2. Anjanasundari and Hanumat

[Full title: Informative stories; (A) Caritas of Eminent persons; (2) Anjanasundari and Hanumat]

Once Ravana pays homage to omniscient Muni Anantavirya and listens to a religious discourse from him. On that occasion Hanumat is also there. Listening to the name of Hanumat, Srenika enquires about his life. Gautama then narrates the story (15-19). King Mahendra of Mahendranagara had a young daughter, Anjanasundari begot on his wife, Hrdayasundari. He declined to betroth Anjanasundari to Dasamukha or his sons, or Vidyutprabha of Kanakapura, who were proposed as alternative grooms by his ministers. He decided to marry her to Pavananjaya, the son of Khecara Prahlada of Adityapura and Kirtimati. Once he went to the Vijayardha mountain to worship the Jina idols and there he settled with Prahlada to perform the marriage on the bank of the Manasa lake. Both the parties went there. Pavananjaya, out of curiosity and being oppressed by the cupid, went along with his friend Prahasita to the palace of Anjana. He developed a dislike for Anjana as he saw that Anjana did not at all resent but smiled at the words of Misrakesi, a maid-servant of Anjanasundari, who had been praising Vidyutprabha and throwing slush on him. He instantly got angry and tried to murder Anjana and Misrakesi, but Prahasita's timely intervention saved the situation. Pavananjaya dissented to the proposed marriage and fled away. When his father and father-in-law persuaded him, he married Anjanasundari but soon abandoned her in a secluded palace. Once Pavananjaya while on his way to Lanka to assist Ravana, encamped on the Manasa lake. There he observed a desperate bird suffering from the pain of the separation from her male mate. His heart melted and he immediately along with Prahasita returned to the palace of Anjanasundari. He met her after 22 years of separation and copulated with her. Next morning he handed over to her his finger-ring in memory of their union and departed for Lamka. In course of time the signs of Anjana's pregnancy became visible. Kirtimati suspecting her character banished her without believing in the evidence of the ring of Pavananjaya shown to her by Anjana. Vasantamala a maid-servant and very intimate with Anjana accompanied the latter to Mahendranagara, but her parents afraid of their own disrepute did not give shelter to her. Then Anjana along with Vasantamala entered a forest. There she was consoled by muni Amitagati.

INTERVENING STORIES 139 They stayed into a cave and on the Caitrakrisnastami Anjana gave birth to a male child. As she was bewailing her misfortune, her maternal uncle Pratisurya, the son of Citrabhanu of Kuruvaradvipa happened to reach there. He consoled her and proceeded with her to Hanuruhapura driving in an aerial chariot. On the way the child fell down from the chariot. The child was found to be quite safe but the slab of the hill on which he fell down was crushed to pieces, so he was named Srisaila. He was called Hanu because he was brought up at Hanuruhapura. Pavananjaya after assisting Ravana in defeating Varuna returned home, but he did not find his wife there. Desperately searching for Anjana in vain he decided to die. Prahasita went to the parents of Pavananjaya and delivered the sad message. Then Prahlada went out in search of his son. On the way he met Pratisurya. Both of them searching further found Pavananjaya in a forest. There Pratisurya narrated the birth of Hanu to Pavananjaya and took him to Anjana who was staying at Hanuruhapura. Hanumat was duly brought up there. He was trained in various arts and sciences. When he grew young he assisted Ravana in defeating Varuna. He married Satyavati, Anangakusuma, Harimalini and Padmaraga who were the daughters of Varuna, Candranakha (the sister of Ravana), Nala and Sugriva respectively. He further married many other girls of Kinnarapura. Thereafter he ruled at Sripura. He is referred to have enthroned his son and to have renounced the world, along with his wives (ch.108). The Paumacariya (15.7) names the mother of Pavananjaya as Ketumati, Prahlada and Mahendra are said to have met on the Astapada and there they settled the marriage (15.75). Kuruvaradvipa of the Paumacariya is called Hanuruhadvipa (17.346). It is additionally said that Hanumat was named Srisaila on account of his taking birth on a slab in the cave (17 402). Satyavati's marriage with Hanumat is not. mentioned in it. The Paumacariu agrees with the Paumacariya But it mentions that Pavananjaya abandoned Anjana for 12 years (18.8.9). Pavananjaya is said to have given an armlet (kankana) to his wife as token of his secret meeting with her (19.1.4). Hanu's wife Harimalini is here mentioned as Srimalini. His marriage with the girls of Kinnarapura is not mentioned. He is said to have married thousands of other girls (20.12). The Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. agrees with the Paumacariya It adds that Pavananjaya on getting angry with the remarks of Misrakesi attacked the city of Mahendra but Prahasita intervened and saved the situation (p.57)..

