Neev: Welcome back to Mythical Masala! I’m Neev, and today we’re diving into the incredible origins of Hanuman—arguably the most beloved figure in Indian mythology. Joining me on this special two-part story is my very good friend and a big fan of Hanuman!

Co-host: Hey, everyone! I’m Aditya, your co-pilot for this special journey into divine curses, magical blessings, and one of the most unique origin stories you’ll ever hear.

Neev: That’s right. From celestial drama to monkey kings, today we’ll uncover the many tales behind how Hanuman came to be. So let’s get started! .

Neev: Our journey begins not with Hanuman himself, but with an interesting story involving King Ambarish of Ayodhya. He was a kind and noble ruler who often hosted sages in his court. One day, two famous sages, Narad and Parvat, visited him.

Co-host: These two weren’t your typical monks sitting in meditation—they were known for their sharp wit and a touch of mischief.

Neev: And when they met King Ambarish’s daughter, Princess Shrimati—renowned for her beauty—they both fell in love and wanted to marry her.

Co-host: You can imagine the king’s predicament. He’s thinking, “Great, two powerful sages want my daughter. How do I not make one of them mad?”

Neev: Yes, Ambarish became confused and was wondering who between Narad and Parvat would be more suitable for his daughter. Narad saw this and said, "O mighty King, I am a suitable groom for your daughter, as I am older than Parvat." But Parvat protested when he heard Narad's statement. He said, "I proposed first, so I am more suitable." Ambarish got irritated when he heard Narad and Parvat arguing;  To settle the matter, Ambarish decided to hold a swayamvar, a ceremony where Shrimati herself would choose her husband. He instructed Narad and Parvat to come back the next day.  

Co-host: Ah - a Swayamvar - sounds like the ancient equivalent of The Bachelor.

Neev: Yeah, kinda. Narad wasn't confident about his appearance. So he sought the help of Lord Vishnu.

Neev: Narad said, “O Lord Vishnu, make me as good-looking as you so I can win the princess’s heart.”

Co-host: Never ask Vishnu for help without reading the fine print. He’s always got a trick up his sleeve.

Neev: Vishnu granted Narad’s wish, but with a twist—Narad now had a monkey’s face. Unaware of this, he returned to the court feeling confident.

Neev: At the swayamvar, Princess Shrimati entered with a garland to choose her husband. When she approached Narad and saw his monkey face, she burst out laughing.

Co-host: Yikes. Imagine walking into prom with spinach in your teeth—it’s that, but worse.

Neev: Narad was humiliated and instantly realized Vishnu’s prank. Enraged, he cursed Vishnu, saying, “One day, you will rely on monkeys to accomplish your tasks!”

Co-host: A bold move, cursing the god who just blessed you. But hey, at least it gave us Hanuman’s origin story.

Neev: Vishnu remained calm and replied, “Your curse will actually be a blessing. It will lead to the birth of Hanuman, who will play a pivotal role in defeating Ravana.”

Co-host: Do you know that legend has it that Lord Hanuman was an incarnation of Lord Shiv. There are several stories related to the birth of Hanuman. So this story of Narad just seems like setting the stage for the birth of Hanuman. So how is he born?

Neev: Anjana was Hanuman’s mother and There are many stories related to how Anjana gave birth to Hanuman. Before she was Anjana, she was a celestial apsara named Punjikasthala. One story says that Lord Indra fell in love with her when she visited a celestial planet called Svah. But when she rejected him—mocking his thousand eyes—Indra cursed her to become a monkey.

Co-host: Guess Indra didn’t take rejection well. That’s some next-level pettiness.

Neev: Indeed. But Anjana embraced her new life as the daughter of a Vanar king and later married Kesari, a powerful monkey king known for his devotion and strength.

Co-host: Don’t think she had a choice there, did she now?

Neev: Anjana prayed fervently to Lord Shiva for a child, performing deep meditation on the sacred Hill Venkatadri near the Akash Ganga River. Her devotion moved the Wind-god, Vayu, who had been watching her closely.

Co-host: I bet this is where things get interesting.

Neev: Oh, absolutely! Meanwhile, in Ayodhya, King Dashrath performed a yajna to have children. The Fire-god, Agni, blessed him with a divine rice pudding meant for his wives. But as fate would have it, an eagle swooped down, grabbing a portion of the pudding and flying over Anjana’s meditation site.

Co-host: Wait, so Hanuman owes his life to a pudding heist? And this intersects with the Birth of Rama - from episode 2. Is that just a happy coincidence?

Neev: In a way! The Wind-god guided the pudding into Anjana’s palms. Hearing a divine voice, she ate it, and months later, Anjana gave birth to Hanuman—the incarnation of Lord Shiva with the strength and speed of the Wind-god.

