Kesari (Ramayana): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Father Of hindu god Hanuman}}
{{Short description|Father of Hindu god Hanuman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{About|Father of Hanuman|other uses|Kesari (disambiguation){{!}}Kesari}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{About|Father of Hanuman|other uses|Kesari (disambiguation){{!}}Kesari}}
{{Infobox deity
{{Infobox deity
| name = Kesari
| name = Kesari
| spouse = [[Añjanā|Anjana]]
| spouse = [[Añjanā|Anjana]] and Anjali
| father = [[Brhaspati]]
| parents = [[Brihaspati]]<br>[[Tara (Hindu goddess)|Tara]]
| siblings = [[Bharadvaja]], [[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]
| children = [[Hanuman]]
| children = [[Hanuman]]
*Matiman, Shrutiman, Ketuman, Gatiman, Dhritiman or Dyutiman by Anjali
| type = Hindu
| type = Hindu
| texts = [[Ramayana]]
| texts = [[Ramayana]]
| affiliation = Father of [[Hanuman]]
| affiliation = [[Vanara]]
| abode = [[Kishkindha]]
| image = Rama and monkey chiefs.jpg
| caption = Kesari and other Vanara chiefs meeting [[Rama]]
}}
}}
'''Kesari''' was a male ''[[vanara]]'' who was brave and inquisitive by nature–and a chief. He was the father of [[Hanuman]] and husband of [[Añjanā|Anjana]].<ref name="KeśavadāsaBahadur1976">{{cite book | author1=Keśavadāsa | author2=Krishna Prakash Bahadur | title=Selections from Rāmacandrikā of Keśavadāsa | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQHpEQ8HkRMC&pg=PA22 | access-date=14 July 2012 | date=1 January 1976 | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. | isbn=978-81-208-2789-9 | pages=22–}}</ref>


== Legends ==
'''Kesari''' is a male ''[[vanara]],'' and a figure in [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=wisdomlib.org |date=2021-08-13 |title=The story of Kesari (Monkey characters, part 3) [Chapter 3.9] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/animal-kingdom-tiryak-in-epics/d/doc825662.html |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> He is the father of [[Hanuman]] and the husband of [[Añjanā|Anjana]].<ref name="KeśavadāsaBahadur1976">{{cite book | author1=Keśavadāsa | author2=Krishna Prakash Bahadur | title=Selections from Rāmacandrikā of Keśavadāsa | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQHpEQ8HkRMC&pg=PA22 | access-date=14 July 2012 | date=1 January 1976 | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. | isbn=978-81-208-2789-9 |page=22}}</ref>
[[Ramayana|Ramayan]]'s ''Yudha Kanda'' identifies Kesari as a son of [[Brihaspati]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=M|first=Jose A. Guevara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LMAXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA260&dq=kesari+son+of+brihaspati#q=Brihaspati|title=The Identity Zero|date=2011|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-0-557-05396-4|pages=260|language=en}}</ref> Before Hanuman was born, Kesari used to wander around to different holy places, and whenever he found a scenic garden, he would sit in long meditation.
 
== Legend ==
 
===Early life===


There are several different legends about the birth of Hanuman. According to one such legend, Kesari and his wife Anjana prayed to Lord [[Shiva]] to be born as their son. Shiva, pleased by their devotion and prayers, granted the request and instructed them to worship [[Vayu]]. Vayu carried the divine power of [[Lord Shiva]] to Anjana's womb, and thus Hanuman was born as an incarnation of Lord Shiva.<ref>{{Cite book|last=M|first=Jose A. Guevara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LMAXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA260&dq=kesari+son+of+brihaspati#q=Hanuman%20born|title=The Identity Zero|date=2011|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-0-557-05396-4|language=en}}</ref>
While mighty Kesari ruled the [[Mount Meru]]/Sumeru, [[Brahma|Brahmā]] cursed an [[apsara]] named Managarva, and turned her into a vanara. She married Kesari, under the name Anjana. For a long time, the couple were childless. Anjana propitiated Vayu for a child.


Kesari was a powerful [[vanara]]. Once, whilst residing in [[Gokarna, Karnataka|Gokarna]] (a holy place of Lord Shiva in [[Karnataka]]), Kesari found a great monster, Shambasadana, who was continuously persecuting the holy saints who were residing there. Kesari confronted this monster and hit him forcefully with his fist. There was a great wrestling match, and Kesari was finally successful in slaying him.<ref name="Bhat2006">{{cite book | author=Rama Balike Bhat | title=The Divine Anjaneya: Story of Hanuman | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uvxLjenEZNQC&pg=PA6 | access-date=14 July 2012 | date=30 September 2006 | publisher=iUniverse | isbn=978-0-595-41262-4 | pages=6–}}</ref>
In [[Shaivism|Shaiva tradition]], [[Shiva]] was requested to beget a son to help Vishnu, who was about to incarnate as [[Rama]] to slay [[Ravana]]. Shiva and [[Parvati]] took the form of vanaras and engaged in intercourse. When Vayu appeared, the couple made their presence known, and Parvati revealed the child inside her. Parvati refused to take the foetus in the form of a vanara to Kailasha. As Shiva had instructed, Parvati offered the child to Vayu, who transferred it to Anjana's womb, who gave birth to [[Hanuman]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=wisdomlib.org |date=2014-08-03 |title=Keshari, Keśarī, Kesarī, Kesari, Keśāri, Kesha-ari: 28 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/keshari#purana |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>


