Hanuman: God and Epic Hero: The Origin and Growth of Hanuman in Indian Literary and Folk Tradition

Hanuman: God and Epic Hero: The Origin and Growth of Hanuman in Indian Literary and Folk Tradition is a seminal scholarly work by Joginder Narula, first published in 1991, that comprehensively examines the evolutionary trajectory of one of Hinduism?s most beloved figures. The text traces Hanuman?s transformation from his probable roots as a localized, zoomorphic folk or aboriginal deity into a pan-Indian, orthodox Brahmanic god. By analyzing a vast array of sources?ranging from Valmiki?s classical Sanskrit Ramayana and various Puranic texts to regional folklore and oral traditions?Narula uncovers the complex socio-cultural processes that allowed a non-human character to capture the collective religious imagination of the subcontinent.The book delves deeply into the multifaceted nature of Hanuman’s character, highlighting his unique positioning at the intersection of strength, intellect, and absolute devotion (bhakti). Narula investigates how Hanuman?s role expanded across centuries from a loyal vanara warrior and envoy of Rama into a supreme object of independent worship, often revered as an incarnation of Shiva or a symbol of celibate asceticism (brahmacharya). Through this dual focus on literary textual analysis and living folk traditions, the work provides readers with a nuanced understanding of how religious synthesis and cultural assimilation shaped the worship of Hanuman into the powerful spiritual force it is today.