The Myth of Hanumanasana

Hanumanasana, otherwise known as the front splits, is an intermediate to advanced posture that requires significant flexibility in the hamstrings and hip flexors. It is often glamorised on social media, but it is in fact a powerful pose that cultivates persistence, patience, and bodily awareness. The physical benefits are many, though the skills hanumanasana fosters are invaluable on your spiritual path.

The pose is named for the monkey god, Hanuman, who embodies the qualities necessary to master this asana.

The Myth

Our monkey god is most commonly considered to be the son of Anjana, a forest dwelling nymph, and of Vayu, the God of Prana or Air. His divine parentage meant Hanuman possessed superhuman abilities. He was impossibly strong, he could move at immeasurable speeds, fly great distances and transform in size. As a child, he took a fantastical leap towards the sun. He mistook it for a juicy red fruit and sought to pluck it from the air. Indra, ruler of the Gods, intervened on the sun’s behalf, striking the young monkey out of the sky with a ray of lightening. It smashed against Hanuman’s chin and sent him hurtling to the ground, dead and his jaw irreparably broken. His name actually translates to ‘disfigured jaw’. Upon hearing of his son’s death, Vayu erupted in a storm of rage and withheld air from the beings of earth. All life began to suffocate in the face of Vayu’s wrath until Shiva, the God of regeneration, revived Hanuman. Vayu returned air to humanity in thanks, though Hanuman woke with no memory of his divinity and the gifts with which he was born.

It wasn’t until adulthood that Hanuman regained knowledge of his powers and enacted the feat he is most renowned for. He had grown to be a fearsome warrior, and was recruited alongside his army of vanara, or ape soldiers, to fight in service of prince Rama. The prince, known for his benevolence, was in a long-standing war with the ruler of Sri Lanka, Ravana, a 10-headed demon notoriously intelligent but equally depraved. Upon meeting Rama, Hanuman was convinced of the prince’s divinity and the righteousness of his endeavour to defeat Ravana. He pledged his life to Rama then and rediscovered his own power in service to him. Hanuman was first called upon when Ravana had kidnapped Rama’s wife, Sita. Someone had to undertake the enormous task of travelling from South India to Sri Lanka to ascertain where she was being held prisoner. Just in time for this immense act of service, Hanuman was reminded of his divinity and made one colossal leap across the sea. It is this action that inspired hanumanasana.

He successfully located Sita and assured her that Rama was journeying there, determined to save her. Hanuman made a destructive escape, burning much of the country up before bounding back to India to inform Rama of Sita’s whereabouts. An epic battle ensued, in which Rama’s beloved was recovered and Ravana was justly defeated. Rama’s brother, Lakshmana, was violently injured in the onslaught though, and Hanuman’s powers were sought a second time. A magical herb was required to tend Lakshmana’s wounds, a herb found only on the highest of Himalayan peaks. Ever devoted to his lord Rama, Hanuman leapt again from South India to the northernmost tip of the mountain range. Upon arriving, he realised he had no notion of the plant’s appearance and so prised a whole mountain off the face of the earth to carry it back to Rama. In so doing, he saved Lakshmana’s life, then made the last of his famous leaps to return the mountain home.

Hanuman’s life is defined by his selfless service to Rama. When offered gifts for his heroism, he refused them and asked only to forever remain Rama’s devotee. To prove the sincerity of his devotion, he tore open his chest to reveal bones inscribed with the name of his master. He spent the rest of his immortal life as Rama’s constant companion.

The Meaning

How-To

Benefits

Take a confident leap to harness the ultimate power of your body and rediscover your divine potential. Hanumanasana will allow you to access physical heights, but also opens the door to a deeper, more conscious mode of mediation.

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