Lucky BOBI: Thai Buddha Amulets: Hanuman

Hanuman(หนุมาน) the loyal monkey god from Hindu’s epic Ramayana

Hanuman is a central character in Thai’s national epic Ramakien, which derived from the Hindu’s epic Ramayana. The story of Ramayana was spreaded into Thailand around 2400 Thai Calendar.

At the moment there are 3 different versions of incomplete stories about it in Thailand.

One of the versions is the royal version from King Rama I. His son King Rama II had

rewritten part of the version into the script of Thai dance drama. This epic is significant

to the literature & dance of Thailand and had brought major influence.

The major storyline in Ramakien still retain the original work of Ramayana. However,

the costume, topography, weapons & other details had been modified into Thai style,

just the name of monkey god Hanuman was retained. Although Thais basically

believe in Theravada Buddhism, somehow Ramakien has balanced the superstition

preserved in most people hearts. It provides the myth of the origin of human.

In Wat Phra Kaew (Bangkok) there are many paintings and sculptures of Ramakien.

Many of the murals depict the story of Ramakien.

Hanuman in Thailand

The monkey god Hanuman from Hindu’s epic Ramayana lifting the mountain.

Rama & Hanuman

Hanuman is the Great General of Rama, loyal in helping Rama to win the battle.

Hanuman is also a symbol of loyalty to the boss, and also the token of love from the boss.

Lord Hanuman is worshiped as a result.

1. Boss with minions. Affecting more and more followers.

2. Followers loyal to the boss. Greater obedience.

Hanuman eventually helped Rama to rescue his wife Sita. The story of Hanuman is the

essence of Hindu mythology. It is not only well-known in India, but also the hero

in the heart of people of all countries in Southeast Asia. It was said that the prototype

of Monkey King Sun Wukong in “Journey to the West” was based from Hanuman.

Hanuman has body in white, crystal teeth, and gems hair. It can incarnate into

four faces eight arms during wartime. Hanuman has four sacred items of Indra,

which are flywheel, sea shells, wand and trident. Hanuman is brave and it can incarnate

or being invisible, and never beaten to death. It would stay alive again after being killed.

Hanuman is clever and active. His mother is Anjana (นางอัญจนา), the queen ape.

Hanuman is the son of deity, and it is also the incarnation of Lord Shiva that transforms

as the assistant to Rama. Hanuman could fly as his father is god of wind Vayu.

His birth story was complicated.

One story mentioned that when Anjana was worshipping Shiva, the King Dasharatha

of Ayodhya was also performing the ritual of Putrakama yagna in order to have children.

As a result, he received some sacred pudding (payasam) to be shared by his three wives,

leading to the births of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. An eagle snatched

some of the pudding from his third wife who dislike & refused to eat the dessert and flew

over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. The eagle saw it and let go of the pudding.

Vayu, the Hindu deity of the wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands

of Anjana, who consumed it. Hanuman was born to her as a result.

Hanuman was starving once he was born. He wanted to eat everything he saw and

Anjana was unhappy with it. Once Hanuman even wanted to eat the sun as he thought

it was a fruit. He chased after the sun until he ran into the heaven of Sakra (Indra),

the king of devas. Indra threw the vajra (thunderbolt) at Hanuman and made him fell

back down to earth. The wind deity Vayu was angry and possesed the deities body

and made them vomit. Indra then withdrew the power and apologized to Vayu and

Hanuman was blessed with boons of eternity life.

There was version of story saying that Rama was the one who gifted Hanuman the

boon of eternity life. Hanuman helped Rama to defeat Ravana and rescued his wife Sita,

thus giving Hanuman the boon of eternal immortality.

Hanuman is contented with strength and speed. He moved fast like wind and powerful enough to lift the mountain. He could shrink and extend his body and even become invisible. In war fight, he could incarnate into scary image and became huge as mountain with golden melted skin, blush like jewels and long tail. His scream could frighten off the enemy. Once when he wanted to get the medicine herbs from Himalayas, he even brought the whole Himalaya back.

Hanuman gained every success in work and war. He is a symbolism to man: handsome, charming and has several wives. In ancient Thai, masters loved to make Hanuman sacred items as they thought

that knowledge and arts were suitable to merge. Sacred objects of Hanuman could help in

eternal protection, avoid disasters & evils, gain benevolent of love and attract wealth.

It also helps in smoothness in work and business. It helps worshipers to advance & upgrade their work,

earn quick profit from business and protect from 108 types of problems.