Anjana (mythology)
An idol of Anjani Mata, son of Hanuman, on her lap in Anjani Mata Temple, Chomu
Anjana ( Sanskrit : अंजना , Añjanā ) was the mother of Hanuman , one of the heroes of the Indian epic Ramayana . According to one version of the story, Anjana was an apsara named Punjikastala who came to earth and married Kesari, a monkey chief. Vayu , god of wind, found herself drawn to her one day while traveling the earth. Their community produced Hanuman.
In another version, Anjana was a deity in an earlier reincarnation who was cursed and reborn as a monkey. With the birth of Hanuman, she was able to avert the curse and become a goddess again.
Anjana is also a female given name.
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Remarks
- ↑ James G. Lochtefeld: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (= Volume 1: A – M). Rosen Publishing, New York 2002, ISBN 0-8239-2287-1 , p. 42.