Hanuman Jayanti: Lessons from Hanuman's Life & Teachings

• Hanuman Ji: A Powerful Hindu Deity

• Hanuman's Birth and Childhood

• Hanuman's Devotion to Lord Rama

• Hanuman's Great Leap and Other Feats

• Hanuman's Encounter with Goddess Sita

• Hanuman's Role in the Battle of Lanka

• Hanuman's Teachings and Life Lessons

• Devotion and Loyalty

• Humility and Service

• Fearlessness and Courage

• Wisdom and Intelligence

• Strength and Endurance

• Conclusion: Emulating Hanuman Ji's Example

What Lessons Can We Learn from Hanuman's Life and Teachings?

Hanuman is one of the most important characters in the Hindu mythological epic Ramayana. He is often referred to as one of the most powerful Hindu deities especially since he was blessed with the boon of immortality by Lord Shiva. His traits of love, compassion, devotion, humility, and intelligence make him one of the most worshipped Hindu Gods. Hence, it is not surprising that countless grand temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman are found in every nook and corner of India. Hanuman’s life is a constant source of inspiration, especially for youngsters who want to emulate his various traits and improve their life. 

The Meaning of Hanuman

When translated into Sanskrit, Hanuman means, “The one with a disfigured jaw”. There is an interesting story about how Hanuman got this name. Hanuman’s mother, Anjani, would wake up before sunrise to collect fruits and flowers. She would complete the tasks and return home before little Hanuman woke up. But one day she was a little late in reaching home so when Hanuman woke up he could not find his mother anywhere.

This surprised him somewhat and he started looking for her everywhere. His search led him to a balcony, where he saw the sun rising and realized that he was feeling hungry. His hunger led him to believe that the bright orange ball visible over the horizon was a big juicy fruit waiting to be plucked. So, he took a big leap into the sky, to reach out and grab the fruit, but failed. Driven by his hunger, Hanuman again leaped into the sky to grab the fruit, only to fail once more.

Finally, Hanuman summoned all his strength and took a giant leap and this time succeeded in reaching the sun. The King of Gods, Indira had been watching the activities of Hanuman from the Swargloka for quite some time. When he saw Hanuman approach the sun, he became worried that Hanuman would swallow him and plunge the whole world into darkness. Being unaware of the divine origins of Hanuman, and to prevent him from swallowing the sun, Lord Indra struck the child with his powerful weapon Vajra.

The blow was so powerful that Hanuman immediately lost his senses and fell back to the earth with his jaw broken and his cheeks swollen. When Pawan Dev came to know about the incident, he became extremely angry and berated Lord Indra for striking a small child with such a powerful weapon. In his anger, he stopped all airflow across Earth, threatening the life of every living being on it. Seeing this Indra and the other Gods rushed to Lord Brahma to seek his help and placate Pawan Dev.

Brahma immediately reached the spot where Pawan Dev was holding Hanuman and assured him of the child’s well-being. After much pleading and persuasion, Pawan Dev finally relented and restored the airflow. Indra begged Pawan Dev to forgive him and as Hanuman came back to his senses, all the Gods bestowed various boons on him. However, since Hanuman’s broken jaw could not be fully repaired, he came to be known by this name after the incident.

Lessons To Be Learnt From Hanuman’s Life and Teachings

Hanuman is considered by his devotees to be the epitome of courage, positivity, and heroism. Even though it has been thousands of years since he assisted Lord Rama in defeating Ravana and preventing the spread of evil on this earth, he continues to inspire people even today. People can learn several lessons from the life and teachings of Hanuman that can lead them to a better and more fulfilling existence. The most important of these teachings are explained in brief as follows.

Devotion and Loyalty: Hanuman's Unwavering Commitment to Lord  Rama

Hanuman was a devotee of Lord Rama from a very young age and when the two met, a unique bond was formed between the two. He sought the presence of Lord Rama in everything and if he did not find the same, even the most precious things were useless for him. His single-minded dedication made him discard anything and everything that did not bring him closer to his favorite deity.  It is due to his unwavering love and commitment to Lord Rama, that Lord Hanuman is worshipped as his biggest devotee and his most trusted aide.

This quality of Lord Hanuman teaches us that when we seek something with dedication and loyalty, we will always succeed in achieving it. Our selfless devotion to a cause can help us reap great benefits in the long run. By staying focused and keeping all distractions at bay, even the most difficult and seemingly impossible tasks can be accomplished.

Courage and Bravery: Hanuman's Fearless Exploits in the Ramayana

Hanuman was one of the most courageous warriors in Ramayana. During his quest for Goddess Sita, he had to face many challenges and life-threatening situations. But he never once gave in to his fear and overcame all the challenges with confidence and valor. Rather than letting his fear overcome his senses during an adverse situation, Hanuman sought to face it head-on and vanquish it forever.

The courage and bravery of Hanuman teaches us that facing our fears is the key to attaining success in whatever we do. We need to make our minds strong enough to overcome our fears so that we can pursue our objectives without feeling weak or doubtful. It is only by adopting an attitude of courage that we can overcome the challenges of life. 

Strength and Perseverance: Hanuman's Incredible Physical and Mental Fortitude

Hanuman displayed deep inner strength and perseverance that helped him succeed in every endeavor. He never gave up in the face of failure but rather doubled his efforts to ensure that he completed what he had set out to do. His determination and his strength enabled him to find innovative solutions to even the most difficult problems. Hanuman never left any task unfulfilled as he believed that every problem has a solution and this made him persistent in his efforts of finding the same.

