Hanuman: Myth, Mantra and Asana

Hanuman: Myth, Mantra and Asana

Hanuman was born on the wind and a prayer. His father was Kesari, a sort of meditating gladiator monkey-like humanoid, called in Sanskrit, a “vanara”. His mother, Anjana, held the essence of her name: “anj” in Sanskrit means reverence.

Anjana and Kesari really wanted a kid and prayed to Lord Shiva for the blessing of conceiving a son. Shiva, pleased by their devotion and prayers, sent Vayu, the god of wind, to carry Shiva’s essence to fulfill their wishes, perhaps something like a sacred stork.

Turns out that Vayu delivered a pretty gifted kid. Like his gladiator father and like many of our modern-day mixed martial art competitors, Hanuman had a plethora of skills and talents. He wrestled demons, transformed himself to fit the needs of the particular circumstances against which he was fighting, and did so all with unwavering devotion.

Hanuman was devoted to Lord Rama, the god of righteousness and virtue.

Through his devotion, he was characterized as a lifelong Brahmachari (celibate). The belief that Hanuman’s celibacy is the source of his strength became popular among the wrestlers in India.

Hanuman: Behind the Name

Sanskrit texts mention several stories about how Hanuman got his name. Hanuman had a lifelong obsession with the sun, and as a youngster, blazed towards it, mistaking the sun for a mango and mischievously chomping a bite out of it. This really pissed off Indra, the king of the gods, who struck Hanuman’s jaw with lightening, to scold his impetuous nature. A bit harsh, right? Regardless, Hanuman is said to have received his name from the Sanskrit words “hanu” meaning jaw, and “man” meaning prominent or disfigured.

Another lore credits the name as a derivative of the Sanskrit words “han” meaning killed or destroyed, and “mana” meaning pride; indicating that Hanuman is the one whose pride was destroyed.

As Saul David Raye shares in Earth Heart Hanuman, “humility comes when the jaw is broken.” Whether you’re an elite mixed martial artist, or simply a modern-day yogi maneuvering through daily challenges, we discover that when our hearts are full of devotion, our spirit is unbreakable. Saul David Raye says that the stories of Hanuman can teach us, “the balance of incredible opening while still staying balanced.”

It’s Hanuman we can thank for the devotion it takes to practice Sun Salutations, or Surya Namaskars, which are a series of poses linked by the breath. Sun Salutations invite us to bow to and unite with the sun, as a pathway to the divine.

Singing the Song of Hanuman

I never expected one of my fondest memories from my travels to India to be of a Hindi man and his love of a monkey. He was standing beside the 50-foot statue of Hanuman near Karol Bagh, New Delhi. “Do you know of Hanuman?” he asked, his excitement bubbling over like uncorked champagne.

I don’t think he introduced himself by name, as he proclaimed that, because of Hanuman, his elderly mother regained her health and his family was able to overcome losing their home. My neck hurt looking up at Hanuman in wonder. “Bring your troubles to Hanuman,” he said, looking directly at me, “and in return, you will receive blessings beyond belief.”

A while later, after returning home, I decided I wanted to learn to chant the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu hymn authored by Tulsidas, a 16th-century poet. Tulsidas wrote Hanuman Chalisa as an act of his devotion, and it’s said to continue to serve by keeping devotees’ minds free from evil.

My desire may have been influenced by the devoted man we met at the Hanuman in India, or the promise to have a free mind, but I thought it was simply because it had my name in it. Come to find out Chalisa actually means forty. So there are 40 verses in a derivative of Sanskrit to learn.

As much as I love a good challenge, this began to feel next to impossible; which apparently is right up Hanuman’s alley. My 40-day plan to practice each of the verses evolved into 108 days. Rising a few hours before dawn (said to be the best time for such spiritual undertakings), here are my favorite verses:

Sankata te hanumnaa chhudavai

Mana karma vachana dhyana jo lavai

“Hanuman will release those from troubles who meditate upon him in their mind, actions and words.”

Durgama kaja jagata ke jete

Sugama anugraha tumhare tete

“All the difficult tasks in the world become easy if there is your grace.”

