Hanuman (Hanumān) is Rama’s heroic devotee whose courage, intelligence, humility, and supernatural strength make him one of Hinduism’s most widely revered figures. A central character in the Rāmāyaṇa, Hanuman belongs to the vānaras and is closely associated with Vāyu, the god of wind, from whom he receives extraordinary power.
His greatest exploits occur during the search for Sītā. Hanuman leaps across the ocean to Laṅkā, discovers her in captivity, confronts Rāvaṇa’s forces, burns part of the city, and later performs heroic services during Rama’s war. Yet his physical strength is secondary to the quality for which he is most loved: complete devotion to Rama.
Hanuman unites qualities that rarely coexist—immense power without pride, learning without vanity, courage without selfish ambition. He has consequently become the model of dāsya-bhakti, loving service to God. His central message is that devotion does not weaken a person; properly directed, it becomes a source of extraordinary strength.
