Hanuman Avatara

Nandishvara said

Sage, listen lovingly now to Hanuman's story. In this form Hara did many excellent deeds, and out of love Parameshvara brought great benefit to Rama. Hear it all, for it brings every kind of happiness. Once Lord Shambhu, the doer of wonderful deeds, saw Vishnu in the form of Mohini, who held every quality. As if struck by Kama's arrows, Shambhu was agitated, and, to accomplish Rama's task, Ishvara let his seed fall. The seven sages placed this seed on a leaf. Affectionately he urged them in his mind to accomplish Rama's task. For Rama's benefit those great sages poured that seed into the ears of Anjani, Goutama's daughter. At the right time, through this, Shambhu was born under the name Hanuman, an immensely strong, valiant monkey. Even as a child Hanuman, lord of monkeys, was very strong. One morning, taking the sun's disc for a small fruit, he tried to eat it quickly, but, begged by the gods, gave it up. Knowing he was Shiva's powerful avatara, the gods and rishis granted him boons. Very happy, Hanuman went to his mother and told her all that had happened. By her command the patient one set about gaining every kind of learning, going every day to Surya and studying under him. By Surya's command the excellent monkey, Rudra's portion, took his mother's leave and went to Sugriva, Surya's portion. Sugriva's elder brother Vali had taken his wife and exiled him, so Sugriva lived with Hanuman on Mount Rishyamuka. The supreme, intelligent monkey became Sugriva's minister, and Hara's portion always did what benefited Sugriva. Rama came there with his brother, miserable that his wife had been abducted. Hanuman arranged a friendly alliance between Rama and Sugriva, which brought joy. Rama killed Vali, elephant among monkeys, who, though proud of his bravery, was a sinner for having taken his brother's wife. By Rama's command Hanuman, lord of the vanaras, set out with many other intelligent vanaras to search for Sita.

Learning Sita had been taken to Lanka, the lord of monkeys went there. He leapt swiftly across the ocean, which no one else had crossed before, and did wonderful, valorous deeds there. He affectionately handed Sita the token his lord had given, told her Rama's story, thereby ending her sorrow and ensuring her life was safe, took a token from her and went back to Rama. He destroyed Ravana's pleasure garden and killed many rakshasas, and killed Ravana's son and many other rakshasas, fearlessly doing great damage. The very powerful Ravana had him tightly bound and wrapped in oil-soaked cloth. When this was set alight the monkey, Mahadeva's portion, leapt about and cleverly burned all of Lanka except Vibhishana's house. The brave elephant among monkeys then leapt into the ocean, put out the fire on his tail, and reached the far shore, unwearied, and went to Rama. With great speed Hanuman, supreme among monkeys, reached Rama and gave him the crest jewel Sita had given him. By Rama's command the brave one summoned many strong vanaras and had them gather many mountains to build a bridge across the ocean, as Rama wished to go across. But before that, wanting victory, Rama set up a Shiva lingam and worshipped it. With the boon of victory he crossed the ocean and reached Lanka. With the monkeys Hanuman fought the rakshasas, protected Rama's soldiers and killed many asuras. When Lakshmana was wounded by the spear he brought the sanjivani herb and revived him, making Rama and Lakshmana happy in every way. The lord, Mahadeva's portion, protected all the soldiers and, without tiring, destroyed Ravana and his extensive family. A store of great strength, the monkey made the gods happy. He brought Rama and Lakshmana back from the place of Mahiravana, protected them and returned them to their own place. In every way the bull among monkeys swiftly did Rama's tasks, engaged in many exploits and made the asuras bow. The lord of monkeys established devotion to Rama on earth, was himself supreme among devotees, pleased Rama and Sita, gave Lakshmana back his life and destroyed all insolence.

Bhagavan Rudra's avatara saved devotees. Hanuman, immensely brave, always carried out Rama's tasks and is known in the world as Rama's messenger and slayer of daityas, kind to his devotees. Nandi said he had thus described Hanuman's excellent account, which gives wealth, fame, long life and all desired fruits. A person who controls himself and listens devotedly, or has it heard, enjoys everything he wishes in this world and gains liberation in the next.