Kesari, Hanuman’s father
Kesari was a forest King who lived in the Maha Meru. While Kesari was living in the Mahameru, Brahma cursed a celestial maid named Managarva and changed her into a female monkey. She became the wife of Kesari, under the name Anjana. For a long time the couple had no children. Anjana worshipped Vayu Bhagavan (Wind-God) for a child.
Once during this period the gods and hermits went to Parama Siva and requested him to beget a son to help Mahavisnu who was about to incarnate as Sri Rama to kill Ravana. Siva and Parvati instantly took the form of monkeys and entered the forest for play. They having not returned for a long time the gods asked the wind-god to go in search of them. The wind god carne in the form of a great storm and shook the whole of the forest. Still they did not come out. Parvati who was pregnant was ashamed to come out. With Siva she got on an Asoka tree and sat there. Seeing that tree alone standing motionless in the big storm Vayu god approached the tree and looked up. Siva and Parvati appeared before Vayu. Parvati refused to take the foetus in the form of monkey to Kailasa.
As Siva had instructed, Parvati gave the child in the womb to the wind-god. It was at this time that Anjana had prayed to Vayu for a child. Vayu gave that child to Anjana, who gave birth to it. That child was Hanuman. Thus Hanuman got the names, Anjanaputra (son of Anjana), Vayuputra (son of Vayu), Kesariputra (Son of Kesari) etc.
(Maha-bharata Vana Parva, Chapter 417 )
ANJANA. 1) Mother of Hanuman-Wife of Kesari, the noble monkey and daughter of Kunjara, the monkey leader. She was the mother of Hanuman. Once while Siva and Parvati were gamboling in the guise of monkeys, rambling through the woods, Parvati became pregnant, That pregnancy was given to Vayu. At that time Anjana was doing penance for an issue. Vayu transferred the pregnancy he had received from Parvati to Anjana. Thus Anjana gave birth to Hanuman. ( Valmiki Ramayana, Kiskindha Kanda, Sarga 66) .
Anjana gave birth to Hanuman in the woods in a valley on the southern side of Mahameru. She was frightened at the sight of the child shining like the sun. Hanuman began to cry for mother’s milk. Anjana said to Hanuman : “Monkeys are fond of red ripe fruits. Therefore eat whatever you find in red colour.” Saying this Anjana transformed herself into a goddess and went to Heaven.
2) Puraajanma ( Previous Birth ) . In her previous birth Anjana was a goddess named Punjikastala (Managarva) . As a result of a curse, this goddess was born as a she-monkey in the Himalaya region. With the birth of Hanuman, the curse was lifted. (Uttara Ramayana). _For more details see “Punjikastala”.
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