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 to the vaanar race. Today when I have read a lot of mythology and folktales pertaining to various cultures; read books like LOTR and The Hobbit; came across Egyptian tales; I think that my ancestors were very articulate in the way they composed these epics. They defined terms, coined various definitions, to which we, the English educated generation, believe to be fake, exaggerated and way too imaginative. They wrote such texts, epics that even till today we are trying to derive a conclusion from them.

Before we start looking into details of the debatable issues, it is important for us to know the difference between "Vaanar and Monkey". Vaanar is a Sanskrit word, a conjunction of 2 words- "van" meaning forest and "nar" meaning human; so vaanar would mean a "human living in forest". So based on this definition there can be two possible theories.

- Theory A suggests that the “vaanar” race of that age would be a race of humans like everyone, who highly believed in monkeys and hence dressed up like monkeys. We find similar corollaries even in today’s modern age: we have the Halloween festival in which people dress up in various fashions. Also, various tribes wear patches on their faces and bodies.

Similarly, vaanar race of that age would have been painting their lips, wearing a particular mask to show their following to a particular species, in this case, a monkey like humanoid. If looked closely on North American natives’ culture, we have discovered the various masks they have used. The vaanar race could be analogous to them, of the primitive age.

If we imagine the vaanars to be of humans who were civilized natives, following the traditions of putting on a mask or painting their faces like monkey, putting on a false tail; then, in all probability their existence in the Ramayana Age possible. This also makes us believe women like Tara and Rukma lived with them, just like they would have lived with any other human.

Also, this concept of false tail can seem to be little logical when we read about Hanumanji burning Lanka upon his first arrival there. We have read that Hanumanji made his tail bigger when Raavan ordered the tail to be put on fire. If he had a false tail, he can very well make it bigger by just pulling it out inch by inch; hence, the authors, poets and the mythologists claim that he made his natural tail bigger. This reasoning may seem to be little hilarious but it is also more logical than the fact that a natural tail cannot grow bigger in a single instant. Looking at the folktales of various nations, we do read about coyote man, crow man ET el.

They were all humans who wore masks of the animals they thought they were close to. We can also check the legend of Raven in North American natives’ mythology in this perception. So, our vaanars of the Ramayana age can be put forward as monkey men- man who dressed up like monkeys with crowns, groin cloth and weapons like maces.

Another important feature in this regard of vaanar clan is that this clan did not cease to exist until Mahabharata age.We read about vaanar clan in Mahabharata in mainly 3 contexts:

1. Hanumaan dialogue with Bheem and his approval to Arjun to be on his chariot’s flag for the entire battle of Mahabharat. [Refer Note 1.]

2. Sahadev’s account post Rajshurya yagna on how he fought with vaanars while enroute to Modern day Karnataka. [Refer Note 2.]

3. Dvidida encounter with Balarama. [Refer Note 3.] So, we can say that this clan flourished with time and they survived for over a period of 1600 years, between Mahabharat and Ramayana. [Refer Note 4.]

Interesting thing is to be noted is that, during Ramayana age, the vaanar race has been projected as loyalist to the humans, especially Aaryans and a tribe which does not indulge in any unwanted nuisance. But, the scene changes during the Mahabharata age, where the vaanars fought against Paadavas and Balrama, the heroes of the epic.

- Coming to the second, Theory B of this discussion, let us all revisit Charles Darwin’s book “On the origin of Species”; wherein he puts forward the concept of man’s evolution from apes. He says that our ancestors were apes and man evolved from apes. So, it is quite possible that Vaanars were ape man who were still in the process of evolution; however they had learnt the mannerism of communication, lifestyle and marriage, just like the human social society.

If we relate our myths with western theories of evolution: which we all have accepted and are passing on to our future generation, then this concept seems to be logical. Also, it is to be noted that Kishkindha of that age was supposed to be one of the densest forests in the subcontinent and hence the possibilities of the apes residing there are best possible imagined.

Our epics were written thousands of years back and they are written with such accuracy, in terms of places and events that it is very difficult to believe that it is myth. The only showstopper, for majority of us, to believe this was real and actual, rather than myth, is the exaggeration or the supernatural powers of the epics.

For example, we believe that Hanumanji’s powers as flying to be super natural and magical. But if we look into little different perspective, this may seem real and quite possible in today’s world. It has been studied and proved to a certain extent that man’s life expectancy and height has been decreasing with passage of time.

