ORIGIN OF THE NAME HANUMAN

ORIGIN OF THE NAME HANUMAN 

FROM: Ram Varmha April 9, 2012 11:49 AM



I wonder how many know the meaning of the name HanumAn and how the name came to be? For those who do not know, I give this narrative:

As a child, HanumAn, once saw the bright red globe of the rising sun. Thinking it was a ripe fruit he leaped up into the sky to devourer the succulent treat. Indra, fearing the worst and to protect the Sun, threw his Vajra (thunderbolt) at the young Hanuman. Struck by the weapon on his cheek, Hanuman fell down in a coma. Hanuman's celestial father, Vayu, the Wind-God, sensing his son's possible demise, was devastated and withdrew into a cave, with Hanuman's body. There was no wind in the atmosphere and people began to choke for lack of air. Brahma intervened and granted the boy great strength and immortality. Thus, HanumAn became a "chiranjeevi" - one who lives for ever!

In Sanskrit, "Hanu" = cheek and "mAnth" = injure or hurt.
Hence, HanumAn(th) = One who was injured on the cheek.

Nothing pleases Hanuman more than hearing RAmAyaNa recitals. It is said that whenever, wherever, RAmAyaNa is sung or read, Hanuman will be found very close by.

It is not only in India that HanumAn is worshipped. Hanuman is worshipped In Burma, Singapore, Malaysia, Bali and Indonesia as well most of the South East Asian countries.

In ancient China HanumAn was worshipped as Son Wukong, aMonkey-God of immense strength. In Japan he was worshiped as Son Goku. Monkey-God worship in Japan grew greatly in popularity, especially among practitioners of Taoist Koshin rites introduced from China, probably through South East Asia or India. The origin of the three monkeys, "Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil, See No Evil," is said to have originated during the early days of the Monkey-God worship, in Japan
As a child, HanumAn, once saw the bright red globe of the rising sun. Thinking it was a ripe fruit he leaped up into the sky to devourer the succulent treat. Indra, fearing the worst and to protect the Sun, threw his Vajra (thunderbolt) at the young Hanuman. Struck by the weapon on his cheek, Hanuman fell down in a coma. Hanuman's celestial father, Vayu, the Wind-God, sensing his son's possible demise, was devastated and withdrew into a cave, with Hanuman's body. There was no wind in the atmosphere and people began to choke for lack of air. Brahma intervened and granted the boy great strength and immortality. Thus, HanumAn became a "chiranjeevi" - one who lives for ever!
In Sanskrit, "Hanu" = cheek and "mAnth" = injure or hurt.Hence, HanumAn(th) = One who was injured on the cheek.
Nothing pleases Hanuman more than hearing RAmAyaNa recitals. It is said that whenever, wherever, RAmAyaNa is sung or read, Hanuman will be found very close by.
It is not only in India that HanumAn is worshipped. Hanuman is worshipped In Burma, Singapore, Malaysia, Bali and Indonesia as well most of the South East Asian countries. 
In ancient China HanumAn was worshipped as Son Wukong, aMonkey-God of immense strength. In Japan he was worshiped as Son Goku. Monkey-God worship in Japan grew greatly in popularity, especially among practitioners of Taoist Koshin rites introduced from China, probably through South East Asia or India. The origin of the three monkeys, "Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil, See No Evil," is said to have originated during the early days of the Monkey-God worship, in Japan