Hanuman as Manas: The Mind That Remembered Its Power and Leapt Across the Ocean

“The son of Vayu forgot what he was. A curse made him sleep to his own power. Then, in the moment of greatest need, Jambavan reminded him—and he became the one who leaps across oceans, lifts mountains, and burns cities with his tail. This is your mind. This is what happens when Manas remembers.” — Ramayana Teaching

The Mind That Forgot—Then Remembered

Among all the Chiranjivis, Hanuman is the most beloved.

Not because he’s the most powerful—though he is extraordinarily powerful. Not because he’s the most wise—though he’s called the wisest of all beings.

Because he forgot.

Hanuman was born with godlike abilities—the power to fly, to change size at will, to become invincible. But as a child, he misused these powers, disturbing the sages in their meditations. So they cursed him: “You will forget what you can do until someone reminds you.”

And he forgot. For years, he lived as an ordinary vanara (forest-being), unaware that within him slept the capacity to leap across oceans.

Then came the moment: Rama’s mission to find Sita required someone to cross the vast ocean to Lanka. No one could do it. The army of vanaras stood paralyzed at the shore.

And Jambavan, the ancient bear, turned to Hanuman and said: “Why do you sit there in silence? Have you forgotten who you are?”

In that moment, Hanuman remembered. And he grew to massive size, leapt across the ocean, infiltrated Lanka, met Sita, burned the city, and returned triumphant.

This is not just Hanuman’s story. This is the story of your mind (Manas).

---

Hanuman as Manas: The Mind Principle

Manas (मनस्) philosophy

The mind—specifically the aspect of consciousness that receives sensory input, generates thoughts, processes emotions, and directs attention. In the Antahkarana (inner instrument), Manas is the fluctuating, restless faculty that must be trained for higher functioning. Hanuman embodies Manas at its full potential: focused, powerful, dedicated to divine purpose.

Hanuman is not merely a deity to worship externally. He IS the dimension of mind (Manas) within you—appearing as a mythological figure so you can see, understand, and develop what otherwise remains invisible.

When you understand Hanuman as Manas, his entire story becomes a teaching about your own mental potential:

You have forgotten. Conditioning, education, society—all have conspired to make you believe your mind is small, limited, weak. Hanuman waits within you, ready to remember. The question is: What will remind you?

---

The Mythology: Powers, Curse, and Awakening

The Son of the Wind God

Hanuman was born to Anjana (an apsara cursed to vanara form) and Vayu (the Wind God). His very origin combines heaven (apsara), nature (vanara), and cosmic force (wind).

The wind is significant: Wind is prana, breath, life-force. The mind (Manas) rides on the breath—this is why pranayama affects mental states. Hanuman as Vayu’s son embodies the principle that mastery of prana = mastery of mind.

The Curse That Created Dormancy

As a child, Hanuman mistook the rising sun for a ripe fruit and leapt toward it. Indra struck him with his thunderbolt, wounding his chin (Hanu = chin, hence “Hanuman”). The sages, disturbed by his uncontrolled power, cursed him to forget his abilities until reminded.

The teaching:

• Undisciplined power is dangerous — The untrained mind causes problems
• Forgetting serves purpose — Sometimes we must forget old capacities to develop new orientations (devotion, surrender)
• Awakening requires reminder — We cannot awaken ourselves; something external must trigger the memory

Jambavan’s Reminder

When the vanara army reached the ocean, Hanuman sat quietly, not volunteering. Jambavan, the ancient bear who remembered creation itself, approached him:

“O mighty Hanuman, why do you sit in silence when the greatest service is required? Have you forgotten that you can fly? Have you forgotten what you are?”

And in that moment, the curse lifted. Hanuman remembered—not intellectually, but with his entire being. He grew, he roared, he leapt.

The teaching:

• Sometimes we need external reminder — Guru, teaching, circumstance
• The reminder doesn’t CREATE capacity—it REVEALS it — Jambavan gave Hanuman nothing new; he uncovered what was always there
• Greatest service triggers awakening — In moments of essential need, hidden powers emerge

---

The Five Powers of the Awakened Mind

Hanuman is described with five supernatural abilities—each representing a capacity of the fully functioning mind:

These aren’t just magical abilities—they describe what the mind (Manas) can do when fully developed:

• Focus with laser precision (Anima)
• Expand to hold vast perspectives (Mahima)
• Remain stable amid chaos (Garima)
• Release and let go effortlessly (Laghima)
• Direct attention anywhere at will (Prapti)

---

The Devotion (Bhakti) That Channels Power

Hanuman’s power is inseparable from his devotion. He doesn’t use his abilities for himself—he uses them entirely in service to Rama.

