Chapter 79 - Hanumatkeśvara (hanumatka-īśvara-liṅga)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: The Liṅga came to be known as Hanumatkeśvara as it resuscitated Hanumān who, during his childhood, was killed by Indra with his Vajra. By the grace of that Liṅga Hanumān became very powerful and was able to perform the valorous deeds in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa. The guest-sages of Rāma advised him to visit Hanumatkeśvara in Mahākālavana. The creation of this Rāma episode is obviously for the glorification of this Liṅga.

Śrī Mahadeva said:

1. O my beloved, know that Hanumatkeśvara Liṅga is the seventy-ninth deity. By merely visiting it, one obtains the desired benefit.

2-9. When the Rākṣasas had been killed and Rāma had obtained the kingdom, O goddess, sages came there to congratulate Rāghava. All those Brāhmaṇas, the chief of whom was Agastya, were adored by Rāma. Delighted in their minds the Brāhmaṇas spoke these words to Rāma: “O Rāma, Ravāṇa with his sons and grandsons was fortunately killed. Formerly we saw you with your wife coming victorious, accompanied by Hanumān, the noble-souled monkey, the slayer of the Rākṣasas, the son of Pavana. May the monkey Hānumān be long-lived. He is a part of Rudra on the surface of the earth. He is born of the womb of Añjanā. May all the Guardians of Quarters—Indra, Agni, Lord Yama, Nirṛti, Varuṇa, Pavana, Kubera and Śiva accompanied by Brahmā always protect him.”

On hearing the words of those sages of purified souls, Rāma was very much surprised. With palms joined in reverence, he spoke: “Why have you ignored Lakṣmaṇa and praised the monkey instead? Of what nature is he? What is his power? What is his vigour? What is his prowess?

10-19. Then they said: “As a matter of fact, this is the reason in the case of the excellent Vānara. There is no one else in all the three worlds who may be equal to him in vigour. O Lord, this highly intelligent one leapt over a distance of a hundred Yojanas. After overpowering (destroying) the city of Laṅkā, he entered the Antaḥpura of Rāvaṇa. He assumed a size of only a span, saw and talked to Sītā, enquired the details of her and she was consoled. The leaders of the Rākṣasa army, the sons of the ministers, the servants and the sons of Rāvaṇa were killed by Hanumān. They were struck by him in the very palace of Rāvaṇa. Again after getting liberated from bonds, he had a talk with the Ten-headed King of Rākṣasas. Laṅkā was reduced to ash like the earth by sin(?). Brave deeds as those of Hanumān have not been heard in the case of Kāla, Śakra, Viṣṇu or Vedhas (Brahmā).

Rāma said:

It is due to the might of the arms of this Hanumān, that I was able to get back Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa, victory, kingdom, friends and kinsmen. How could anyone except this great monkey find out the detailed news of Jānakī? Even this friend of mine, the Lord of the monkeys (i.e. Sugrīva), would not have been able to know the news about Jānakī. When the enmity (of the brothers) started (I wonder) why Vāli was not reduced to ash like grass by this Hanumān with a desire to do something pleasing to Sugrīva? When the Lord of the monkeys was suffering torture, why was he neglected? I think Hanumān did not realize his own strength.

20-30. When Rāma said this, the sages spoke these words: “O most excellent one among the descendants of Raghu, what you say about Hanumān is true. There is no one equal to him in strength nor in speed of movement nor in intellect. But formerly a curse had been pronounced on him by the sages whose statements never turn false or ineffective. It is due to this that his own strength was not realized by this powerful (monkey) at the time when Vāli was torturing Sugrīva. A wonderful feat of this noble-souled one during childhood cannot be easily described. His strength (even then) was great. If you wish to hear, listen, we shall recount.

Immediately after his birth he had a physical form brilliant like that of the rising sun. Desirous of seizing the rising sun he jumped into the sky. While he was rushing speedily, O Rāma, his jaw was suddenly hit with the thunderbolt by Śakra who had understood this quickly. Struck by the thunderbolt of Śakra, he fell on a mountain. When he was falling headlong his jaw got broken. When the infant fell down almost dead due to the blow received from the thunderbolt, Vāyu (Wind-god) carried him on to Mahākālavana. For the sake of his son, Pavana (Wind) propitiated the Liṅga then. As soon as he came into contact with the Liṅga, the monkey rose up like a drying plant after being watered. He was fully restored to life. After seeing him revived, Pavana was excessively delighted in his heart. He took up the child quickly and said: ‘My son rose up due to the contact with this Liṅga. Hence this deity will become well-known as Hanumatkeśvara.’

31-41. In the meantime Śakra came there surrounded by the Suras, holding a garland of blue lotuses. He said: ‘Since his jaw was shattered by the thunderbolt hurled with my hand, this powerful monkey will be called Hanumān.’

Varuṇa granted him this boon: ‘He will never meet with death. Yama granted him immunity from death due to a blow with (his) stick. Dhanada granted him freedom from illness. Lustre was granted by Sūrya. Speedy movement was granted by Pavana. Then the following boon was granted by the Liṅga in the presence of the Devas: ‘He will not be killed by any of the weapons. Undoubtedly he will become unaging and immortal. He will be a terror to the enemy. He will grant freedom from fear to his friends. He will be invincible in battle.’ This the Liṅga said repeatedly: ‘In order to exterminate the army of the enemy and to get the favour of Rāma always, he will not forget his strength but due to the curse he will not remember it for some time. When Rāvaṇa is killed, he will stay under Rāma’s guidance. After requesting Vibhīṣaṇa he will install me (i.e. the Liṅga) here. Then all the Devas will adore me with devotion. I will become well-known all over the world after the same name.’

Then Gandhavāha (Wind-god) took up his son and brought him home. He told Añjanā the fact of the acquisition of the boon from the Liṅga. Thus on account of the power of the Liṅga, the son of Maruta (Wind-god) became powerful in all the three worlds. Hence, Rāma! he is praised by us.

42-53. Who is superior to Hanumān in this world in respect to these things: prowess, enthusiasm, intellect, valour, good character, sweetness, good expediency etc., majesty, cleverness, virility and courage? Who can stand before Hanumān, as in the case of all of us, before (Agastya) me who have rendered the sea agitated, before Pāvaka (Fire) about to burn the worlds and before Antaka (Yama) desirous of seizing the people? Thus what you asked has been explained to you. O king of miraculous prowess, these were the acts (exploits) of Hanumān as a child. O Rāma, we have met you. We have been honoured by you. Now we shall go back.”

After saying this, all the sages went to the region of Avantī. They worshipped Śiva named Hanumatkeśvara. Those who devoutly adore Hanumatkeśvara Liṅga worshipped by the Devas, are blessed in the Kali Age. They will attain the rare privilege of identity with Brahman. After being born again, they will attain the everlasting salvation. O my beloved, a man who visits Hanumatkeśvara Liṅga will get more benefit (and become) free from all miseries. His movement will not be restrained in any of the worlds. Undoubtedly he will be equipped with divine prosperity. He will be surrounded by thousands of women and will go and come as he pleases by means of a lustrous aerial chariot resembling the rising sun. Unhesitatingly he will move about in all the worlds of heaven-dwellers. Among men he will be the most desirable and among all castes the most excellent. After slipping down from heaven, he is born in a great family and is endowed with handsome features. He will be pious, a devotee of Rudra and master of all lores. By visiting this, he will become a king or someone equal to king; by touching, attain great merit and by worship the greatest region.

54. Thus, O goddess, the sin-destroying power of Hanumatkeśvara Deva is recounted to you. Listen to that of Svapneśvara.