Was Hanuman Married: To Whom?

Was Hanuman Married: To Whom?

How does it sound?

Well, I understand that this sounds quite strange and perhaps weird because Lord Hanumana is famous as Brahmachari--the one who did not marry. However, there are many versions aloft about the story of marriage of Hanumana. We will try to check all of them.

Parasara Maharishi's Version

According to Parasara Maharishi, Hanuman had worshipped Surya Bhagwan (the Sun god) as his Guru and studied the Vedas and mastered the Nine Vyakarnas. Being an Aajanma Brahmachari, Lord Hanuman was not eligible to study the Nava Vyakarnas (nine grammers) for which the status of being a Gruhasth was essential. In order to facilitate the completion of his education, the Trimurthis approached Surya Bhagwan and created a beautiful Kanya, Suvarchala Devi, an Aajanma Brahmacharini, from the Sun's Kiranas (rays) and arranged a marriage with Hanumanji to make him a Gruhasth without Brahmacharya being affected.

Married but still

Whereby he learnt and became a genius in the Nine Vyakarnas. But after marriage, he spent all the life serving Lord Rama....so on the other hand he is Brahmachari too...in this way Hanuman got married with Lord surya's Daughter...

Surya asked for Gurudakshina

Surya said: "O Hanuman, you are the incarnation of Lord Siva who bore the poisonous HALAHALA to save the universe when the ocean was churned. You are also son of Agni, the fire god. Viswakarma separated a part of my luminescence and the world is unable to bear it. You are the only one who can bear it. So, I want to offer you my daughter Suvarchala formed from my 'VARCHAS' (luminescence), in marriage. Marry my daughter. Since husband is the one who is to bear, you also bear my 'Suvarchas' by marrying Suvarchala. Your marrying her shall be my Guru Dakshina".

Accepted

Hanuman obeyed his preceptor's advice. Surya presented Suvarchala to Hanuman. It is stated in PARASARA SAMHITA, that Surya offered his daughter Suvarchala in marriage on JYESTHA SUDDHA DASAMI. It was a Wednesday under the star UTTARA. Those who respect tradition, even to this day, observe "HANUMAT KALYANAM" (Hanuman's Marriage) on JYESTHA SUDDHA DASAMI day.

Jain version of Ramayana written by Vimalasuri

Paumacariya (also known as Pauma Chariu or Padmacharit), the Jain version of Ramayana written by Vimalasuri, mentions Hanuman as a Vidyadhara (a supernatural being), who is the son of Pavangati and Anjana Sundari. Anjana gives birth to Hanuman in a forest cave, after being banished by her in-laws. Her maternal uncle rescues her from the forest; while boarding his vimana, Anjana accidentally drops her baby on a rock. However, the baby remains uninjured while the rock is shattered. The baby is raised in Hanuruha, his great uncle's island kingdom, from which Hanuman gets his name.

Marriage

In this version of Ramayana, Hanuman is not a celibate. He marries princess Anangakusuma, the daughter of Kharadushana and Ravana's sister Chandranakha. Ravana also presents Hanuman one of his nieces as a second wife. After becoming an ally of Sugriva, Hanuman acquires a hundred more wives. Hanuman is originally enraged at Rama for murdering his father-in-law Kharadushana. However, he becomes a supporter of Rama after meeting him and learning about Sita's kindapping by Ravana. He goes to Lanka on Rama's behalf, but is unable to convince Ravana to surrender.

Other Jain Versions

Ultimately, he joins Rama in the war against Ravana and performs several heroic deeds. After the victory and subsequent celebrations, both Rama and Hanuman become Jains and achieve salvation. Later Jain texts such as Uttarapurana (9th century CE) by Gunabhadra and Anjana-Pavananjaya (12th century CE) repeat the same story with some modifications.

Non-Indian versions

The non-Indian versions of Ramayana, such as the Thai Ramakien, mention that Hanuman had relationships with multiple women, including Svayamprabha, Benjakaya (Vibhisana's daughter), Suvannamaccha and even Ravana's wife Mandodari.

Son in law of Ravana

According to these versions of the Ramayana, Macchanu is son of Hanuman borne by Suvannamaccha, daughter of Ravana. The Jain text Paumacariya also mentions that Hanuman married Lankasundari, the daughter of Lanka's chief defender Bajramukha.

Son of Hanuman

Another legend says that a demigod named Matsyaraja (also known as Makardhwaja or Matsyagarbha) claimed to be his son. Matsyaraja's birth is explained as follows: a fish (matsya) was impregnated by the drops of Hanuman's sweat, while he was bathing in the ocean.

Fighting with the son

In fact, there is a story that Lord Hanuman himself did not know about this development. He come to know about this when he has to fight with his son to win over Lavana, who was the master of Makardhwaja. Lord Hanuman defeats his son, kills Lavana and reinstates his son as the king of nether world.

The verdict

Overall, we know that the legend takes different form when sung and repeated in different times and languages. However, the most accepted verdict is that Lord Hanuman was married to the daughter of Sun God but he was a celibate, and therefore was termed as the Brahmachari; the world knows him the way.