Among the most popular divinities in the Hindu pantheon, Hanuman and his story have been adapted by numerous cultures throughout the ages. The oldest rendering, however, is found in the Sanskrit Ramayana of Sage Valmiki, who is believed to have lived in India thousands of years ago.
One of Hinduism’s great epics, The Ramayana tells the tale of the exiled Prince Rama (an avatar of Vishnu) who journeys across the ocean to rescue his wife Sita from the power-hungry king Ravana.
In the quest to rescue his wife, Rama, along with his brother Lakshman, ally with an intelligent monkey warrior race known as Vanaras, amongst whom is Hanuman. As Hanuman exhibits extraordinary abilities in Rama’s service throughout the adventure, including speed, strength, courage, and wisdom, the friendship between the two develops and deepens, proving ultimately that Hanuman’s greatest ability is, in fact, his incredibly staunch loyalty and devotion.
In depiction of this devotion, he is often portrayed kneeling with folded hands in front of Rama, Sita, and Lakshman, or pulling apart his chest to reveal an image of Rama and Sita where his heart should be.
A perfect combination of bal (strength), buddhi (intelligence), and vidya (wisdom), he is the exemplary bhakti yogi, or one who fearlessly uses his gifts to connect to the Divine through sincere loving service.