Why Did Hanuman Try to Eat the Sun? The Childhood Story of Hanuman
In Hindu mythology, one of the most interesting childhood stories about Hanuman tells us that he once attempted to eat the Sun. Hanuman, being the blessed son of Vayu, had incredible strength and power since his childhood. This story, which is part of the tales related to the Ramayana, tells us a lot about Hanuman’s playful nature and his incredible divine power.
Hanuman’s Playful Childhood
After the divine birth of Hanuman and the blessing of Vayu, the young Hanuman was full of energy and curiosity. (Birth of Hanuman and the Blessing of Vayu)
One morning, Hanuman looked up into the sky and saw the rising sun shining brightly. To Hanuman, it looked like a shining fruit floating in the sky.
Hanuman, being a playful child with supernatural powers, thought he would jump up to the sky to fetch the shining fruit.
Hanuman Leaps Toward the Sun
With incredible speed and power, Hanuman flew toward the Sun. His leap surprised the gods and celestial beings.
In Hindu mythology, the Sun is represented by the deity Surya. When Surya saw Hanuman approaching, the entire universe became alarmed.
At the same time, a solar eclipse was about to occur because Rahu was approaching the Sun.
But Hanuman reached first.
The Gods Intervene
Seeing the situation becoming dangerous, the king of the gods, Indra, decided to stop Hanuman.
Indra used his thunderbolt weapon, Vajra, to strike Hanuman.
The strike hit Hanuman’s jaw and he fell back to Earth unconscious.
This is why the name Hanuman is believed to come from the word Hanu, meaning jaw.
Vayu Becomes Angry
When the wind god Vayu saw his beloved child injured, he became extremely angry.
He withdrew air from the entire universe, causing all living beings to struggle for breath.
The gods soon realized their mistake and rushed to calm Vayu.
Hanuman Receives Divine Boons
To make peace, many gods blessed Hanuman with powerful abilities.
Some of the blessings included:
- Immunity from weapons
- Immense strength
- Speed and intelligence
- Protection from death
These blessings later helped Hanuman play a crucial role in the story of Rama in the Ramayana.
Spiritual Meaning of the Story
This story symbolizes curiosity and boundless energy in childhood.
It also shows that Hanuman’s power was so immense that even the gods had to acknowledge his strength.
Later in life, Hanuman used these powers in service of righteousness and devotion.