2. Anjaneya’s Destiny and the Turmoil in Kiskindhya
Encouraged by Indra’s support, Rahu proceeded to drive Anjaneya away from the sun. Upon seeing Rahu, Anjaneya mistook him for another delicious fruit and advanced to catch him. Rahu, horrified, hid behind Indra and cried, “Look, sir! The infant terrible is coming to swallow me. What should I do?”
“Do not fear!” said Indra as he directed his elephant, Airavata, towards Anjaneya. Delighted by the trumpeting Airavata, Anjaneya perceived the white, heavenly elephant as a gigantic fruit and immediately pounced upon him. Terrified by Anjaneya’s action, Airavata turned back. Indra had no choice but to throw his Vajrayudha—the weapon of thunder—at Anjaneya. Struck, the infant Anjaneya lost consciousness and lay still on the Udayadri hills along the eastern horizon.
The Sorrow of Vayu and Anjana
Vayu, the God of Wind, became sad and angry upon witnessing Anjaneya’s condition. He chose to remain still, depriving the world of wind.
Meanwhile, upon returning to her hut, Anjana discovered her child was missing. Desperately, she searched everywhere, yet found no trace of him. Consumed by grief, she wept.
Keshari consoled her, saying, “Our son mistook the rising sun for a sweet fruit and tried to swallow it. Rahu was distressed, which compelled Indra to use his thunder weapon to stop him. Our son has fainted, and in protest, Vayu has halted his work. But do not despair; he will recover.”
The Intervention of Brahma
As the winds ceased, the gods grew concerned and approached Brahma, informing him of the situation. Brahma wasted no time in rushing to Vayu. “My son,” he said, “do you realize what would happen to creation if you became inactive? Please resume your duties.”
Vayu was pleased and descended to the horizon, lifting Anjaneya and placing him at Brahma’s feet. Brahma blessed the infant, and he regained consciousness. With Vayu happy, the winds began to blow once again.
Divine Blessings
Brahma then addressed the assembly of gods, saying, “This infant will bring delight to all realms. He is an emanation of Lord Shiva. Let us bless him.” Bhudevi, the presiding deity of the earth, granted Anjaneya the power to master the Vedas. Varuna, the God of Waters, ensured he would not face danger from water, while Yama, the God of Death, exempted him from old age and death. Kuvera and Viswakarma also bestowed their blessings upon him. Indra named him Hanuman, meaning ‘the one with the strong jaw.’ The name held significance as Anjaneya’s jaws had taken a new shape after being struck by the thunder.
Indra then blessed him, promising he would never fear thunder again. Brahma told Vayu, “This child will achieve great glory. He will be as calm as the mountains and, at will, will see the entire universe. He will be an ascetic with absolute control over his senses, and he will possess boundless compassion, courage, and virtue.”
Childhood of Hanuman
After their blessings, Brahma and the gods dispersed, with Vayu carrying Anjaneya back to Anjana, whose joy knew no bounds. The gods and seers conversed about this miracle boy who attempted to swallow the sun, a feat that no one else could dare!
Keshari was overjoyed to learn that his son had been blessed by all the gods. However, as Hanuman grew up, he became somewhat of a problem child, restless and energetic. His anxious parents advised and cautioned him to behave, but for a while, Hanuman seemed almost uncontrollable.
The Call to Kiskindhya
The Brahmins grew worried about Hanuman’s capricious behavior. They understood he was free from any curse, thanks to the boons received from the gods. However, they were concerned that if he misused his great powers, it could endanger the world.
Fortunately, everyone’s worries were short-lived, as Hanuman soon settled down and became calm and wise, bringing happiness to all around him. As time passed, Anjana approached Hanuman one day and told him, “Son! In Kiskindhya, there live two brothers named Vali and Sugriva. They are your uncles. I want you to go to Kiskindhya and live under Sugriva’s care. But remember, if the two brothers quarrel, you must not kill Vali on behalf of Sugriva.”
Hanuman bowed to his mother and set off for Kiskindhya, where he was warmly welcomed by Vali and Sugriva. He soon became a minister to Sugriva, showing his value and loyalty.
A Quest for Knowledge
Hanuman developed a strong desire to master the knowledge of the Vedas. One day, before dawn, he flew into the eastern horizon, prostrating himself to the rising sun. Pleased, the sun asked, “What is your desire?”
“O luminous one! I wish to gain knowledge of the Vedas and other great scriptures,” replied Hanuman.
“O great one! I will place one leg on the eastern horizon and the other on the western horizon and lean towards you, even while you are in motion,” Hanuman assured him.
The Blessing of the Sun
“Great is your capacity, my son! There is none to compare with you,” the sun responded. “Stand as you said; it will be a magnificent scene for the gods.” Hanuman then circled the sun with folded hands, expanding himself, with his head soon surpassing the stars. Even Brahma marveled at this sight!
Immensely pleased, the sun remarked, “My son, you are born with the attributes of Shiva. What can I teach you?”
But Hanuman replied humbly, “O great one! You are the origin of all knowledge. I cannot rest until I have the privilege to learn from you.”
Hanuman returned to his normal shape and followed the sun, taking mighty strides to keep pace with the speed of the celestial body. He received not only the knowledge of scriptures but also mastery over the great arts.
The Return to Kiskindhya
When his education was complete, Hanuman convey ed his gratitude to the sun and returned to Kiskindhya, where Sugriva was immensely pleased with the scholarly achievements of his nephew and counselor.
Vali and Sugriva shared a deep bond. Following their father’s death, Vali ascended to the throne while Sugriva was declared the heir. Vali’s valor was widely recognized; none could defeat him. Ravana, who had subdued many kings, once challenged Vali to combat. Vali overcame him effortlessly, leading to Ravana viewing him as an ally.
Conflicts in Kiskindhya
Shortly after, a demon named Dundhuvi sought combat with the mountain Himavan. Himavan, recognizing his own limitations, directed the demon to Vali. Heeding this, Dundhuvi challenged Vali, who promptly defeated and killed him, hurling his body away. Unfortunately, the dead body landed on Mount Rushyamuk, where a sage named Matanga was deep in meditation. Angered by the disturbance, the sage cursed Vali, declaring he would die if he ever ventured to Rushyamuk.
Dundhuvi had a son named Mayavi, who became Vali’s arch-enemy. One night, Mayavi appeared in Kiskindhya, challenging Vali to a duel. Sugriva and Vali’s wife urged him to wait, but Vali dismissed their concerns.
The Toll of Battle
Sugriva followed Vali into battle. When Mayavi noticed both brothers, he fled, leading Vali and Sugriva in pursuit. After a while, Mayavi entered a tunnel inside a mountain. “Stay here while I confront Mayavi,” Vali instructed Sugriva before entering the tunnel.
As time passed, Vali did not return. A stream of blood flowed from the tunnel, accompanied by a sinister laughter resembling that of a demon. Sugriva, fearing the worst, believed Vali had been slain.
Devastated, he placed a large stone at the tunnel’s entrance and returned to Kiskindhya. As the heir to the throne, Sugriva was crowned king, left to grapple with both sorrow and the weight of his new responsibilities.
