Various Forms and Significance of Hanuman in Tantra

Significance of Hanuman

Hanuman has distinct importance in various sects and Significance of Hanuman in Tantra in different ways. From the perspective of the Agamika Shaivas, he is regarded as one of the various Pramadha Ganas.
In the perspective of the Pancharatrikas, he is Vayu Avatara and the leader of all ganas in the Sri Ram Army.
From the perspective of Shaivagamas, there are two different narrations of the origin of Hanuman, one stating him to be Nandi Avasesha, while the other set of texts identifies him as Rudra Avasesha. In either case, he is regarded as a Rudra Sambandhi.
In Shakta marga, Hanuman is one of the two Dvaarpaals (Gatekeeper) of Devi, the other one being Sri Kaalbhairav, and thus he also becomes crucial in Shakti Upasana.

Hanuman in Tantra

Hanumanji enjoys a key position in tantras, especially in our Sri Vidya tradition. His upasana comes in Vira Prakaran. Hanumanji is one of the 51 Viras of Sri Vidya, the leader of the Viras being Veerbhadra. There is a specific form of Hanuman worshipped in this way by the Samhara Krama method. As he is the last in the Krama, he is tasked with the Samhara of all the other 50 Viras and moves to the next avarana.

Danger of Vira Upasana

The deities of Vira Upasana are extremely Ugra and have a tendency to potentially harm their own Upasakas in case something goes wrong. This character is present due to the nature of Samhara Krama itself and is well reflected in their appearance.
According to the Hanumath Prakaran Bhaga of certain tantras of Sri Vidya, the form of Hanuman, which is one of the 51 viras, is his five-faced form.

How does Hanuman ji in Tantras protect Sadhak?

From the perspective of general sadhanas, Hanuman and Bhairav are two of the most important shaktis, as they are the protectors of the sadhak. Hanuman is invoked before several sadhanas to keep oneself safe from lower shaktis when their presence is undesirable.
From the perspective of dealing with entities, Hanuman has several different aspects. His Markat Masani form is the ruler of the entire Masan and the controller of all Shaktis residing there.

The mantras of Hanuman are often used for Bhoot (Ghosts) Ucchatan or to torture and drive out spirits. Some Hanuman mantras also exist that are used in Shatkarmas. Hanuman Upasana also works wonders in removing Graha doshas, becoming extremely effective in removing graha Abhicharas as well.

Now coming to the various forms of Hanuman, there are nine forms described in the Parashar Samhita, which is a Pancharatra text. The nine forms are as follows:

1. Prasannanjaneya
2. Vira Hanuman
3. Vimsati Bhuja 
4. Panchamukha 
5. Asthadashabhuja 
6. Suvarchalapati
7. Vishanashna
8. Grahocchatana 
9. Vanaresha 

While these forms are from Parasar Samhita, there are nine other forms known as nava Veeras, which are:

1. Rudra Veer
2. Pavan Veer
3. Maha Veer
4. Dhyan Veer
5. Veer Hanuman
6. Shakti Veer
7. Bhima Veer
8. Kara Veer
9. Dasha Veer

Other forms of Hanuman in Tantras

Apart from all these, there are also forms such as Markatraaj, Markat Masani, Masani Hanuman, and Aghora Hanuman. Now I shall discuss the origin of each of the various forms I’ve named.

1) Prasannanjaneya

Prasannanjaneya was taken by Sri Hanuman when he was calmed down by Sri Ram. During the Ramayana War, when Hanuman became extremely aggressive and out of control, Sri Ram touched his forehead and calmed him down. Hanuman then became Prasannanjaneya, who had two hands, holding a gada in one and showing Varada mudra with the other.

2) Vira Hanuman

The Vira Hanuman form was taken when Sri Hanuman was going to cross the ocean to Lanka. While he was thinking about how to cross the ocean, he was reminded of his astha siddhis and was blessed by Sri Ram, after which he assumed the form of Veer Hanuman, with one hand holding Gada and the other one his waist. He crossed the ocean easily.

3) Vimsati Bhuja

Vimsati Bhuja Hanuman form also originated during the Ramayana War, when Indrajeet used the Brahmastra. Hanuman assumed the twenty-handedness and destroyed the Astras shot by Indrajit. In this form, he is shown with twenty arms holding various weapons.

4) Panchamukhi

Panchamukhi Hanuman is also related to the Ramayana War. When Ram Lakshman was kidnapped and taken to Patal by Ahiravan and Mahiravan, Hanuman took up the panchamukhi form to slay them and bring back Ram Lakshman.

5) Asthadashabhuja

Asthadashabhuja form was assumed by Hanuman to break the bow of Rakshas Atikaya, who was one of the many generals from the side of Ravan in the Ramayana war.

6) Suvarchalapati

Suvarchalapati Hanuman was assumed by Hanuman when he was bringing back Meru Parvat (Meru Mountain) for the Sanjeevni plant. He became huge and golden in color, which also earned him this name.
Some other traditions state that this form was assumed by him after he married Suvarchala, who was the daughter of Surya, at the behest of Surya so that Surya could teach his Vidyas to Hanuman.

