Editing Hanuman (section)

==Attributes==
[[File:Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|Hanuman fetches the [[Sanjeevani (plant)|herb-bearing]] mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910s]]

Hanuman has many attributes, including:
* ''[[Chiranjivi]]'' (immortal): various versions of ''Ramayana'' and ''Rama Katha'' state towards their end, just before Rama and Lakshmana die, that Hanuman is blessed to be immortal. He will be a part of humanity forever, while the story of Rama lives on and the story will go on as the gods recite the story always. Thus, he will live forever.<ref>{{cite book|author=Joginder Narula|title=Hanuman, God and Epic Hero: The Origin and Growth of Hanuman in Indian Literary and Folk Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k-5jAAAAMAAJ|year=1991|publisher=Manohar Publications|isbn=978-81-85054-84-1|pages=19–21}}</ref>
* ''[[Brahmacharya|Brahmachari]]'' (self-controlled): one who control their lust from all materialistic things of material world.<ref name=":3" />
* ''Kurūp'' and ''Sundar'': he is described in Hindu texts as ''kurūp'' (ugly) on the outside, but divinely ''sundar'' (beautiful inside).{{sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|pp=188–189}} The [[Hanuman Chalisa]] describes him as handsome with a complexion of molten gold (''kanchana barana birāja subesā'').<ref>{{cite book|title=Mahaviri: Hanuman Chalisa Demystified|author=Nityananda Misra|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018}}</ref>
* ''Kama-rupin'': He can shapeshift, become smaller than the smallest, larger than the largest adversary at will.{{sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|pp=45–47, 287}} He uses this attribute to shrink and enter Lanka, as he searches for the kidnapped Sita imprisoned in Lanka. Later on, he takes on the size of a mountain, blazing with radiance, to show his true power to Sita.<ref>Goldman, Robert P. (Introduction, translation and annotation) (1996). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=sFmsrEszbxgC The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume V: Sundarakanda]''. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 0691066620. pp. 45–47.</ref>
* ''Strength'': Hanuman is extraordinarily strong, one capable of lifting and carrying any burden for a cause. He is called ''Vira'', ''Mahavira'', ''Mahabala'' and other names signifying this attribute of his. During the epic war between Rama and Ravana, Rama's brother Lakshmana is wounded. He can only be healed and his death prevented by a herb found in a particular Himalayan mountain. Hanuman leaps and finds the mountain. There, states ''Ramayana'', Hanuman finds the mountain is full of many herbs. He doesn't know which one to take. So, he lifts the entire Himalayan mountain and carries it across India to Lanka for Lakshmana. His immense strength thus helps Lakshmana recover from his wound.{{sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|pp=6, 44–45, 205–210}} This legend is the popular basis for the iconography where he is shown flying and carrying a mountain on his palm.{{sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|p=61}}
* ''Innovative'': Hanuman is described as someone who constantly faces very difficult odds, where the adversary or circumstances threaten his mission with certain defeat and his very existence. Yet he finds an innovative way to turn the odds. For example, after he finds Sita, delivers Rama's message, and persuades her that he is indeed Rama's true messenger, he is discovered by the prison guards. They arrest Hanuman, and under Ravana's orders take him to a public execution. There, Ravana's guards begin his torture by tying his tail with oiled cloth and setting it on fire. Hanuman then leaps from one palace rooftop to another, burning everything down in the process.{{sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|pp=140–141, 201}}
* ''Bhakti'': Hanuman is presented as the exemplary devotee (''bhakta'') of Rama and Sita. The Hindu texts such as the ''Bhagavata Purana'', the ''Bhakta Mala'', the ''Ananda Ramayana'' and the ''Ramacharitmanas'' present him as someone who is talented, strong, brave and spiritually devoted to [[Rama]].<ref name="ludvik12">{{cite book|author=Catherine Ludvik|title=Hanumān in the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki and the Rāmacaritamānasa of Tulasī Dāsa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCXQN0qoAe0C |year=1994|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1122-5|pages=12–14}}</ref> The Rama stories such as the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Ramacharitmanas'', in turn themselves, present the Hindu [[dharma|dharmic]] concept of the ideal, virtuous and compassionate man (Rama) and woman (Sita) thereby providing the context for attributes assigned therein for Hanuman.<ref>{{cite book|author=A Kapoor|editor=Gilbert Pollet|title=Indian Epic Values: Rāmāyaṇa and Its Impact|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EVnK3q48dL0C&pg=PA181 |year=1995|publisher=Peeters Publishers|isbn=978-90-6831-701-5|pages=181–186}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Roderick Hindery|title=Comparative Ethics in Hindu and Buddhist Traditions |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-FswBLvTkvQC&pg=PA100|year =1978|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn= 978-81-208-0866-9|pages=100–107}}</ref>
* ''Learned Yogi'': In the late medieval texts and thereafter, such as those by [[Tulasidas]], attributes of Hanuman include learned in [[Vedanta]] philosophy of Hinduism, the [[Vedas]], a poet, a polymath, a grammarian, a singer and musician par excellence.<ref name="ludvik12" /><ref name="Williams2008p146" />
* ''Remover of obstacles'': in devotional literature, Hanuman is the remover of difficulties.<ref name="ludvik12" />
* ''Healer of diseases, pains and sorrows:'' Heals all kinds of diseases, pains and sorrows of devotees.
* ''Slayer of demons, evil and negative energies:'' Hanuman is offered worship to rid of negative influences, such as ghosts, evil spirits and ill-intentioned humans.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wolcott |first=Leonard T. |date=1978 |title=Hanumān: The Power-Dispensing Monkey in North Indian Folk Religion |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/2054368 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=653–661 |doi=10.2307/2054368 |jstor=2054368 |s2cid=162908060 |issn=0021-9118 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The following names of Hanuman describe some of these qualities, ''Rakshovidhwansakaraka, Akshahantre, Dashagreevakulantaka, Lankineebhanjana, Simhikaprana Bhanjana, Maharavanamardana, Kalanemi Pramathana.''
* ''Protector and saviour of devotees of Shri Ram and himself:'' The doorkeeper and protector of the door to Rama's court, and protector and saviour of devotees.
* ''[[Panchamukha|Five-faced or Panchamukha]] when he assumes his fierce form:'' East facing Hanuman face (Anjaneya) that grants purity of mind and success. South facing man-lion face [[Narasimha]] that West facing [[Garuda]] face, north facing Boar face [[Varaha]] and horse face ([[Hayagriva]]) facing towards the sky (upwards).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lutgendorf |first=Philip |date=2001 |title=Five Heads and No Tale: Hanumān and the Popularization of Tantra |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20106778 |journal=International Journal of Hindu Studies |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=269–296 |doi=10.1007/s11407-001-0003-3 |jstor=20106778 |issn=1022-4556}}</ref>