Bhakti (भक्ति) philosophy

Devotion—not mere religious sentiment, but total dedication of all faculties to something greater than ego. In the context of Manas, Bhakti is the orienting principle that channels scattered mental energy into unified, powerful flow. Without Bhakti, Manas remains scattered; with it, Manas becomes Hanuman.

Why is devotion essential for mental mastery?

The mind cannot be forced into submission. Willpower alone creates internal war. But when the mind falls in love with something greater—when it WANTS to focus, WANTS to serve—its energy naturally unifies.

This is Hanuman’s secret: He doesn’t control his mind; he dedicates it. And in that dedication, all its powers become available.

Hanuman's strength is not separate from his love. He can lift mountains because every atom of his being is oriented toward Rama. The mind that loves becomes the mind that can do anything.

The Chest Opening

In perhaps the most famous image, Hanuman tears open his chest to reveal Rama and Sita within his heart. This iconography carries profound teaching:

• The divine is not outside the devotee — Rama lives in Hanuman’s heart
• Devotion makes external and internal one — There is no separation between worshipper and worshipped
• The body itself becomes the temple — Hanuman’s physical form houses the divine

---

The Psychology of Flow and Devotion

Modern psychology illuminates what Hanuman represents:

Flow States and the Unified Mind

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s research on flow describes states where:

• Attention becomes completely absorbed in activity
• The sense of separate self dissolves
• Time perception changes
• Performance reaches peak levels

This is Hanuman flying across the ocean. Not struggling, not forcing—completely absorbed in the task, ego dissolved, flowing with supernatural capability.

The trigger for flow? Clear goal + complete dedication. Exactly Hanuman’s condition: find Sita, serve Rama, nothing else matters.

The Neuroscience of Devotion

Research on prayer, meditation, and devotional practice shows:

• Decreased activity in the posterior superior parietal lobe (the “self-other” distinction area)
• Increased coherence between brain regions
• Enhanced parasympathetic activation (calm alertness)
• Release of oxytocin and endorphins

Neurologically, devotion creates the conditions for optimal mental functioning. The scattered mind becomes coherent; the stressed mind becomes calm; the weak mind becomes powerful.

---

Hanuman Among the Chiranjivis

Understanding his place among the seven immortals:

Hanuman’s unique contribution: While all Chiranjivis represent immortal dimensions, Hanuman specifically represents the base faculty—Manas—through which all others operate. Without mind mastery, conscience (Vibhishana) cannot be heard clearly, wisdom (Vyasa) cannot be synthesized, righteous action (Parashurama) cannot be channeled properly.

---

The Iconography: Reading Hanuman’s Form

Every detail of Hanuman’s depiction carries teaching:

The Vanara (Monkey) Form

• Restless monkey = The natural state of untrained mind
• Hanuman as evolved vanara = What the restless mind becomes when trained
• Neither human nor god = Mind is between animal instinct and divine potential

The Mace (Gada)

Hanuman carries a massive mace, representing:

• Focused power — Concentrated energy
• Protection — Defense against mental obstacles
• Destruction of enemies — Eliminating internal enemies (laziness, doubt, distraction)

The Posture of Service

In most depictions, Hanuman is either:

• Prostrating before Rama — Complete surrender
• Flying in service — Action as devotion
• Kneeling in readiness — Available and alert

Never is he depicted serving himself. His very posture teaches: The powerful mind is powerful precisely because it serves something greater.

The Mountain (Dronagiri)

The famous image of Hanuman carrying a mountain shows:

• When the goal is great, bring everything — Don’t calculate; give all
• What seems impossible is possible — A mountain fits in one hand when purpose is clear
• Urgency and totality — He lifted the mountain to save Lakshmana; no hesitation, no half-measures

---

The Sadhana: Practices for Awakening Your Inner Hanuman

The Mantras

The Hanuman Gayatri

ॐ आञ्जनेयाय विद्महे वायुपुत्राय धीमहि।
तन्नो हनुमत् प्रचोदयात्॥

“Om Anjaneyaya Vidmahe Vayuputraya Dhimahi
Tanno Hanumat Prachodayat”

Meaning: “Om, may we know Anjaneya (son of Anjana), let us meditate on the Son of the Wind. May Hanuman inspire and guide us.”