Leaping Lizards

Legend has it that Hanuman took a courageous leap, doing the splits over the ocean to rescue Sita, the beloved of Rama, to whom Hanuman was entirely devoted. Hanuman took one look at the span across which he had to cross, thinking something along the lines of, “there’s no way I can do that!” Who hasn’t thought that same thing when faced with a monumental challenge du jour?

The pose associated with Hanuman is the splits. Often called ‘the leap of grace’.

I don’t know about you but my first attempts at doing the splits (aside from when I was five) were anything but graceful. Blessed with inflexible hamstrings and hips, practicing the splits has been a lengthy endeavor. It’s vital of course, to properly prepare by warming up the entire body, with particular attention to the backside of the legs, and hips.

Hanumanasana is often taught using one block at various heights to support beneath the forward extended hamstring. I’ve found that using two blocks underneath the hands (with stacked joints so wrists are in one line with elbows and shoulders) is more useful in progressing in depth over time in the asana.

The two-block method also provides additional support to lengthen the spine and extend the heart upwards. Getting out of the pose? Now that’s awkward. I’ve heard it said that on the other side of awkward, it is awesome.

It’s these moments in which we have the greatest opportunity to call upon whatever source of spiritual strength aids us. Hanuman exemplifies faith, trust, and being of service in such moments of doubt.

Hanuman Festival

Immerse yourself in a community of such devotion at the Hanuman Festival, every June, in Boulder, Colorado, a music-filled yoga festival at the foot of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, with world-class yoga instructors. It’s an annual invitation to “immerse yourself in body, mind, and heart as you relax and rejuvenate, dance and devote, connect and expand, have fun and just be.”

Leap with Your Breath

Guiding students through Earth Heart Hanuman, Saul David Raye says, “When Hanuman leaps, he leaps with his breath.” In that way, Hanuman is an eternal entity in teaching us to find where the breath meets the body, where the body meets the bravery within our hearts, and enables our devotion to be a launching pad from which we meet life’s seemingly insurmountable challenges.



3 Magical Mantras to Experience an Attitude of Gratitude

3 Magical Mantras to Experience an Attitude of Gratitude

Showing appreciation for all that we have is one of the most important factors in manifesting a splendid life, and a feeling of gratitude is something we should experience every day.

When we strive for our goals from a place of lack and need, we send a message to the Universe that we are “running away” from something, as if there is “something wrong” with our present reality. This gives off a vibration of desperation and scarcity, and therefore, we attract more of the same. The great paradox is that when we are truly grateful and appreciative of our life as it is NOW, we send out the positive vibrations of abundance, therefore attracting in more wonderful people, prosperity and experiences. The more abundant we feel, the more abundant we become.

Gratitude is also a wonderful way to bring us into present time consciousness. When we are in a state of gratitude, it means that we are indeed, paying close attention to and appreciating everything that we have right NOW. In contrast to the sensation of striving to a better life that we convince ourselves will improve at some point in the future when we achieve or attain X, Y or Z. Being in the present allows us to experience joy, peace and calm. As all worries are about future anticipated events and sadness and pain comes from past memories.

Use these gratitude mantras to create a serene meditation, with your eyes closed as you imagine yourself looking into the cosmos. You will be put into a deeply profound state of gratitude, guaranteed to change your energy vibrations from negative to positive. You will align with the frequencies of abundance and love so that everything you wish for flows naturally into your life.

By using theses Magical Mantras throughout the week you will:

  • Embrace an attitude of gratitude.
  • Increase and enhance your energy vibrations.
  • Attract abundance and joy.

So, now, if you’re ready, here are your three Mantras to bring yourself into a profound state of gratitude. With your hands on your heart, repeat these three Mantras throughout the week and feel their vibrational energy entering in your being:

  • I appreciate the abundance in my life and I allow myself to expand in gratitude, success and joy everyday.
  • I clearly see all there is to be grateful for in life. I acknowledge the blessings I have received in my life with gratitude.
  • Gratitude brings me into a harmonious relationship with the good in everyone and everything that surrounds me.

You can permanently re-wire your subconscious mind to accept these affirmations by listening to them in a deep meditative state with guided meditation.

Enjoy and let me know how you go!

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