The Tale of How Hanuman Got His Name

As a young child, Hanuman was full of energy and curiosity, possessing remarkable strength and mischief. One day, mistaking the rising sun for a ripe, juicy fruit, he leaped into the sky to grab it. With incredible speed, he soared toward the sun, intending to take a bite.

At that moment, Indra, the king of the gods, noticed Hanuman flying dangerously close to the sun. Fearing the young monkey might disturb cosmic order, Indra hurled his powerful thunderbolt, the *Vajra*, at Hanuman. The thunderbolt struck Hanuman on his jaw, causing him to fall back to earth.

The blow injured Hanuman’s jaw, and he became known as *Hanuman*, which means “the one with the broken jaw” in Sanskrit (*Hanu* means “jaw,” and *man* means “disfigured”). Despite the injury, his strength and spirit remained unshaken.

Moved by his courage and innocence, the gods granted him numerous boons, blessing him with immense strength, speed, wisdom, and immortality. Thus, young Hanuman, with his indomitable spirit, grew into one of the greatest devotees and warriors, destined to play a vital role in the epic Ramayana.