Practice: 108 repetitions, especially on Tuesday (Hanuman’s day) or Saturday.

The Hanuman Beej Mantra

ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रूं ह्रैं ह्रौं ह्रः
ॐ नमो हनुमते रुद्रावताराय सर्व शत्रु संहारणाय स्वाहा

“Om Hraam Hreem Hroom Hraim Hraum Hrah
Om Namo Hanumate Rudravataraya Sarva Shatru Samharanaya Swaha”

For: Overcoming obstacles, building strength, destroying internal enemies.

The Simple Hanuman Mantra

जय हनुमान

“Jai Hanuman” or “Om Hanumate Namah”

For: Daily invocation, quick connection, building relationship.

Hanuman Meditation (Manas Awakening)

The Remembering Practice:

1. Sit quietly and settle the breath. Connect with Vayu (wind) element through awareness of breath.

2. Acknowledge your forgotten power. Without judgment, recognize: “I have been operating at a fraction of my mental capacity.”

3. Invite the reminder. Call to Jambavan (or the guru principle): “Remind me who I am. What have I forgotten?”

4. Visualize Hanuman. See him at the ocean shore—then see him remember. Watch him grow to cosmic size.

5. Feel the same awakening in yourself. Not intellectually—viscerally. Something in you IS Hanuman. Something in you has forgotten and is about to remember.

6. Leap with him. As he leaps across the ocean, feel your own mind expanding, becoming capable of what seemed impossible.

7. Offer the capacity to Rama. Whatever awakens, dedicate it. “This power is not for ego—it is for service.”

8. Rest in the knowing. You have always been this. You will not forget again.

Duration: 20-40 minutes. Practice especially when feeling limited, blocked, or doubtful of your capacity.

Hanuman Chalisa

The Hanuman Chalisa is the most famous Hanuman text—40 verses by Tulsidas recited by millions daily. Regular recitation:

• Builds relationship with Hanuman principle
• Trains the mind through repetition
• Invoques protection and mental strength

Physical Practice: Hanuman Namaskar

Sun salutations can be done as “Hanuman Namaskar”—each movement offered as service, each breath connecting to Vayu (wind), each effort dedicated to something greater than personal benefit.

---

Modern Applications: Living Hanuman’s Mind Mastery

For Mental Discipline

When the mind is scattered:

1. Recall Hanuman at the ocean — He too sat in unknowing
2. Ask: What would remind me? — Teaching, purpose, necessity
3. Set a clear, devoted goal — The mind unifies around what it loves
4. Leap — Act before doubt regathers

For Overcoming Obstacles

When something seems impossible:

1. Remember the ocean — It looked impossible too
2. Remember the mountain — When urgency is real, impossibility dissolves
3. Check your devotion — Is this goal ego-serving or greater-serving?
4. Invoke Hanuman’s energy — “Jai Hanuman—let this be done”

For Fear and Anxiety

Hanuman was fearless—not because danger wasn’t real, but because his mind was too full of Rama to have room for fear.

Practice: When fear arises, fill the mind with what you love, what you serve, what matters most. Fear cannot coexist with devoted focus.

For Creativity and Performance

Flow states require what Hanuman demonstrates:

• Clear goal
• Complete absorption
• Ego-dissolution
• Service to something greater

Practice: Before creative work, invoke Hanuman. Offer the work. Then forget yourself in the doing.

---

---

The Leap You’re About to Take

Somewhere, you’re standing at an ocean—looking at something that seems impossible.

Maybe it’s a creative project you’ve been avoiding. Maybe it’s a conversation you’ve been dreading. Maybe it’s a version of yourself you’ve been afraid to become.

You have forgotten what you can do.

Not because you’re deficient, but because you were cursed—by conditioning, by education, by a world that needs you small.

Jambavan is speaking now. Through these words, through the teaching, through whatever brought you here.

He’s saying: “Why do you sit in silence? Have you forgotten who you are?”

Hanuman didn’t argue. Didn’t make excuses. Didn’t ask for more preparation.

He remembered. He grew. He leapt.

The ocean is not as wide as it looks. Your mind is not as weak as you believe. And Rama—whatever you serve, whatever you love, whatever calls you to greatness—is waiting on the other shore.

Jai Hanuman.

---

Related explorations: The Seven Chiranjivis: Complete Guide | Ashwatthama: Echo of Actions | Vibhishana: Dharmic Conscience | Parashurama: Righteous Warrior

---

ॐ