Hanuman, one of the most popular deities in the Hindu pantheon, first appears in the Valmiki Ramayana and since then has captured the hearts and imagination of poets, saints, and scholars.
This book explores the vast corpus of Ramayana literature within, and beyond India, including folk-lore and sthalapuraņas, as well as the performing arts and iconography, to provide a composite picture of the many facets of this invincible Monkey-God.
Hanuman is the quintessential bhakta, and as Rama's dearest devotee he is worshipped by millions of Hindus, and many non-Hindus, as the bridge to Godhead, and as the deity to turn to for relief from physical and mental distress.
Prof. Shrikala Warrier is an anthropologist with a Ph.D from the University of London. She developed the first validated degree programme for Ayurveda in the West, and retired as the Dean of MAYUR University, a small private institution in London. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has taught at universities in India and the United Kingdom. She has also undertaken research for several organizations, including the National Health Service in the UK. the World Health Organization, the British Red Cross, The King's Fund, and Helen House, the first children's hospice in the world.
Her book "Kamandalu: The Seven Sacred Rivers of Hinduism", published in 2014 by MAYUR University, draws on the Vedas and other sacred Hindu texts to present the myths associated with the Saptapunyanadi that define the physical, spiritual, and cultural landscape of India. Other published works include Dates and Meanings of Religious and Other Multi-ethnic Festivals, co-authored with John Walshe (published by W. Foulsham Educational Publishers). contributions to Enterprising Women: Ethnicity, Economy and Gender Relations (edited by S. Westwood and P. Bhachu, Routledge, 1988) and Desh Pardesh: The South Asian Presence in Britain (edited by Roger Ballard, Hurst, 1994).
Ever since he appeared in the Valmiki Rāmāyana, Hanuman has captured the imagination of poets, saints, scholars, and devotees. His heroic deeds in the service of Sri Rama exemplify the concept of bhakti that lies at the core of Hindu belief, and the many temples dedicated to Hanuman across India, and indeed all over the world where Hindus have settled, testify to the veneration and adoration he inspires.
The legends and myths about Hanuman are legion, and they have been made accessible to children and adults through various media. These include the "Amarchitra" comic-strip format, popular books on Hindu mythology, and blockbuster television serials. Many scholarly works draw on different retellings of the Ramakatha, the vast corpus of Puranic literature, and stories that have been transmitted orally in different languages which, over the centuries, have become part of the burgeoning biography of the great Monkey-God.
The popularity of Hanuman in the context of North Indian devotional practices has been examined in depth by many academics. I have digressed from this well-trodden path to shift my gaze south of the Vindhyas to incorporate the sthalapurana of some of the Hanuman temples in South India, especially in the states of Kerala and Karnataka, the stories that have become part of local folklore, and the portrayal of Hanuman in the rich and varied performing arts.
Writing this book has been a fulfilling experience for a Hanuman bhakta, but the finished product owes a great deal to the encouragement and efforts of many other people. I am deeply grateful to my husband Gopi Warrier for his unfailing enthusiasm, staunch support, and encouragement, and for liaising with the publishers and photographers who have helped to bring this work to fruition.
My sincere thanks to the Publishing Team at Motilal Banarsidass for their editorial support, and for the design and layout of the book. I specially wish to acknowledge the help given by Pooja Bhist and Karan Tiwari.
Vedas (1182)
Upanishads (493)
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Ramayana (741)
Mahabharata (354)
Dharmasastras (165)
Goddess (496)
Bhakti (242)
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Journal (187)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (362)
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