http://hanuman.tribe.net/thread/5bf7f1dd-bd7c-4448-b9fc-b1a2a35be90b?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://Hanuman.tribe.net/thread/5bf7f1dd-bd7c-4448-b9fc-b1a2a35be90b#f9efbc31-0060-488f-abef-9c35b9462eb7 I read the articles there every month! Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:49:32 GMT http://Hanuman.tribe.net/thread/5bf7f1dd-bd7c-4448-b9fc-b1a2a35be90b#f9efbc31-0060-488f-abef-9c35b9462eb7 Hannah 2008-04-17T20:49:32Z http://Hanuman.tribe.net/thread/5bf7f1dd-bd7c-4448-b9fc-b1a2a35be90b#05e84e1e-c41e-4b0c-9034-cf2c3023b9b3 There's a very nice new article about Shri Hanuman on the Exotic India website. Here is an interesting exceprt: Hanuman's Origin And Evolution Of Name In Jain Literature Jain texts have quite a different legend of Hanuman's birth. In Jain myths, Hanuman, Bali, Sugriva and other Vanaras are identified as Vidyadharas, a clan of supernatural beings. As has Paumachariyam, a text by Vimalasuri, a Jain monk, dated in between 2nd to 4th century, Anjana, Hanuman's mother, was the princess of Mahendrapur married to Pavanajaya, the prince of Adityapura. To avenge a pre-marriage remark of hers Pavanajaya had married Anjana but had not consummated his marriage. One night when on warfront he had an intense feeling to meet her. He instantly rushed to his palace, went to Anjana's chamber, remained with her the whole night indulging in love and all, and returned unnoticed to his camp before sunrise. Anjana conceived. Her in-laws, considering her corrupt, drove her out. Her own parents, believing the allegation, also turned her away. A cave gave her shelter where she bore her child. The other day, her maternal uncle Pratisurya of Hanuruhapura, hearing of the incidence, came to her and took her with the newborn to Hanuruhapura. When yet on their way, the child slipped from Anjana's lap and Pratisurya's 'vimana' - aircraft, and fell on the earth. When landed, Anjana and her maternal uncle could not believe their eyes. The child with the thumb of his right leg in his mouth was in smiles and the rock he fell on was completely smashed. This tradition discovers in Hanuruhapura, where the child spent his early days, the source of his name as Hanuman. Evolution Of Hanuman's Name In Other Texts The evolution of Hanuman's name is differently traced in Brahmanical texts. It is said that a day after his birth the child, with hunger in eyes, looked upward and saw the sun. He took it for a ripe fruit, leapt towards it, grabbed it and put it into his mouth. It was the day of sun's eclipse by Rahu, the notorious planet. Rahu reached the sky but not finding the sun in its place went to Indra and charge-sheeted Anjana's son for hiding the sun and aborting nature's course. Finding the complaint genuine Indra hurled his vajra - thunderbolt, to punish the child and get the sun released. Though Hanuman bore Indra's 'vajra' on his 'hanu' - chin, he fell from the sky. His chin was slightly hurt. Thus for spanning Indra's utmost power with his 'hanu' he got his Hanuman name. The incident, however, infuriated Vayu, his father. In protest, he stopped blowing, endangering life of all, man, animal and vegetation. All gods entreated Vayu to resume functioning. To compensate damage each god blessed the child with one of his attributes. Indra declared that hence onwards his 'vajra' would remain ineffective against Hanuman. The incident is narrated in some texts with some variations. Despite that Indra hurled his 'vajra' on Hanuman, he did not release the sun. Hearing sun's cry for help Ravana rushed to its rescue. He began pulling Hanuman's tail which greatly annoyed him. The furious Hanuman released the sun but attacked Ravana. In a year long fight Ravana got defeated but Hanuman continued to strike on him. It was only after sage Visrava persuaded him that Hanuman let Ravana go. In Valmiki Ramayana, it is the sun, not Rahu, that runs to Indra praying for protection but Hanuman chases him there too, which annoys Indra and he hurls his 'vajra' on him. To read the whole article, go here: http://www.exoticindia.com/article/hanumana/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:54:29 GMT http://Hanuman.tribe.net/thread/5bf7f1dd-bd7c-4448-b9fc-b1a2a35be90b#05e84e1e-c41e-4b0c-9034-cf2c3023b9b3 Cynthia 2008-04-17T15:54:29Z