During the Mahabharata age, the average height of a man was supposed to be approximately 12 feet; hence I assume that during Ramayana age, this height should been about 15 feet, if not less. If we were to imagine a humanoid, dressed as a monkey or an apeman of height 15 feet, the first impression would be of King Kong!

Now just think of this 15 feet tall apeman jumping with all its might, the first impression would be that he is flying. So, it is possible that Hanumanji, being of atleast 15 feet height would be flying when he is jumping with all his might. Many people would think, how would be possible for him to cross the sea, all the way to Lanka.

Well, we have accounts of small hilltops and mountains as Mainaka, on course to Lanka. So, it is possible for him to take huges jumps to Lanka, thus giving the impression of flying to the authors, narrators and poets. Also, he would have swum across the ocean, in case he would not be able to make another jump.

Hence, it was a combination of huge jumps and swimming that Hanumanji was able to cross the sea and reach Lanka. There are few more powers of Hanumanji’s which can be debated and asked for justification or logic, in today’s intelligence. One such power is – how did he manage to increase or decrease his body size.

To be honest, this is one of the reasons I could not account, due to the knowledge, reasoning I have gained so far, in today’s technology. But I am sure, with passage of time and enhancement of technology, this would also definable and would be accounted for. Imagine telling a 1950’s person about devices on which one could talk and see, without being connected, even with wires! May be, for such powers of Hanumanji, we are the primitives, yet to understand them.

Another name for Hanumanji is Pavanputra , meaning son of the wind. It is to be noted that wind god Pavan, was considered to be the god of might. There is an interesting anecdote which can be discussed to showcase how Hanumanji got the name Pavanputra. Mata Anjani was attracted to Kesari- a vaanar.

As the social norms of those days did not allow a human and vaanar to be coupled, their union seemed difficult. As Hanumanji was born of this lovelock, Mata Anjani threw baby Hanuman off the cliff; he floated in air and got in the arms of Kesari, his father who was at the bottom of the cliff. Being in air, without being harmed, earned Hanumanji, the name Pavanputra.

Also, it is said that he was the “Maanas Putra” –the foster son of the wind god. We witnessed the RamSetu controversy a few years ago when it was decided to be destructed for political or commercial purposes. That time, NASA declared that RamSetu was not natural bridge but a manmade bridge.

Another interesting feature in the course of hindu mythology. We have read that RamSetu was constructed by Vaanar sena, with the aide of engineers Nal and Neel, who were thought to be sons of Vishwakarma, the celestial craftsman.

Clearly, the bridge could not have been constructed by monkey; it was indeed work of human who lived in forest – vaanars. There are many more tales and anecdotes which ask for reasoning; for instance Jambavant , Hanumanji’s encounter with sun god and other gods. We will be discussing them in coming chapters of this book.

Another fact which should be accounted for is that these epics have been passed on for thousands of years and a lot of addition and subtraction has been done to them. The stories have been sung, narrated, enacted and written.

There are so many version of each of them; every region has it’s each own depiction of the events. The soul of the tales has remained; but the descriptions have been blown to proportions and exaggeration.

Also, it is also noteworthy that poets, bards and authors do make their literature little exaggerated and spice it up with all metaphors and personifications.

Notes:

Note 1: While in exile for 14 years post the dice game, Paadanvas were instructed to gain power and weapons. It was during this team, Bheemsen developed an ego of his power. It was at this time, Hanumanji meets Bheem in form of an old Vaanar asking for his tail to be moved out the way. When Bheemsen realizes the true form of Hanumanji, he apologizes and asks him to be on their side in the war.

Note 2: On formation of Indrapratha Kingdom, Yudhisthir organizes the Rajshurya Yagna and sends his four brothers on conquest of the neighbouring kingdoms. Sahadev marches towards modern Karnataka where he wages war against the Vaanar, who are still ruling Kishkindha.

Note 3: There is an account of a mighty vaanar named Dvidida who troubles Gopis and gops of Mathura. Krishnaji sends Balaramji to fight him. Balaramji kills the mighty vaanar in an engrossed battle.

Note 4: Rama returns to Ayodhya on 6th December 7272 B.C. The Mahabharat Era has been dated to 5562 B.C. This calculation is based on the description of position of the stars and nakshatras, well described in various texts of Hindu Mythology.