Editing Hanuman (section)

==Iconography==
{{expand section|date=June 2017}}
<gallery mode="slideshow" showfilename="yes" caption="The variation in iconography depicting Hanuman carrying the Sanjeevani mountain">
File:Hanuman Brings the Gandhamardhana Mountain odisha tala patra.jpg
File:Hanuman returns with sanjeevani mountain for laxmana's life.jpg
File:Hanuman fetches the herb-bearing mountain, in a print from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's.jpg
File:Hanuman Carrying the Mountain of Medicinal Herbs (left); Rama Battles Ravana (right), Architectural Panel with Ramayana (Adventures of Rama) Scenes LACMA M.89.159.1 (6 of 6).jpg
File:Hanuman Herb Mountain.jpg
File:Hanuman bringing the mountain to the injured Lakshmana Wellcome L0022499.jpg
</gallery>
{{CSS image crop|Image=11TH Rudra Shiva Hanuman.jpg|bSize=250|cWidth=184|cHeight=190|oTop=30|oLeft=30|Description=[[Panchamukha|Five-faced or Panchamukhi]] Hanuman: Hanuman face, man-lion face, Garuda face, Boar face, Horse face.  It is found in esoteric tantric traditions that weave Vaishvana and Shaiva ideas, and is relatively uncommon.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Lutgendorf | first=Philip | title=Five heads and no tale: Hanumān and the popularization of Tantra | journal=International Journal of Hindu Studies | volume=5 | issue=3 | year=2001 | doi=10.1007/s11407-001-0003-3 | pages=269–296| s2cid=144825928 }}</ref>{{sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|pp=319, 380–388}}}}

The earliest known sculptures of Hanuman date from the Gupta Empire ca. 500 CE.  In these very early representations, Hanuman is not yet shown as a sole figure. Free standing ''murtis'' or statues of Hanuman appeared from ca. 700 CE. onwards. These murtis portrayed Hanuman with one hand raised, one foot suppressing a demon, and an erect tail.{{Sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|pp=59-61}}  In later centuries his raised hand was sometimes shown supporting a mountain of healing herbs.<ref>[https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/37960 Hanuman Bearing the Mountaintop with Medicinal Herbs] New York Metropolitan Museum. Ca. 1800. Retrieved April 6, 2024.</ref>

Hanuman's iconography is derived from Valmiki's ''Ramayana.'' He is usually portrayed with other central figures of the Ramayana – Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. He carries weapons such as a [[gada (mace)]] and thunderbolt (''vajra'').<ref name="Williams2008p146" /><ref>{{cite book|author=T. A. Gopinatha Rao|title=Elements of Hindu iconography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MJD-KresBwIC |year=1993|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0878-2|pages=58, 190–194}}</ref>

His iconography and temples are common today. He is typically shown with Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, near or in Vaishnavism temples, as well as by himself usually opening his chest to symbolically show images of Rama and Sita near his heart. He is also popular among the followers of [[Shaivism]].<ref name="JonesRyan2006p177"/>

In north India, an iconic representation of Hanuman such as a round stone has been in use by [[yogi]]s, as a means to help focus on the abstract aspects of him.<ref>{{cite book|author=David N. Lorenzen|title=Bhakti Religion in North India: Community Identity and Political Action|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rpSxJg_ehnIC |year=1995|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-2025-6|page=271}}</ref>