140 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra follows the Paumacariya with these alterations. The name of the mother of Pavananjaya is Ketumati. Prahlada and Mahendra met on the Nandisvaradvipa and there they settled the marriage. When Pavananjaya was searched out by Prahlada, he was found to be preparing a pyre for burning himself into the fire (IV. p.162-181). The Uttara-purana (68.275-280) does not contain the story of Anjanasundari Here Amitatejavak, the son of Prabhanjana of Vidyutkantapura born of Anjana was named as Anumat by the Vidyadhara as he on the occasion of a test being taken of his powers, fixed his right foot on the summit of the Vijayardha mountain, struck the aerial car of the sun by the stroke of his left leg and soon afterwards he assumed the form like that of a particle of sand (trasarenupramanam). He possessed the Vikriya-rddhi also. The Mahapurana (73,8) mentions Makaraketu as the original name of Anumat (Anumettu) and his father's name as Pavana who was the Vidyadhara ruler of Khanaruikantapura. Anumat is called the twentieth Kamadeva (73.20.96) and Hanumat also. Some scholars hold that 'Hanumat' is the Samskrit form of a Dravadian word 'Apa Mandi' i. e. Ape who was a Dravadian deity' (see Rama-katha; by Dr. C. Bulke (First Edition)., p. 111). The name Anumat in the Uttara-purana though interpreted in a different way seems to have some relation with the Dravadian word. In the Valmiki Ramayana (4.66) Jambavat relates the story to Hanumat to encourage him to take a flight over the sea to reach Laika. Again at 7.35-36 Agastya narrates the story to Rama on the latter's request as follows :- Kesarin's wife Anjana also called as Punjikasthala was a very beautiful nymph, the daughter of Vanarendra Kunjara. She became a Kamarupinivanari on account of a curse. She used to wander from place to place assuming human form. Once Marut, being enamoured of her figure embraced her. At this Anjana resented the illegitimate approach of Marut. Then Marut pacified her by telling her that he entered her body mentally only and for that she would give birth to a wise and brave son who would be equal to him in taking high flights. Anjana gave birth to a monkey child. Considering the sun to be a fruit the child took an upward flight to catch it. Indra became angry with him and struck him with his thunder-bolt, as a result of which he fell down on the summit of a hill and his jaw was broken. Therefore, he was named as Hanumat. At this Vayu (Marut) ceased to flow. Then the Suras pleased Marut. At that time Brahma granted to Hanumat the boon of indestructibility from weapons. Indra granted him the boon of dying at his own will. He was acclaimed as the 'ksetraja' son of Kesarin, 'aurasa' son of Marut and also as 'Vayusuta'. He was equal

INTERVENING STORIES 141 to them in strength, in speed and in taking flight respectively. At 7.35-36 Kesarin is called the ruler of Sumeru mountain. The monkeychild is said to be hungry and therefore, he is said to have taken a flight to catch the sun. At that time his mother had gone out to collect some fruits. Vayu is said to have become cool to protect the child from the scorching heat of the sun. The child is said to have chased Rahu and the elephant of Indra also. Various gods are said to have granted him many boons. In due course Hanumat started destroying the 'asramas' of Rsis. They all cursed him to forget his own power until he was not reminded of it by some one else. He performed panances and got learned in many Vidyas. The Valmiki Ramayana does not mention his assistance to Ravana or his marriage. But at 6.125.44 it is mentioned that when Hanumat took the message of Kama's return from Lamka, Bharata offered to him sixteen girls in marriage. In various non-Jaina works there are references to the sons of Hanumat, The Jaimini Bharata (Meravana carita) and the Gujarati Narmakathakosa mention that a fish drank the sweat of Hanumat as he went to the sea to take bath after burning Lanka and she gave birth to a son. According to the Ananda Ramayana (1.9.216), Makaradhvaja was born on that occasion. The Marathi Bhavartha Ramayana, the Kannarese Mairavana Kalaga and the Ramalingamrta also refer to the son of Hanumat (Bulck, p. 402), According to the western accounts No. 7 and 8, Hanumat copulated with a 'makari'. The Seri Rama states that his semen fell down at the time of jumping over the sea and the queen of the fishes became pregnant. The Seri Rama (Patani version) and the Hikayata-maharaja Ravana mention that at that time Hanumat begot children on the queen of the fishes. The Rama Kiyena mentions that Hanumat begot a son on the daughter of Vibhisana (Bulck, p. 401) and another son on the daughter or Ravana (Rama-katha; by Dr. C. Bulke (First Edition)., p. 403).