Chapter 1: Myth
Vaanar Race in Hindu Mythology: Baali, Sugreeva and Hanumanji are the three most famous Vaanar characters in Ramayana, the epic. They show all characteristics of a civilized human who can be a father, fighter, king and follower. Baali ruled the kingdom of Kishkindha, which happens to be the modern day Karnataka. Those days, it was surrounded by Dandaka forest; hence leading everyone to believe that they were apes or monkeys dueling in the forests. We have read a lot about monkey gods, monkeys, bears and other animals contributing in Ramayana and in lesser magnitude, in Mahabharata as well. Throughout our childhood we saw TV serials as Sagar’s Ramayana and Chopra’s Mahabharata. While watching a lot of questions arose, to which my elders could not answer in a logical manner. For example, if Baali and Sugreeva were monkeys, who had tails and face like monkeys, why did their wives Tara and Rukma were depicted as normal human women? Clearly, they were not monkey, but they belonged ...