Kesari was a chief of [[Sugriva]]'s vanara force. Kesari also fought bravely in the war with [[Ravana]] along with Sugriva’s army.
===Later life===
Kesari, Anjana and child Hanuman moved to Kishkindha on the request of its king Riksharaja, father of [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vali]] and [[Sugriva]]. Kesari became his Chief Commander alongside ruling the Mount Meru. He was a respected personality and was honoured by all Vanaras and was a friend of Brahma’s son [[Jamvanta]], the king of bears.
 
Later in his life, he fought alongside the Vanara Army of [[Rama|Lord Rama]] against [[Ravana|Lankesh Ravana]] to rescue [[Sita|Devi Sita]] and slew many powerful demons.


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
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! Year !! Name !! Played by!! Channel !! Country  
! Year !! Name !! Played by!! Channel !! Country  
|-
|-
| 1997 || [[Jai Hanuman (1997 TV series)|Jai Hanuman]] || [[Deepak Jethi]]|| [[DD Metro]] ||[[India]]
| 1997 || [[Jai Hanuman (1997 TV series)|Jai Hanuman]] || [[Deepak Jethi]]|| [[DD Metro]] ||India
|-
| 2015 || [[Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman]] ||[[Gagan Kang]]||[[Sony Entertainment Television]]|| India
|-
|-
| 2015 || [[Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman]] ||[[Gagan Kang]]||[[Sony Entertainment Television]]|| [[India]]
| 2024 || [[Shrimad Ramayan]] ||[[Jameel Chaudhary]]||[[Sony Entertainment Television]]|| India  
|}
|}


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[[Category:Vanara in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Vanara in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Hanuman]]

Latest revision as of 10:06, 15 March 2026


This article is about Father of Hanuman. For other uses, see Kesari.

Kesari
Kesari and other Vanara chiefs meeting Rama
AffiliationVanara
AbodeKishkindha
TextsRamayana
Personal information
ParentsBrihaspati
Tara
SiblingsBharadvaja, Kacha
SpouseAnjana and Anjali
ChildrenHanuman
  • Matiman, Shrutiman, Ketuman, Gatiman, Dhritiman or Dyutiman by Anjali

Kesari is a male vanara, and a figure in Hinduism.[1] He is the father of Hanuman and the husband of Anjana.[2]

Legend[edit | edit source]

Early life[edit | edit source]

While mighty Kesari ruled the Mount Meru/Sumeru, Brahmā cursed an apsara named Managarva, and turned her into a vanara. She married Kesari, under the name Anjana. For a long time, the couple were childless. Anjana propitiated Vayu for a child.

In Shaiva tradition, Shiva was requested to beget a son to help Vishnu, who was about to incarnate as Rama to slay Ravana. Shiva and Parvati took the form of vanaras and engaged in intercourse. When Vayu appeared, the couple made their presence known, and Parvati revealed the child inside her. Parvati refused to take the foetus in the form of a vanara to Kailasha. As Shiva had instructed, Parvati offered the child to Vayu, who transferred it to Anjana's womb, who gave birth to Hanuman.[3]

Later life[edit | edit source]

Kesari, Anjana and child Hanuman moved to Kishkindha on the request of its king Riksharaja, father of Vali and Sugriva. Kesari became his Chief Commander alongside ruling the Mount Meru. He was a respected personality and was honoured by all Vanaras and was a friend of Brahma’s son Jamvanta, the king of bears.

Later in his life, he fought alongside the Vanara Army of Lord Rama against Lankesh Ravana to rescue Devi Sita and slew many powerful demons.

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

Year Name Played by Channel Country
1997 Jai Hanuman Deepak Jethi DD Metro India
2015 Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman Gagan Kang Sony Entertainment Television India
2024 Shrimad Ramayan Jameel Chaudhary Sony Entertainment Television India

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ wisdomlib.org (13 August 2021). "The story of Kesari (Monkey characters, part 3) [Chapter 3.9]". wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Keśavadāsa; Krishna Prakash Bahadur (1 January 1976). Selections from Rāmacandrikā of Keśavadāsa. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 22. ISBN 978-81-208-2789-9. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  3. ↑ wisdomlib.org (3 August 2014). "Keshari, Keśarī, Kesarī, Kesari, Keśāri, Kesha-ari: 28 definitions". wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 4 August 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

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