Hanuman is also called Maruti, meaning “son of Marut” or the wind god. Sanjay Gandhi, the younger son of Indira Gandhi, conceived the idea for this car. Between 1964 and 1967, he apprenticed at Rolls-Royce (though it seems he didn’t complete it). In 1966, he began assembling a car in a garage and incorporated Maruti as a company in 1971. He acquired land for a factory and, to raise funds, purchased a fabrication company, selling road rollers and building bus bodies, primarily for government buyers.

When Indira Gandhi lost power, the venture stalled. Sanjay died shortly after her re-election in a plane crash. Following his death, the government revived the project as a joint venture with Suzuki. Maruti largely became the first modern engineering product available to Indians during the era of the License Raj. Ironically, the man who named the car “Maruti” perished in an airplane accident.

Source: R.C. Bhargava, The Maruti Story

Picture is of Harpal Singh who received the first Maruti Car. He never changed his car.

Hanuman was born to a royal monkey couple: his father, Kesari, and his mother, Anjana. He is called Anjaneya (“son of Anjana”) and Kesarinandan (“son of Kesari”). The name Anjaneya Swami is especially common in South India. His birth was a result of blessings from the wind god—known as Marut, Vayu, or Pawan—to his parents.

Some stories suggest Hanuman was born simultaneously with Rama. During the yajna Dasharatha performed to beget sons, the gods blessed him with payasam (a divine dessert) to be shared among his three wives to aid conception. At the same time, Hanuman’s parents were praying for a child. As the gods sent the payasam from heaven, they instructed Vayu to divert a few drops to Anjana. Thus, Rama and Hanuman were born concurrently, bound by the same divine blessing, making them inseparable. Because of Vayu’s role, Hanuman is also known as Maruti, Vayuputra, or Pavanputra.

Source: “The Story of Hanuman,” Durham University

Raja Ravi Varma’s painting

One morning, baby Hanuman felt ravenous. Spotting a bright red, glistening sphere in the sky, he mistook it for a juicy fruit and leapt to grab it. That sphere was the rising sun! Indra, angered by this audacity, struck Hanuman with his thunderbolt, hitting his chin. Hanuman fell to earth, lifeless, with a broken jaw. His father, Vayu, the wind god, grew furious and withheld air from all beings. Shiva intervened, reviving Hanuman, and Vayu relented. However, Hanuman’s jaw remained disfigured.

Source: “The Story of Hanuman,” Durham University

Picture is Raja Ravi Varma’s painting

Hanuman features prominently in two Mahabharata stories. In one, Arjuna encountered Hanuman and questioned why Rama needed monkeys to build a stone bridge to Lanka when he could have used arrows. Hanuman argued that an arrow bridge couldn’t bear the monkey army’s weight. Arjuna boasted he could build such a bridge, but Hanuman easily destroyed it. Krishna mediated, and Hanuman agreed to adorn Arjuna’s chariot flag.

In another tale, during the Pandavas’ exile, Draupadi sent Bhima to fetch a flower she admired. Bhima encountered an old monkey blocking his path—Hanuman in disguise. Unable to move even the monkey’s tail, Bhima realized his identity and sought forgiveness. Hanuman blessed him and promised to appear on Arjuna’s flag in the great war. Thus, the saffron flag with Hanuman symbolizes victory for Hindus. Bhima, born to Kunti through Vayu’s blessings, is Hanuman’s celestial brother, both being Vayuputras. Yet, Hanuman graced Arjuna’s flag.

Source: Various

Hanumanji’s flags on sale in Ayodhya

After the Battle of Lanka, Rama ascended as king. He rewarded all who aided him, giving Hanuman the finest gifts. Hanuman discarded them, perplexing onlookers. He explained that Rama and Sita resided in his heart, needing no material reward. When challenged to prove it, Hanuman sliced open his chest, revealing their image within his heart. Bleeding fatally, he demonstrated his devotion. Rama saved him, granting him immortality.

Source: “The Story of Hanuman,” Durham University

Picture is Raja Ravi Varma’s painting of the episode

Sita and Rama blessed Hanuman as “Chiranjeevi” (immortal) and “Sankat Mochan” (reliever of distress). Hindus believe he alleviates pain and suffering, a role he continues to fulfill. Popular prayers by Tulsidas, such as the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ and ‘Sankat Mochan Ashtak’, are recited daily by millions for protection. The ‘Sankat Mochan Ashtak’, with eight verses, seeks well-being, while the ‘Bajrang Baan’, chanted in distress, contains ‘beej mantras’ to invoke Hanuman. The ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ remains Tulsidas’s most celebrated work.

In the ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak’, Tulsidas writes:

“Ko nahin janat hai jag mein, Kapi, Sankat Mochan naam tiharo,”

meaning,

“O Hanuman Ji, all your devotees know you as the remover of difficulties.”

