Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Hanuman
Hanuman is recalled to his strength through the story of his birth to Anjana and the wind-god. The remembered leap towards the sun and the divine boons explain why the search party turns to him when the sea defeats the others. After crossing the ocean, he changes scale to suit a secret mission, entering Lanka at night in a form as small as a cat. His achievement depends on judgement and adaptability as well as the force of his great leap.
Also known as Hanumān · Son of the wind
Loading your archive…
In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalHanuman is recalled to his strength through the story of his birth to Anjana and the wind-god. The remembered leap towards the sun and the divine boons explain why the search party turns to him when the sea defeats the others.
Further detail
TraditionalAfter crossing the ocean, he changes scale to suit a secret mission, entering Lanka at night in a form as small as a cat. His achievement depends on judgement and adaptability as well as the force of his great leap.
Context & interpretation
This entry selects two linked stages in the collection’s Ramayana account. Hanuman’s origin, divine protection and changes of size belong to traditional narrative, while the interpretation concerns their function in the story rather than a promised capacity for a reader.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
the wind-god had begotten himOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 95
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0095
- Original scan leaf
- 95
- Recorded leaf number
- 95
- Current Reader position
- 86
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
shrinking to the size of a catOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 96
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0096
- Original scan leaf
- 96
- Recorded leaf number
- 96
- Current Reader position
- 87
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Lanka
Ravana’s island stronghold, reached through a sea-crossing and a hidden search.
Same subject and traditionAshvins
The twin divine physicians whose gift of youth earns a place in the gods’ offerings.
Same subject and traditionBalarama
Krishna’s brother, associated in the collection with the serpent Shesha.
Same subject and traditionBrahma
The creative aspect of the divine, distinct in the collection from the absolute Brahman.