Was Hanuman Really His Name?

By Author: lokeh
Total Articles: 5
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When we hear the name Hanuman, we immediately think of courage, strength and complete devotion to Lord Rama. But have you ever wondered why he is called Hanuman, Anjaneya and Sundara?
Each name is connected with a different aspect of his identity. Anjaneya recalls his mother Anjana, Hanuman is traditionally connected with the remarkable story of his childhood and his injured jaw, while Sundara is closely associated with the fifth book of the Ramayana, the Sundara Kanda, where Hanuman performs some of his greatest deeds.
1. Was Hanuman Originally Called Sundara?
This is one of the most interesting claims about Hanuman.
Some devotional and regional traditions refer to Hanuman as Sundara, meaning “beautiful” or “handsome.” However, the idea that Sundara was definitely the birth name given to him by his parents is not established in the Valmiki Ramayana.
The connection with Sundara becomes especially interesting because the fifth book of the Valmiki Ramayana is called Sundara Kanda, traditionally translated as the “Book of Beauty.” Hanuman is the central figure of this part of the epic. ...
... He crosses the ocean, finds Sita in Lanka, delivers Rama's message, demonstrates extraordinary intelligence and courage, and returns successfully with information about her location.
This is why later traditions have closely connected Hanuman and the word Sundara.
There is also a deeper interpretation of the word “beautiful.” Hanuman's beauty is not necessarily about physical appearance. It can be understood as the beauty of his devotion, courage, intelligence and selfless service to Rama.
2. Why Is He Called Hanuman? The Story of the Sun and the Vajra
The traditional story behind the name Hanuman begins when he was still a child.
One morning, young Hanuman saw the rising Sun and mistook it for a large, ripe fruit. Thinking that he had found something to eat, he leapt into the sky and flew toward the Sun.
Indra, the king of the gods, intervened and struck the child with his Vajra, the divine thunderbolt. The blow struck Hanuman on his jaw.
The Sanskrit word “hanu” refers to the jaw or chin, and traditional explanations therefore connect the name Hanuman with the injury to his jaw. Later accounts describe the gods granting Hanuman extraordinary blessings after the incident.
So the name Hanuman is traditionally explained through this extraordinary childhood episode.
The story also reveals something important about his character from the very beginning: even as a child, Hanuman possessed extraordinary energy, fearlessness and divine power.
3. Why Do We Call Him Anjaneya?
The name Anjaneya has a much simpler meaning.
Anjaneya means “son of Anjana.” It comes from his mother's name, Anjana, and is one of the many names used for Hanuman in Hindu tradition.
Hanuman is traditionally described as the son of Anjana and Kesari, and he is also associated with Vayu, the Wind God, which explains other names such as Vayuputra, Pavanaputra and Maruti.
Each name highlights a different relationship or quality:
Anjaneya – son of Anjana
Vayuputra – son of Vayu
Kesari Nandana – son of Kesari
Hanuman – traditionally connected with his jaw
Mahaveera – great hero
This is one reason Hanuman has so many names across India. His names do not merely identify him; they preserve different stories and qualities associated with him.
4. Why Is Sundara Kanda Named “Sundara” When Hanuman Burned Lanka?
This is another fascinating question.
Many people assume that Sundara Kanda was named because Hanuman burned Lanka or because he was called Sundara. But the reason is not so simple.
The fifth book of the Valmiki Ramayana is explicitly called Sundara Kanda, or the “Book of Beauty.” Hanuman dominates the narrative of this section, from his journey across the ocean to his discovery of Sita and his return to Rama.
Traditional commentators and later interpretations have offered different explanations for the word Sundara. Some connect it with Hanuman himself, while others see the entire section as “beautiful” because of its characters, events, devotional meaning or poetic quality.
Therefore, it is safer to say:
Sundara Kanda is deeply associated with Hanuman, but its title should not be explained simply as “the chapter about Hanuman because his birth name was Sundara.”
What makes this section truly special is the extraordinary journey of Hanuman—from one leap across the ocean to discovering Sita and carrying Rama's message to her.
5. What Do Hanuman, Anjaneya and Sundara Mean for His Bronze Idol?
A traditional Hanuman bronze idol can express many different aspects of the deity at once.
His powerful body represents strength and courage. His traditional posture can express devotion and readiness to serve Rama. His tail, facial expression and ornaments add to his recognizable iconography, while forms showing his hands joined in prayer emphasize his role as the ultimate devotee.
The names also give the idol deeper meaning.
Hanuman reminds us of the divine childhood story and extraordinary strength.
Anjaneya reminds us of his connection with his mother Anjana.
Sundara can evoke the beauty of his devotion, courage and selfless service.
At Idol Bronze, a carefully crafted Hanuman bronze idol can preserve these traditional details through detailed metal sculpture. Fine work on the face, ornaments, posture, tail and traditional attributes allows the sculpture to retain the distinctive character of Hanuman.
For a home pooja space, temple or devotional collection, a traditional bronze Hanuman can therefore be appreciated not only as an idol but also as a representation of Indian mythology, South Indian sculptural heritage and the timeless devotion of Hanuman to Lord Rama.
Conclusion
Hanuman is a figure whose many names tell many stories.
Anjaneya connects him with his mother Anjana. Hanuman is traditionally linked with the childhood incident in which Indra's Vajra struck his jaw. Sundara is closely associated with the famous Sundara Kanda and with the beauty of Hanuman's extraordinary devotion and heroic deeds.
So rather than asking which name is the “real” one, it is more meaningful to understand what each name reveals.
Hanuman is the hero.
Anjaneya is the son.
Sundara is the devotee whose greatest beauty lies in his devotion to Rama.
A traditional Hanuman bronze idol from Idol Bronze brings these stories together in a lasting form, preserving the spiritual symbolism and artistic heritage associated with one of India's most beloved divine figures.