Hanumad Avatāra

This narrative is from Chapter 20 of the Śata Rudra Saṃhitā in the Śiva Purāṇa. It tells how Parameśvara Śiva was born as Hanumān, the son of Añjanī, from Śiva’s own vīrya (seed). The Saptarshis carried it and placed it in Añjanī’s ear, for the sake of Rāma’s mission. The chapter then tells the main acts of Hanumān’s service. He swallowed the sun and learned from Sūrya. He joined Sugrīva and Rāma, crossed the ocean, went to Laṅkā and burned it. Rāma set up a Śivaliṅga at Rāmeśvara. Hanumān saved Lakshmaṇa and slew Mahirāvaṇa. All of this was done as the avatāra (descent) of Śiva for the sake of his devotee Rāma.

The origin: Śiva’s vīrya for Rāma’s mission

Nandīśvara tells that once Śaṃbhu, who is full of wonderful līlās (divine play) and has every excellent quality, saw the enchanting Mohinī form of Vishṇu. As part of his own divine play for Rāma’s mission, Śiva let his mind seem struck by the arrows of Kāma, and he let his vīrya go. The Saptarshis, moved from within by Śiva, collected this vīrya with respect on a leaf. Directed by Śiva for Rāma’s purpose, they placed it through the ear of Añjanī, the daughter of Gautama. In due time Hanumān was born from Śiva’s vīrya, with great strength and courage, in the form of a vānara. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20)

The wonder of childhood: swallowing the sun

When Hanumān was a small child, he saw the bright disc of the sun rise at dawn. He took it for a fruit, leapt up at great speed and swallowed it. The worlds fell into darkness and distress. The devas knew that this child was Śiva’s own avatāra. They prayed to Hanumān and asked him to let the sun go. He did so, and he received many boons from the devas and the maharshis. He went back to his mother with joy and told her everything. Then, with his mother’s leave, he began to go every day to Sūrya, and he easily learned every branch of knowledge from Bhagavān Sūrya himself. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20)

With Sugrīva and Rāma

Hanumān, born of a part (aṃśa) of Rudra, was a great vānara hero. With his mother’s leave and Sūrya’s instruction, he went to Sugrīva, the son born of a part of Sūrya, who was at Mount Ṛshyamūka. Sugrīva’s elder brother Vālī had wrongly taken Sugrīva’s wife and driven him away. Sugrīva lived on Mount Ṛshyamūka with Hanumān as his companion. Hanumān, wise and born of a part of Śiva, became Sugrīva’s minister and served him in every way.

Rāma then came to Ṛshyamūka with Lakshmaṇa, grieving over the carrying off of Sītā. Hanumān brought about the alliance between Sugrīva and Rāma. Rāma then slew Vālī, the proud and wicked brother who had taken his younger brother’s wife. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20)

The search for Sītā and the crossing of the ocean

Rāma sent Hanumān with a great army of vānaras to search for Sītā. Hanumān learned that Sītā was held in Laṅkā. He leapt across the ocean, a crossing that ordinary beings cannot make, and entered Laṅkā.

In Laṅkā he did extraordinary deeds of courage. He found Sītā and gave her Rāma’s ring as a sign by which she would know him. He told her Rāma’s story and kept her hope alive. He killed Akshayakumāra, Rāvaṇa’s son, with many rākshasas. He broke up Rāvaṇa’s garden, the Aśoka-vana, and caused great confusion.

Rāvaṇa’s men tied Hanumān’s tail and set it on fire. Hanumān showed the unbreakable power of Mahādeva. He slipped out of their hold and leapt from building to building, using his burning tail to set the whole of Laṅkā on fire. He spared only the house of Vibhīshaṇa. Then he plunged into the ocean to put out his tail, and he crossed back to the shore with joy and energy. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20)

The Śivaliṅga at Rāmeśvara

Hanumān returned to Rāma and gave him Sītā’s cūḍāmaṇi (jewelled hair ornament) as her token in return. He then led the army of vānaras in gathering great mountains and building the great bridge across the sea.

When Rāma reached the seashore and was about to cross, he first set up a Śivaliṅga and worshipped it with full devotion. This is the famous Rāmeśvara liṅga. He prayed for victory. Through Śiva’s boon, victory was then sure. Rāma crossed the ocean with his forces and laid siege to Laṅkā. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20)

The rescue of Lakshmaṇa and the slaying of Mahirāvaṇa

In the great battle Lakshmaṇa fell, struck by the Śakti weapon, and seemed to be dying. Hanumān flew to the Himālaya, took the Sañjīvanī herb, and came back to bring Lakshmaṇa to life.

Mahirāvaṇa, an asura of Pātāla, carried off both Rāma and Lakshmaṇa and held them prisoner. Hanumān went down to Pātāla, slew Mahirāvaṇa, and brought both of them back. Through the whole war Hanumān was the chief protector of Rāma’s whole army. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20)

Hanumān’s greatness

The Śata Rudra Saṃhitā says that Bhagavān Rudra, descending as Hanumān in this way, saved Lakshmaṇa’s life, gave joy to all the devas, and raised up his devotees. In all that he did, Hanumān set firm in the world devotion to Rāma, through the strength of his own deep devotion. He bore the famous title Rāma-dūta, the messenger of Rāma. The Śata Rudra Saṃhitā says that hearing this account of Hanumān (Hanumad-charita) with devotion and an attentive mind brings every pleasure in this world and moksha (liberation) after death. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20)

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 20