A First Aid(e) for God/dess: Hanumān as the Helper Deity in Vaishnavism, Śaivism, and Śāktism: Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Abstract

Hanumān is without a doubt one of the most easily recognized and popular deities within India. It is hard to walk anywhere, whether in city or village, wandering a traditional bazaar or modern shopping mall, or gazing at large government buildings or solitary pepal tree in the country without coming across some manifestation of the “monkey-god.” Therefore, it might seem odd at first that he would be included in this special issue of JVS on semi-divine beings; however, as I will discuss below, it is his quality as the semi- or, perhaps more appropriately, subordinate deity that has led to the pervasiveness and popularity of Hanumān. For he, unlike
many other deities (with the possible exception of Gaṇeśa, only to a lesser extent) that tend to be firmly within one sectarian devotional tradition (i.e.- Vaishnava, Śaiva, or Śākta), is interwoven into all three as the devotee of Rāma and incarnation of Śiva as Vaishnava bhakta, a yogic Mārut, who is at the behest of Śiva, eventually being included as Śiva’s incarnation as one of the
eleven Rūdras, and as the embodiment and escort of śakti—always receiving importance as a periphery.