The Birth of Hanuman: How Anjana's Son Became a Divine Warrior
Baby Hanuman with Anjana and Kesari.
Lord Hanuman, the mighty vanara warrior and greatest devotee of Lord Rama, was no ordinary being. His birth is remembered as a celestial event, woven together from a curse, years of penance, and blessings from more than one god. This is the story of how Anjana and Kesari came to be the parents of the immortal Pavanputra Hanuman.
The Curse of Anjana
Before Hanuman was born, his mother Anjana was an apsara, a celestial dancer in Indra's court. One day, she unknowingly disturbed a sage deep in meditation. In his anger, the sage cursed her to live on Earth as a vanara — until she gave birth to a divine child.
Heartbroken but resolved, Anjana accepted her fate. Rather than despair, she turned to devotion, beginning a long period of worship directed at Lord Shiva in the hope of breaking the curse.
Anjana's Penance and Shiva's Blessing
For years, Anjana performed intense tapasya in the forests, undeterred by the hardship of her circumstances. Moved by her devotion, Lord Shiva eventually appeared before her and blessed her with a son who would be immortal, invincible, and destined to become the greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu in his coming avatar as Rama.
Vayu's Role — Why Hanuman Is Called Pavanputra
Since Shiva's blessing carried power far too immense for a mortal womb to hold directly, it was Vayu, the wind god, who carried that divine spark to Anjana. This is the reason Hanuman carries two names tied to his parentage: Pavanputra, son of the wind god, and Anjaneya, son of Anjana.
A Child Like No Other
When Hanuman was born, he arrived with abilities no ordinary child could have — immense physical strength, the power of flight inherited from Vayu, and an unusually sharp intelligence that let him grasp the Vedas while still a child.
His early years were anything but quiet. Curious and full of energy, young Hanuman was constantly testing the limits of his powers — most famously on the morning he mistook the rising sun for a giant fruit and leapt into the sky to eat it, an adventure that ended in Indra's thunderbolt, Vayu's fury, and blessings from the gods that shaped the rest of his life.
Why This Story Matters
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Hanuman's parents?
Hanuman's mother is Anjana, a former celestial apsara, and his father is Kesari, a vanara king. His divine strength is attributed to Vayu, the wind god, who carried Lord Shiva's blessing to Anjana.
Why is Hanuman called Pavanputra?
Pavanputra means "son of the wind." Hanuman carries this name because Vayu, the wind god, played a central role in his divine conception.
Why is Hanuman called Anjaneya?
Anjaneya means "son of Anjana," referring to his mother, and is one of Hanuman's most commonly used names in prayers and temple traditions.
Why is Hanuman called Sankat Mochan?
Sankat Mochan means "remover of troubles" — a name devotees use for Hanuman because of his role in helping devotees overcome hardship and fear.
Was Hanuman born with a vanara (monkey) form?
Yes. Since his mother Anjana was living under a curse that gave her a vanara form at the time, Hanuman was born as a vanara as well.
Continue with the story of his mischievous childhood.
Read: Baby Hanuman and the Sun →