Growing up in India, one of my favorite memories is the nightly routine of chanting the Sri Anjaneya Dandakam and listening to stories about Hanuman. For those unfamiliar, Anjaneya means “one born to Anjana,” referring to Hanuman. These stories were not just tales but lessons wrapped in adventure and wonder. Here’s one of my favorite bedtime stories.
Once upon a time, there was a young Vanara named Anjaneya. He wasn’t an ordinary child; he was an incarnation of Lord Shiva and had amazing powers. One sunny day, while playing in a lush garden, Anjaneya felt hungry. He looked around for his mother but couldn’t find her. His eyes landed on some ripe fruits hanging from a tree. Just as he reached out to pick one, something bright caught his eye.
In the sky, he saw a giant glowing ball, shimmering in a warm, orangish-red color. It looked like the juiciest, most delicious fruit. Anjaneya thought it would be perfect to satisfy his hunger. Without hesitation, he crouched down and leaped towards the sky, thinking he was going to grab a big fruit.
As he flew higher, the glowing ball got bigger and brighter. Little did he know, it wasn’t a fruit at all—it was the sun! Surya Deva, the Sun God, saw the little monkey boy flying towards him and felt worried. He called for Indra, the king of the gods, to help. Indra, seeing the determined Anjaneya, tried to explain that the sun was not a fruit to be eaten. But Anjaneya, being a child, didn’t understand and kept going.
Unable to convince the boy, Indra decided to act. He threw his powerful weapon, the Vajra, at Anjaneya. The weapon hit Anjaneya, causing him to fall back down to Earth, leaving him with a broken chin/jaw. That’s how he got the name “Hanuman,” meaning “the one with a broken chin.”
Vayu, the god of wind and Hanuman’s divine father, was upset to see his son injured. In his grief, Vayu took Hanuman to the underworld, Patala Loka, and stopped the air from flowing in the world above. All the living beings gasped for breath, and the gods pleaded with Vayu to bring back the air. To make amends and save the world, Lord Shiva brought Hanuman back to life. The gods granted Hanuman special boons. Indra made him invincible, as powerful as the Vajra itself. Lord Brahma gave him the power to grow or shrink at will, a gift that would help him in many adventures.
Vayu allowed the air to flow again, restoring life to the world. This story shows Hanuman’s great strength and bravery, even as a young child. As the story ends, children can sleep peacefully, knowing that Hanuman, the brave protector, watches over them.
Isn’t Bal Hanuman’s story incredible? Sanskarity has created a stunning “Hanuman’s Big Adventure” jigsaw puzzle that captures the spirit of this story. It’s not just a puzzle; it’s a journey back to those enchanting bedtime stories. Bring home the adventure and relive Hanuman’s magical world with every piece you fit. Let the joy of puzzling ignite the same spark of wonder in your child as Hanuman’s story did in mine.
