9 much lesser known and fascinating facts about Lord Hanuman that most people will not be knowing.
Read them and share in comments below, how many did you know?
- So touched by Mata Sita’s view that he applied sindoor (vermillion) all over his body
When Sita applied a small amount of sindoor to her forehead for Lord Ram’s long life, Hanuman asked why. On learning the reason, he smeared sindoor all over his body, believing it would ensure Lord Ram’s immortality. Ram was so touched by this gesture, he declared that anyone who worships Hanuman with sindoor would gain his blessings.
- Lord Hanuman is one of the eight Chiranjeevis (immortals)
Hanuman is said to be one of the ashta chiranjeevis — eight immortals who live until the end of this creation cycle. He still roams the Earth, especially where Ram Katha or Ramayan is recited.
- He had knowledge of the nine types of grammar (Navavyakarana)
Lord Hanuman was a learned scholar even before meeting Lord Rama. He studied under the Sun God (Surya Dev), and mastered not just Vedas but also the complex science of Sanskrit grammar.
- He once defeated Lord Ram and Lakshman
Yes — in the Mahabharata’s Ananda Ramayana and certain South Indian versions, there’s a story where Lord Ram and Lakshman are captured by the demon Ahiravana in the netherworld (Patal Lok). It is Hanuman alone who defeats Ahiravana and rescues them.
- Hanuman had five heads at one point (Panchamukhi Hanuman)
To kill Ahiravana (a demon king), Hanuman had to take the form of Panchamukha Hanuman, a five-faced form combining the heads of:
- Hanuman (east)
- Narasimha (south)
- Garuda (west)
- Varaha (north)
- Hayagriva (upward)
Each head had a unique power needed to destroy the demon.
- He is also mentioned in the Mahabharata
He also appears in Mahabharta where Lord Hanuman meets Bhima. Lord Hanumaan and Bhima -both are sons of Vayu, the wind god. He humbles Bhima’s ego and later sits atop Arjuna’s chariot as the flag (called Kapi Dhwaja) during the Kurukshetra war, protecting the Pandavas.
- Footsteps of Hanuman are found in multiple countries
Legend of Lord Hanuman was known at far away places even at that time as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia. In all these places different versions of the Ramayana were spread.
