Hanuman God and Epic Hero : The Origin and Growth of Hanuman in Indian Literary and Folk Tradition

Contents Preface. Introduction. I 1. The origin of Hanuman. 2. Hanuman as Ciranjive (immortal). 3. Aryan and Dravidian origins of Hanuman. 4. Hanuman as Yaksa. 5. Hanuman worship and his attributes in modern India. 6. Hanuman as a Brahmacari. II 1. Hanuman in Sanskrit drama. 2. Hanuman as politician and military commander. 3. Hanuman's intellectual achievements. 4. Hanuman's Rama Bhakti. III 1. Hanuman in Tulsidas Ram Carita Manas. Conclusion. Notes. Bibliography. God Hanuman has an important place in India and is worshipped by millions of people. He is a God who is the archetype of honesty loyalty and courage. More than any other folk God Hanuman is endowed with human qualities so much cherished in the Indian tradition. There is no scholarly work in English on Hanuman that utilises Sanskrit literature to delineate his importance as a God and as confident of Rama. Although Hanuman is a popular folk God in India he has not received attention commensurate with his popularity from scholars of religion and mythology. This study seeks to fill this gap and explores the human and superhuman role of Hanuman in Sanskrit texts. With the Ramayana as the basic source Sanskrit plays and Puranas have also been studied to unravel the complexity of Hanuman's personality and its development as a character in flesh and blood. Hanuman is also analysed in the context of religious tradition centred on Ramayana. The study focuses on the evolution and change in the theology of Hanuman. He appears as an incarnation of Siva a God in his own right a tribal deity and a hero God with power and virility who destroys evil. At a mundane level Hanuman is an ideal human an upright man a trusted friend of Rama a statesman and a brave warrior. In the bhakti tradition he is the lord the object of bhakti. 83 pp.…