Hanuman (;
Hanuman in
IAST); also known as
Mahavira or
Bajrangbali, is a
Hindu god and an ardent devotee of the god
Rama. He is a central character in the
Hindu epic Ramayana and its
various versions. He is also mentioned in several other texts, including
Mahabharata, the various
Puranas and some
Jain texts. A
vanara (monkey), Hanuman participated in Rama's war against the demon king
Ravana. Several texts also present him as an incarnation of the god
Shiva. He is the son of
Anjana and
Kesari, and is also described as the son of the wind-god
Vayu, who according to several stories, played a role in his birth.
