alone die to save all of Ayodhya from falling under Durvasa's curse, and so interrupted Rama's meeting to inform him of the sage's arrival. Rama quickly concluded his meeting with Death and received the sage with due courtesy. Durvasa told Rama of his desire to be fed, and Rama fulfilled his guest's request, whereupon the satisfied sage went on his way. Rama was overcome with sorrow, for he did not want to kill his beloved brother, Lakshmana. Still, he had given his word to Death and could not go back on it. He called his advisers to help him resolve this quandary. On Vasishta's advice, he ordered Lakshmana to leave him for good, since such abandonment was equivalent to death as far as the pious were concerned. Lakshmana then went to the banks of the Sarayu, resolved on giving up the world through Yoga. Unseen by anyone, Indra took him to heaven.

Lakshmana is revered for his absolute devotion to Rama. His performance of his duties as a younger brother is considered to be a sacrifice and superiority of character as such duties are especially hard to do in adverse conditions. Lakshmana's life symbolizes the duties of a man to his elders and superiors, and how greatly valued is selflessness in a man's character.

HANUMAN'S CHARACTER-VALUE

 HANUMAN

Hanuman is a Hindu deity, who was an ardent devotee of Rama according to Hindus legends. He is a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana, and also finds mentions in several other texts, including Mahabharat, the various Puranas and some Jain texts. A vanara (ape-like humanoid), Hanuman participated in Rama's war against the demon king Ravana. Several texts also present Hanuman as an incarnation of the Lord Shiva. Hanuman was like Lord Shiva who held the powerful poison in his throat and save the universe.

The Sanskrit texts mention several legends about how Hanuman got his name. One legend is that Indra, the king of the deities struck Hanuman's jaw during his childhood. The child received his name from the Sanskrit words Hanu ("jaw") and -man (or -mant, "prominent" or "disfigured"). The name thus means "one with prominent or disfigured jaw". Another theory says the name derives from the Sanskrit words Han ("killed" or "destroyed") and maana (pride); the name implies "one whose pride was destroyed". Hanuman spent his childhood on an island called Hanuruha, which is the origin of his name.

Other names of Hanuman include:

• Anjaneya, Anjaniputra or Anjaneyudu  (Telugu), all meaning "the son of Anjana.  
• Kesari Nandan ("son of Kesari).
• Maruti ("son of Marut") or Pavanputra ("son of Pavan"); these names derive from the various names of Vayu, the deity who carried Hanuman to Anjana's womb
• Maharudra ("the great Rudra"), from the theory that Hanuman was an incarnation of Shiva  (also known as Rudra).
• Bajrang Vali, "the strong one (Vali), who has limbs (anga) as hard as a  Vajra (bajra)"; this name is widely used in rural North India

In addition, Hanuman has received several epithets, including:

• Manojavam, the one who is swift as mind (appears in Rama Raksha Stotra).   
• Maarutatulyavegam, the one who has a speed equal to the wind God (appears in Rama Raksha Stotra).   
• Jitendriyam, the one who has complete control on his senses (appears in Rama Raksha Stotra).
• Buddhimataamvarishtham, the one who is most senior among intellectuals (appears in Rama Raksha Stotra).
• Vaataatmajam, the one who is the son of wind God (appears in Rama Raksha Stotra).
• Vaanarayoothamukhyam, the one who is the chief of Vanara army (appears in Rama Raksha Stotra). Similar in meaning to - Vaanaraanamadheesham.
• Shreeraamdootam, the one who is the messenger of Rama (appears in Rama Raksha Stotra).    
• Atulit Bal Dhaamam, the one who is the repository of incomparable strength.
• Hemshailaabh Deham, the one whose body resembles a golden mountain.
• Danujvan Krushanum, the one who is the destroyer of forces of demons.
• Gyaaninaam Agraganyam, the one who is considered foremost among knowledgeable beings.
• Sakal Gun Nidhaanam, the one who is the repository of all the virtues and good qualities.
• Raghupati Priya Bhaktam, the one who is the dearest of all devotees to Lord Rama.   
• Sankat Mochan, the one who liberates (moc) from dangers (sankat)

Hanuman was born to the humanoid creatures called the vanara. His mother  Anjana was an apsara who was born on earth as a female vanara due to a curse. She would be redeemed from this curse on her giving birth to a son. The Valmiki Ramayana states that his father Kesari was the son of  Brihaspati and that Kesari also fought on Rama's side in the war against Ravana. Anjana and Kesari performed intense prayers to Shiva to get a child. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva granted them the boon they sought. Hanuman, in another interpretation, is the incarnation or reflection of Shiva himself.