Añjanā

Añjanā
Anjani
Anjani with Child Hanuman (Bronze - Pallava Period).
Information
Spouse(s) Kesari
Children Hanuman

Añjanā (Anchanai, Anjani, Anjati, Anjaneya or Swaha) is the mother of Lord Hanuman, one of the heroes of the Indian epic, the Ramayana.

According to a version of the legend, Añjanā was an apsara named Puñjikastalā, who was born on earth as a vanara princess and married Kesari, a vanara chief. Vayu, god of the wind, carried the divine power of Lord Shiva to Anjana's womb, and thus Hanuman was born as an incarnation of Lord Shiva.[1][2]

In Himachal Pradesh, Goddess Anjana is worshiped as a family deity. There is a temple dedicated to her at 'Masrer' near Dharamshala. It is believed that Sri Anjana once came and remained there for some time. One of the locals upon learning, revealed her real identity to the other villagers, going against her wishes. She soon left, but not before turning that villager into stone which remains outside her temple even to this day. Her vahana (vehicle) is a scorpion, hence believers worship Anjana after being bitten by a scorpion.

There is a cave of Anjana Devi near Hunasigi (Talikota) not very far from Hampi (Kishkinda) where it is belived Hanuman was born.

Anjana is portrayed in several films and TV serials,

YearNameChannelCountryPlayed by
1976Bajrangbali (film)IndiaDurga Khote
1997 Jai Hanuman DD National India Phalguni Parekh
2005Hanuman (2005 film)India
2010 Jai Jai jai Bajrangbali Sahara One India Aparna Tarakad
2015Sankatmochan Mahabali HanumanSony Entertainment TelevisionIndiaBarkha Bisht Sengupta

Notes

  1. ↑ Pollet, Gilbert (January 1995). Indian Epic Values: Ramayana and Its Impact: Proceedings of the 8th International Ramayana Conference, Leuven, 6–8 July 1991 (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta). Peeters. ISBN 978-90-6831-701-5.
  2. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 68.


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