What Is the Origin Story of Hanuman?
This satsang was delivered by the senior teacher, Shailendra Singh Negi, from the Vedic Yoga Centre on April 13, 2025, the day after Hanuman Jayanti. This festival is the Hindu celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman, the monkey god, who is seen as the embodiment of courage, fearlessness, humility, devotion and loyalty.
The question was posed by a student: “What is the origin story of Hanuman? And what qualities of Hanuman can we cultivate in our daily lives?”
The divine birth of Hanuman-Ji
Lord Hanuman, the monkey god, was born to Anjana and Kesari, a devoted vanara couple. Vanaras are beings with human intelligence and speech, but with monkey-like features and agility. So, Anjana and Kesari lived in forest kingdoms, and were known known for their strength, devotion, and connection to the gods. Hanuman himself was gifted with immense strength, wisdom, and divine energy. His parents are remembered for their devotion and their role in bringing this powerful and beloved deity into the world
Hanuman-Ji is not an ordinary being—he is a special entity who came to this earth to show us something. To show human beings the example of courage, devotion, and selfless service. He had immense power, yet remained humble. This combination is very rare.
True wisdom makes you humble
Usually, when someone has power, they’re not humble. That’s a common human trait. You go to a gym, you’ll rarely find a man with a very muscular body who is also soft and humble.
But Hanuman-Ji was full of knowledge, full of strength, full of wisdom—and yet, very humble and grounded. That’s true wisdom. True wisdom makes you humble. It doesn’t make you rigid or proud, it makes you light—able to flow easily. Whether you have someone’s respects or not, it doesn’t matter. Because true wisdom dissolves your ego.
When wisdom is not fully experienced, you still hold onto things at the level of your identity. It becomes part of your ego. But true wisdom, like a fruit-bearing tree, bows down. When your energy deepens, your personality becomes lighter, softer. You start to see your own Self.
The journey from instinct to divinity
Those of you who have been on this path for some time can see the changes that have happened in your own lives. Don’t just believe what I say, watch yourself. You’ll see that your shift is real. Human beings are born as instinctive, like animals, but we strive to become human and, ultimately, to realise our divine nature.
Hanuman-Ji is the perfect symbol of this journey. He has a monkey face—representing the animal nature—but he works through a physical body that is part human, and his life is a journey of divine service. Animal, human, and divine—all three brought together.
Chanting the name, feeling the shift
Awareness is the key. I’ve seen many people in my life—they don’t know who Hanuman is. They just chant “Jai Hanuman, Jai Hanuman,” but even then, something shifts in them. They feel the energy, the vibration. Just by chanting mindfully, the qualities of Hanuman-Ji start to arise.
It’s like taking paracetamol. You might not know the chemical formula, but you take it and it works. You don’t need to be a chemist to feel its effect. Same thing here—whether you know the details of Hanuman or Ram or Ramayana, it doesn’t matter. Just chant. Just be with that vibration. Or even just be around someone who lives in that vibration—the energy will do its job.
You are more than you think you are
Hanuman is a divine entity who came to this earth to inspire those on the path of devotion and selfless service. He had all the power within him, but didn’t know it at first. People had to remind him of his immense strength.
It’s the same with us. Sometimes we feel, “I’m weak. I’m a failure. I’m just a poor man or woman.” But then something awakens inside, and you realise—no, it’s just the mind playing its tricks. You are much more than that.
As you begin to channel the prana shakti within—the life force—your energy awakens. Hanuman’s story shows that sometimes it takes another person to awaken you to your true nature. Hanuman was a seeker, a yoga practitioner, and at a certain point, that power within him was awakened.
Animal, human and divine—all in one
For me, Hanuman-Ji’s story represents the human journey towards the divine—from lower nature to higher; from animal to human, and eventually to divine. In life, we go through phases—times of frustration, of seeking. Then something happens, a moment or situation, that shifts our energy and helps us connect more deeply.
The hallmark qualities of Hanuman-Ji
There are many stories about Hanuman-Ji, and his infinite qualities. But for me, he’s the perfect example of devotion, selfless service, wisdom, and humility.
Hanuman could do anything, but never took credit. He always said, “It’s the grace of the Divine.” That’s a quality in spiritual people. The more awakened you are, the less you’re interested in taking credit. But if you’re not spiritually mature, then your identity wants recognition, praise.
Devotion without ego
Truly, if no one sees your good qualities, it’s a blessing. If someone does see something good in you, just close your eyes and say, “Thank you.” Thank you to the Source. Pass the credit on.
If someone criticises you—says you’re lazy, or a failure—just say, “I will work on it. Please guide me.” Be like Ma Ganga. She flows with everything—mud, stones, it doesn’t matter.
There was a time in Hanuman’s life when people laughed at him, criticised him. They saw him as just a monkey. But he didn’t care. He just did his duty. He continued functioning. That’s the quality of a spiritual person—someone who flows with life.
Spiritual maturity and spontaneous living
We should know Hanuman’s story, but more importantly, we should know how to carry its message into our own lives. That’s what I’m saying—how to make it practical. I’ve seen this in my own life. Like the day when the dining area was being completed. It was the last day, the workers were finishing, and I just felt that Hanuman, Mother Divine and Ganesha must somehow be seen on the path down to the street. I went to the market, guided to a specific place, and I found exactly what needed to be placed there—three tiles made in the same design, depicting these three deities. The decision to do this wasn’t from me—it was from the Source. Sometimes, when you’re listening to the Source, it guides you.
The path of surrender and selfless service
This is my realisation. Maybe it doesn’t make rational sense to you, but this is what I’ve felt.
Whether people respect you or insult you, or if you feel low energy, just come back to yourself and ask, “How can I be in this situation?” Every role in life demands something of you, some sacrifice. Be in the flow. When you’re aligned with the Source, you’ll know how to be. But when you’re stuck in ego, problems always arise.
Every role is a spiritual opportunity
And it’s unfortunate when someone is always seen as a teacher. They no longer live a normal life—they’re stuck in the identity of “teacher.” That’s not good. You have to play many roles. One moment you’re a teacher, the next moment you’re cleaning, helping, assisting. Be spontaneous. Every role is spiritual. Every role is an opportunity to raise your consciousness.
If you resist a role—saying, “Oh no, I can’t do this, I’m supposed to be spiritual”—that’s ego. You’re denying life. The Source has instructed you to play a certain role. Just try. Your roles are changing from moment to moment.
That’s what I’ve learned from Hanuman—being with each role, playing it fully. And whenever I’ve suffered, it’s because I wasn’t spontaneous. I was stuck in ego.
So I come back, and I learn from my suffering. And I tell you this because Hanuman-Ji has inspired my life deeply.
Study Hanuman’s qualities at the Vedic Yoga Centre
The same spirit of devotion, selfless service, and inner awakening that Hanuman-Ji embodies is incorporated in all our retreats, yoga teacher training programs, and traditional Ayurvedic treatments at the Vedic Yoga Centre Rishikesh to teach students the virtues of courage, fearlessness, humility, devotion and loyalty.
Whether you’re here for a retreat or a full 200- or 300-hour yoga training course, the aim is the same: to move from ego to awareness, from restlessness to peace. Through practices in bhakti yoga, hatha yoga, Kundalini, meditation, and panchakarma detox, students reconnect with their true nature. Like Hanuman-Ji, we are all on a path to rediscover the power, humility, and divine light already within us.