The strength and perseverance of Hanuman teach us that it is important to keep trying until we achieve success. It also teaches us that we need to completely surrender ourselves to a task and believe in our natural qualities and traits to show us the right direction.

Humility and Service: Hanuman's Willingness to Serve Others and Remain Humble

Hanuman served Lord Rama with great humility and selflessness. Despite his great powers, he was always ready to serve the needy and the downtrodden without any sense of pride. He considered himself to be a mere servant of Lord Rama and was always eager to fulfill his every wish and command even at the cost of putting himself in great peril. He never desired any material riches and only wanted to be in the constant company of Lord Rama.

The sense of humility and service of Lord Hanuman teaches us that we should never let our success go to our heads. We should stay grounded and try to help those in need in every way we can. The bigger and more successful we become, the more capable we are of bringing positive change in society. So we should make the most of such opportunities to fill our life with happiness and satisfaction.

Faith and Spirituality: Hanuman's Deep Connection to the Divine and the Spiritual Path

Hanuman was deeply spiritual and had unwavering faith in the power of the almighty. He worshipped Lord Rama with his mind, body, and soul and had complete faith in his divinity. He surrendered himself completely to the power of the almighty and lacked any ego or sense of self apart from God. It was his deep connection with the divine and his complete faith in following the spiritual path that enabled him to achieve impossible feats.

The faith and spirituality of Hanuman teach us to believe in the supreme power of the almighty. It teaches us that our faith and trust in God can help us find the right path even in the darkest time. We need to believe that God is our savior and perform all our tasks bearing in mind that he is watching over us.

Unity and Cooperation: Hanuman's Role in Bringing Together the Forces of Good to Defeat Evil

Hanuman played an important role in uniting Lord Rama with Sugriv rallying the Vanar Sena to fight Ravana and his army. He convinced Lord Rama to help Sugriv in defeating his brother Bali, who has usurped his kingdom wrongfully. He was also instrumental in persuading Sugriv to offer his services and that of his vast army in Helping Lord Rama find and get back Devi Sita.

The efforts made by Hanuman to build unity and cooperation within the Vanar Sena teach us the importance of teamwork. It helps us understand that when people come together for a cause even the seemingly impossible tasks become possible.

Sacrifice and Selflessness: Hanuman's Willingness to Put Others Before Himself

Hanuman always prioritized sacrifice and selflessness above everything else. He used his powers and the boons granted to him by the various Gods to serve others without expecting anything in return. He never craved great power or wealth but only sought to serve Lord Rama and his devotees. He was extremely compassionate at heart and was willing to go to any lengths to make people happy and comfortable.

The sacrifice and selflessness of Hanuman teach us to be compassionate and caring towards our fellow humans. It helps us to understand the importance of working for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden is the best thing to do. Such virtuous actions elevate our status as human beings and ensure enhance happiness in our lives.

Leadership and Guidance: Hanuman's Role as a Guide and Mentor to Others

Lord Hanuman possessed exceptional leadership qualities and he was an equally skilled guide and mentor. He always took rational and thoughtful decisions and was never swayed by anger or emotions while fulfilling his duties. He offered the right advice and guidance to people keeping their best interests in mind. He showed great respect to all and this helped him earn the trust and admiration of everyone around him.

The great qualities of leadership and guidance exhibited by Hanuman teaches us what a good leader is and how we can be one. We gain a better understanding of how a good leader acts and behaves and how he never uses his strength and power to fulfill his own selfish needs.

Compassion and Forgiveness: Hanuman's Ability to Show Mercy and Compassion Even to His Enemies

Hanuman was known for his compassion and his forgiving nature, even towards his enemies. Even with his infinite power, he was willing to forgive his enemies and give them a chance at redemption. It was his willingness to show compassion and mercy that won him the respect of even his enemies and turned them into his devotees.

Hanuman teaches us that compassion and forgiveness are two extremely powerful tools that can help us win any war. Being kind to others and forgiving them for their mistakes helps them to become better human beings. It also helps to eliminate feelings of jealousy, ill-will toward fellow humans, revenge, and hostility and promotes love and peace among people. 

Wisdom and Knowledge: Hanuman's Intellectual and Spiritual Prowess and His Ability to Impart Wisdom to Others

Hanuman is considered to be one of the most intelligent gods and has a great thirst for knowledge. That is why he constantly sought the company of wise men and spiritually enlightened beings. He used his wisdom and knowledge to offer advice and guidance to people around him. He led a simple life and strived to enhance his mind power to gain a better understanding of the world.

The wisdom and knowledge of Hanuman inspire people to expand their mental abilities and enhance their intellect. It educates us about the importance of constantly increasing our knowledge and expanding our vision.

Wrapping Up

Hanuman is one of the few Hindu deities whose popularity has increased significantly over time. The lessons from his life and teachings continue to guide people on the path of righteousness and gain everlasting peace and happiness. 

• Devotion and loyalty are important virtues, as exemplified by Hanuman's unwavering dedication to Lord Rama.

• Humility and service are also essential, as shown by Hanuman's willingness to serve Lord Rama and his allies without seeking recognition or reward.

• Fearlessness and courage can help us overcome obstacles and achieve our goals, as demonstrated by Hanuman's heroic deeds.

• Wisdom and intelligence are valuable assets, as demonstrated by Hanuman's cleverness and problem-solving skills.

• Strength and endurance are crucial for success, both in the physical and mental realms, as exemplified by Hanuman's impressive feats of strength and perseverance.