7) Vishanashna

Hanuman assumed the Vishanashna Hanuman form of Hanuman when the army of Sri Ram was facing a severe drought and scarcity of food during their journey to Lanka. Hanuman, determined to help, sought the blessings of the goddess Annapurna, who granted him the power to assume the Vishanashna form.
With this form, Hanuman’s body shone like the radiant sun, and he became the destroyer of hunger and thirst (Vishanashna). He flew to the heavens and brought down the Kalpataru to provide food and water to the army.

8) Grahocchatan Hanuman in Tantra

The Grahocchatan Hanuman form was assumed by Hanuman during the Ramayan War. It’s known that Ravan had captured all the Grahas (Planets), and he used them even during the war against the forces of Sri Ram.
In order to save them from the graha doshas and the constant attack done by the grahas, Hanuman assumed this fierce form and tortured the grahas to surrender, which earned him the name

9) Vanaresha Hanuman in Tantra

The Vanaresha form is the ninth form of Hanuman, which was assumed before the war. Hanuman was sent out to scout the way to Lanka and search the jungles with a large search party. It was during this time that he became Vanaresha or leader of all the Vanaras.

Origin of the Nava Veera Hanumana

Now I shall discuss the origin of the Nava Veera Hanumana forms.

1. Rudra Veer came into being from the anger of Rudra; a part of it became halahal (Poison) that was extracted at Samudra Manthan, and the other part of it manifested as Rudra Veer.
2. Pavan Veer Hanuman is the form where Vayu himself becomes Hanuman.
3. Mahaveer Hanuman is an evolved form of Veer Hanuman. When he approached Lanka and killed the Lokdevi of Lanka known as Lanka Devi, he became Mahaveer Hanuman.
4. Dhyan Veer Hanuman is a disciple of Shiv himself who came into being due to the dhyan shakti of Shiv, and in some traditions, he came from the dhyan shakti of Nandi.
5. Veer Hanuman of Nava Veeras is the same as the Veer Hanumaan I described earlier.
6. Shakti Veer Hanuman is the form of Hanuman that serves as the dvaarpaal of Shakti temples. He was blessed by Devi Pratyangira to have this role, similar to the story of Panchamukhi Hanuman. 
7. Bhima Veer Hanuman actually comes from the shakti of Shiv, which once exited his gada while he was giving lessons to Hanuman. When Hanuman absorbed this energy, he became Bhima Anjaneya. 
8. Kara Veera Hanumana originated from the kara of Rudradev during one of his upasanas. 
9. Dasha Veer Hanuman is a very different form of Hanuman. When Hanuman became a practitioner of Damar Vidya, he also learned certain things from Ravan himself, who was also one of the rishis of Damar Shaili. In this form, he also adopted the form of his preceptor along with his teachings.

Markatraaj Hanuman in Tantra

Apart from this, there’s the Markatraaj form, which was taken by Hanuman during his assignment to go to all corners of the world and unite all Vanaras. He became the king of all Vanaras and led them to the kingdom of Sugriv.

Markat Masani Hanuman in Tantra

Markat Masani is an altogether different form of Hanuman; this is actually Hanuman who became Masan. The tale is that when a monkey who had been born in the same tithi as Hanuman died and was buried, Hanuman, who was performing his sadhanas near the place, could sense it, and a wisp of his powers went inside the corpse, which became Markat Masani. 

Masani Hanuman in Tantra

Masani Hanuman is yet another form of Hanuman; however, here Hanuman himself becomes a masani shakti; he becomes the embodiment of Masan by performing masan sadhanas.

Aghor Hanuman in Tantra

Ananda Ramayana Sara Kanda Sarga 10 describes the katha of Rameshwar Jyotirling. It’s Upaling was established by Hanuman. The tale recounts how Hanumanji was egoistic when he found out Sri Ram had already established a lingam despite sending him to Kashi to get a lingam, and Sri Ram removed his ego.

Sri Ram being an Acharya in Aghor, and the presence of Hanuman in it as well, naturally means that Sri Hanuman was initiated into Aghor after the above-said incident. This is also used as an example to explain tamas in Aghor and prove the necessity of controlling tamas instead of trying to avoid it, as no one is free from its influence, making Hanumanji important even with respect to Siddhanta.

This incident is also the tale of how Hanuman obtained Aghor form after performing Aghor sadhanas and obtaining diksha in the marg from Sri Ram.

Krityah Hanuman, or Krityah Veer

Apart from all this, there’s Krityah Hanuman, or Krityah Veer, who came into being from the Krityah Shakti of Hanuman himself. There’s no actual difference between Krityah Veer and Hanumanji; they are the same Shakti. It’s just that in the form of Krityah Veer, Hanuman looks more like a mass of fire with the outline of a giant monkey. Badavanala Markat is yet another form similar to Krityah Hanuman. 

There’s also Pahelwan Hanuman, where he is depicted as a 12-year-old boy wearing a langot.

Here, the discourse on the various forms and significance of Hanuman in Tantra ends.

Article credit: Tara Peeth Aghor Acharya Swords_of_shiva