Hanuman – monkey deity (a god) that is the messenger of Rama

(Pronounced Ha-noo-mahn)

To remember the meaning of the Hindu term Hanuman, use the following mnemonic:

Hannibal felt like a new man (Hanuman) when he received a message from Rama that came via a monkey.

Hanuman appears in the form of a monkey with a red face in temples throughout India. He is a god of wisdom, strength, courage, devotion and self-discipline.

Hanuman stands erect, like a human, and is generally upheld as a model of human devotion for his unyielding, totally loyal service to Rama.

Rama, who represents chivalry and virtue, is an avatar – or incarnation – of Vishnu.

There are many stories and myths about Hanuman, who is said to be the child of a nymph (a mythical female spirit or goddess) and the wind god, Vayu. One story is that, while still a baby, Hanuman tried to fly up and grab the sun, which he had mistaken for a fruit. Indra, the king of the gods, struck Hanuman with a thunderbolt on the jaw (hanu), an act that inspired his name.