The Sankat Mochan Mandir in Kashi (Varanasi), slightly removed from the bustling Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, is a revered site.

Source: Speaking Tree

Picture is entrance to the Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi

At Hanuman Garhi, Hanuman Ji serves as Ayodhya’s protector, a duty entrusted by Lord Rama before his departure from earth. Fittingly, the deity, though small, sits atop a throne. The temple, a fortified structure with bastions at each corner, lies near the Ram Janmabhoomi site on Ramkot’s hilly terrain.

Source: Footsteps of Rama, Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni

Picture is Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya

Even though Hanuman was a Brahmachari, there’s an interesting story about his son. After Hanuman burned Lanka with the fire on his tail, he took a swim in the sea. A drop of his sweat fell into the mouth of a big fish. This fish gave birth to Makardhwaja. People who worked for Ahiravana, who was Ravana’s son and ruled the underworld (Patala), caught the fish. When they cut it open, they found Makardhwaja. Ahiravana saw how strong he was and made him guard the gates of his kingdom.

Ahiravana kidnapped Rama and Lakshmana and took them to Patala. Hanuman followed to save them. At the gate, a creature who was part monkey and part reptile (called a Makara) stopped Hanuman. This creature said he was Hanuman’s son. Using his spiritual powers, Hanuman learned the story was true. Even so, he fought his son and put him in prison. Then, Hanuman killed Ahiravana and saved Rama and Lakshmana. When they were leaving, Rama made Makardhwaja the king of Patala. This story is found in some local versions of the Ramayana.

Source: https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/lord-hanuman-had-a-son-what-was-his-name/75028)

Sketch of Makardhwaj

Hanuman was the advisor for Sugriva, who was Vali’s brother. The two brothers together ruled Kishkinda but fell out due to a misunderstanding. Vali made Sugriva leave, and Sugriva lived on Rishyamuka mountain where Vali couldn’t reach him due to a Rishi’s curse. When Rama and Lakshmana came to Kishkinda, Hanuman disguised himself to learn about them. He had never met Rama before, but as soon as he saw him, he knew who he was. That’s why people see Hanuman as the greatest ‘Rambhakta’ (devotee of Rama) – he recognized the Lord right away.

People believe that Kishkinda is now the town of Hampi in Karnataka, on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. It used to be the capital of the powerful Vijaynagara empire. You can still see many old buildings in Hampi that remind people of Hanuman’s connection to this place.

Source: hampi.in

Picture is the Anjaneya temple at hilltop, Hampi

The Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple, which has five faces, is about 2 kilometers away from the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram. Hanuman fought Ahiravana, Ravana’s son. To defeat Ahiravana, Hanuman learned that he had to put out five lamps burning in different directions at the same time. So, Hanuman took his Panchamukhi form and blew out all the lamps together.

The five faces are Varaha (north), Narasimha (south), Garuda (west), Hanuman (east), and Hayagriva (upwards). A special thing about this temple is the ‘floating stones.’ People believe these stones were used to build the bridge (Sethu Bandhanam) from Rameshwaram to Lanka.

Source: https://rameshwaramtourism.co.in/panchamukhi-hanuman-temple-rameshwaram

Picture is Panchmukhi Anjaneya from Rameshwaram

On his way from Lanka to the Himalayas to get the Sanjeevani herb, Hanuman met a wise man named Yaaku on a hilltop. After getting information about the herb, he promised Yaaku that he would meet him again on his way back to Lanka. However, on his return journey, Hanuman had to fight with someone named “Kalnemi” who tried to trick him, and this took a lot of time. To reach Lanka quickly, he decided not to meet the wise man again and took the fastest route. The wise man was sad that Hanuman didn’t keep his promise. However, as Hanuman flew past the area, a deity of him appeared on the hill by itself. To honor Hanuman’s visit, Yaaku built a temple there. People still believe that the temple has Hanuman’s footprints, and the monkeys around the temple are his descendants. The temple is at the highest point in Shimla.

Source: https://shimlatourism.co.in/jakhu-temple-shimla

Picture is Jakhoo temple at Shimla

Pictures of Hanuman carrying the Sanjeevani hill are very common. Many of his names are related to this story. This is also why people see him as someone who helps remove troubles. Many places want to be connected to this story. “Tok” means hill, and Hanuman Tok is about 11 kilometers from Gangtok town. It was built in 1968 at a high altitude (about 7200 feet or 2194 meters). The soldiers of the Indian Army who live nearby carefully look after this temple. Many people believe that if you make a wish here, it will come true.

Source: sikkimtourism.gov.in

Picture is Hanuman Tok temple at Gangtok