Neev: There is yet another story about Hanuman's birth. In the celestial realms, a beautiful apsara named Punjikasthala had her own troubles. She loved wandering the heavens but one day made a big mistake.

Co-host: Let me guess—she upset a sage, didn’t she?

Neev: You’re right! Punjikasthala mocked a meditating sage, finding his posture amusing. She even threw fruits and stones to get his attention. . Furious, the sage cursed her to be reborn as a monkey.

Co-host: Classic example of “don’t poke the bear—or in this case, the sage.”

Neev: Punjikasthala begged for mercy. Seeing that she was truly remorseful,  the sage softened his curse. He said, “You will be freed when you give birth to Lord Shiva’s incarnation. You should Pray to Lord Shiva.”

Co-host: Well, couldn’t he just reverse it. After all, he's a powerful sage.

Neev: No, curses are usually very powerful. Once uttered, they cannot be taken back. Shortly, Punjikasthala could feel something happening to her body. She rushed to a nearby river and noticed fur growing on her body. Her face became just like that of a monkey and she grew a tail, too! 

Co-host: And Punjikasthala will go down as the first were-monkey in Indian mythology! You know like were-wolf!

Neev: So, where were we? Ah yes, Anjana is now officially a monkey—tail and all—thanks to that sage's curse. But she wasn’t the kind to mope around. She was determined to turn her life around, one step at a time.

Co-host: And honestly, who wouldn’t want to hit reset after something like that? It’s like getting a makeover, but… furrier.

Neev:True! So, our girl Anjana wandered through the forest, looking for some peace and purpose. She remembered the sage’s advice: pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Stopping near a serene stream, she crafted a small lingam from stones and poured all her heart into her prayers.

Co-host: The lingam is a symbol of Shiva. It can be made from stone, mud or metal and is usually short cylindrical shaped pillar

Neev: That night, as she slept by the lingam, she felt a calmness wash over her. The next morning, she woke up determined and continued her journey. Soon, she stumbled upon a small hermitage surrounded by lush greenery.

Co-host: And she was probably thinking, “Finally, a break!”

Neev: Totally! Hungry and tired, she approached cautiously. To her surprise, the hermits welcomed her with open arms. They didn’t laugh at her monkey form or question her strange appearance. Instead, they offered her fruits and water.

Neev: As she ate, one of the older hermits approached her. He had this wise, calming aura and asked gently, “Child, what brings you to the forest alone?”

Co-host: Now here’s where it gets tricky. Imagine trying to explain, “Well, I was this celestial dancer, but then I mocked a sage and—poof!—here I am with fur.” Yeah, the sages won’t keep her there for long if she says that.

Neev: Exactly. Anjana hesitated. She didn’t want pity or judgment. So, she decided to start fresh. “My name is Anjana,” she said simply. “I’m here seeking peace and a new beginning.”

Co-host: A clean slate, just like moving to a new school where nobody knows your embarrassing nickname. Anjana literally translates to “unknown”. 

Neev: (laughs) Precisely! The hermit smiled and said, “You carry great strength in your heart, Anjana. It takes courage to wander alone in this forest at night. We generally do not step out at that time," 

Neev: Suddenly, there was a low, menacing roar echoed through the forest. The hermits exchanged worried glances.

Co-host: Uh-oh. That’s never a good sign. Anjana must have been confused!

Neev: One of the hermits whispered, “It’s Sambasadan, the demon who terrorizes this forest. We must prepare.”

Co-host: Aah! Finally a demon! I was wondering when one was going to show up in our story! No episode seems completely without one!

Neev: Anjana, moved by the kindness these hermits had shown her, immediately stepped up. “Let me help,” she said. “You’ve given me food and shelter—it’s only fair I protect this place with you.”

Co-host: Talk about paying it forward, monkey style!

Neev: Accepting her offer, the elder hermit placed his hand on her head and blessed her.

Neev: As she knelt praying by her lingam, a whisper echoed in her mind: “No one but his own blood can destroy Sambasadan, my child! May victory be yours!”

Co-host: Talk about some major cosmic encouragement. But is that some kind of a clue?

Neev: We will see. Anjana stood up, renewed and determined, just as a tall, muscular figure emerged from the shadows.

Co-host: Wait, is this the part where the hero enters? Don’t tell me there’s a love story in midst of battle with demon!

Neev: You might just be right my friend! The figure was Kesari, the monkey king of the forest, holding a massive mace. “I am Kesari,” he said. “And I see we share a common goal—to defeat Sambasadan.”

Co-host: A monkey queen and a monkey king teaming up? This is about to get legendary.

Neev: Just as Anjana was about to share her divine vision with Kesari, a deafening roar shattered the serenity of the ashram.

Co-host: That’s when you know things are about to go full on action movie!

