Hanuman, the Hindu god, is one of the most celebrated and worshipped figures in Indian religion, but mention him outside of India and you are likely to be met with a blank stare. So who is Hanuman and what does he represent to the Hindu faith? As is the case for many of Mother India's gods, several stories are told explaining Hanuman's birth. In one interpretation Shiva and Parvati decide to transform themselves into monkeys and indulge in amorous games in the forest. As a result Parvati becomes pregnant. Shiva, conscious of his godly responsibilities and desiring to conform to the laws of nature, directs the wind god Vayu to carry the offspring from Parvati's womb to that of Anjana - an Apsara with the form of a monkey who has prayed to be granted a boy child. In another version of the story Hanuman is simply the offspring of Anjana and Vayu. In yet another version of the story, he is the son of the King and Queen of the Monkeys. Many stories are also told of Hanuman's childhood. As the son of Shiva and a young monkey to boot, Hanuman is variously described as spirited, restless, energetic and inquisitive. One point they all agree on is his mischievous nature. Hanuman often abused his powers to pester the saints and holy men living in the nearby forest, with tricks such as beard pulling and the dousing of sacred fires. However, it is as an adult that the monkey god Hanuman comes into his own.