Neev: Exactly! Turning towards the sound, they saw Sambasadan—a massive, grotesque demon—charging toward the hermitage. His eyes glowed red, and his sheer size was enough to strike fear into anyone’s heart.

Neev: Anjana's heart raced, but her resolve didn’t waver. She immediately grabbed her bow while Kesari lifted his enormous mace. “We must lead him away from the hermitage,” Kesari shouted, determination etched on his face.

Co-host: A tactical monkey king! You’ve got to love the brains behind the brawn.

Neev: Together, they charged at Sambasadan, rallying a small army of monkey warriors to aid them. The ground quaked as Kesari’s mace met the demon’s shield, creating a sound so loud it echoed across the forest.

Neev: But Sambasadan wasn’t an ordinary foe. With each attack, he used his mystical powers to twist, turn, and even change his form, making it nearly impossible to land a hit. He seemed invincible.

Co-host: Like a video game boss that keeps dodging every attack—so frustrating!

Neev: (chuckling) Exactly! Kesari fought valiantly, his strikes fierce and precise, but nothing seemed to harm the demon. For the first time, doubt crept into his mind.

Neev: Meanwhile, Anjana, perched at a distance, rained arrows upon the demon. Then, suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind—the words of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati: “Victory will come from his own blood.”

Co-host: I knew it! Hidden clue!

Neev: Wasting no time, she dipped her next arrow in the demon’s own blood that had dripped onto the ground. With a steady aim and a prayer on her lips, she let the arrow fly.

Neev: The arrow pierced Sambasadan, and he let out a terrifying howl. His form began to waver, his strength visibly draining. Seeing this, Kesari quickly dipped his mace into the blood and struck again, each hit weakening the demon further.

Co-host: It’s like they found the cheat code—Sambasadan never stood a chance after that.

Neev: Exactly! With a final blow, Kesari plunged his blood-dipped spear into the demon’s heart. Sambasadan let out one last thunderous roar before his enormous form disintegrated into dust.

Neev: The hermitage erupted in cheers. The hermits danced and chanted in celebration, their terror finally laid to rest.

Co-host: Can you imagine the relief? It’s like when you finish your exams and know the nightmare’s finally over.

Neev: (laughs) Perfect analogy! As the celebrations carried on, an old sage approached Anjana privately, his face glowing with gratitude.

Neev: “You and Kesari have saved us,” he said. “It is our tradition to offer something precious to those who protect us. May I ask something of you?”

Co-host: Wait! Is he offering or asking? Sounds like he’s got something up his sleeve!

Neev: The sage hesitated before speaking. “Will you marry Kesari? You two are both courageous and noble, a perfect match.”

Neev: Anjana blushed, glancing at Kesari. “If Kesari is willing…” she replied softly.

Co-host: Aww…Hermits playing the matchmaker! 

Neev: The sage smiled and said, “Kesari has already agreed. He admires your bravery and beauty.” And so, on an auspicious day, Anjana and Kesari were married, their union blessed by the same divine forces that had guided them.

Co-host: Happy ending…No wait! What about Hanuman? I thought we were talking about how he’s born.

Neev: Yes, of course! After getting married. Anjana and Kesari were very happy together. They prayed to Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati every day. This brings us back to the pudding falling in Anjana’s hands, which led to Hanuman’s birth! 

Co-host: Aah, yes the divine pudding that connects Hanuman and Rama. There is so much more to their bond that I can’t wait to hear!

Neev: Yes, we will get to it. But do you know, there’s a story about the bird that had stolen the pudding. This bird was actually an apsara named Suvarchala and extremely reckless. Once, Lord Brahma cursed her to be a bird on earth When Suvarchala begged Brahma's forgiveness, he assured her that she would be freed from the curse whenever she touched the pudding given to King Dashrath by Lord Agni. Impatient to be free from this curse, Suvarchala snatched away the pudding from Sumitra. Instantly, her form changed but while doing so, the pudding that she held in her claws fell towards the ground.

Co-host: So interesting! I am starting to think these curses are blessings in disguise. They usually lead to something good, don’t they?

Neev: You are spot on! Well That’s it for Part 1 of our Hanuman Special! We’ve laid the foundation today with Anjana and Kesari’s story and the divine forces that led to Hanuman’s birth.

Co-host: So next time, we dive deeper, right? More Hanuman mischief, epic tales, and maybe a few surprising twists?

Neev: You got it! Stay tuned for the next episode as we uncover more about Hanuman’s extraordinary journey and his first encounters with the divine.

Neev: Thanks for listening, everyone! Don’t forget to share your thoughts and questions—maybe we’ll feature them in a future episode.

Co-host: And remember, if a bird ever drops pudding in your lap, it might just be destiny calling!

Neev: See you next time on Mythical Masala with Neev!