Did Hanuman Swallow the Sun

By Pt Roop Sukhram

“DID SHREE HANUMAANA REALLY SWALLOW THE SUN?”

Hindus observe and celebrate Shree Hanumaana, but what do we really know about Shree Hanumaana? Shree Hanumaana is the personified aspect or feature of Bhagavan Shiva, and regarded by various Puraana as the eleventh Rudra Avataara of Lord Shiva. However, in this modern age of advanced technological mind set, will our children accept that the Hindu Dévataa named Hanumaana swallowed the sun? Hence, the inquiring young mind will ask: Did the son of Añjanee really swallow the Sun?

The story told that a young Hanumaana was instructed by his mother to eat anything red. Thus, upon being attracted by the glare of the early morning red shade of the sun, he took hold of it and held it in his mouth. The lack of sunlight plunged the world into darkness and freezing cold temperature, which resulted into mass chaos. As the earth froze, life perished; plants, trees, vegetations, humans and animals alike ceased to survive.

Despite many pleads for young Hanumaana to release the sun, he refused. Subsequently, Indra Dévataa struck him with a lightning bolt that broke his jaw and causing him to release the sun. At that point, Vaayu, the Dévataa of the wind, who played a major role in the advent of Hanumaana felt violated that Hanumaana was injured. Thus, Vaayu Dévataa decided to stop the flow of air, which greatly contributed to the already serious situation. Hence, in an effort to placate Vaayu Dévataa, the other Dévataas offered a portion of their powers as gifts to Hanumaana. However, despite what the story depicts, the question remains: “Did Shree Hanumaana really swallow the Sun?”

“Paröksha-priya vai Védaaha – The Vedas typically convey obscured or indirect knowledge.” The mnemonic relating to memorizing the Hindu Scripture was written in a manner that enabled total or instant recall. Hence, various Rishis (sages) employed the technique of “travesty” or disguising the story. The truth is Shree Hanumaana did swallow the sun. Yes, he did and there is scientific proof that he did. Therefore, to unveil this truth, it is necessary for us to briefly examine the science of Paleoclimatology or in simple terms, the history and science of climate changes.

Geologically speaking, we live in a world of intense climatic changes known as glacial-interglacial period (Interglacial Period - intervals of warmer global temperature lasting for thousands of years that separates Glacier Periods within an Ice Age). Recent progress in the theory of stellar evolution suggests that alterations in the amount of solar radiation may be the possible cause of ice ages. These theories suggest that at irregular intervals, the sun passes with low relative speeds through interstellar hydrogen clouds. Another hypothesis suggests that “spiral arms” are vast, arc-shaped clouds of stars, and as our sun orbits the galaxy, it occasionally passes through a spiral arm, resulting in cloud cover. While some theorized that “cloud cover” causing Ice Ages is in the Albedo Effect – The measure of the reflectivity of the Earth’s surface. Some theorists believe our solar system is exposed to intense showers of cosmic rays that trigger cloud formation, which may have caused ice ages on Earth. Nevertheless, in almost every instance, suggestions and theories point to conclusions by astrophysicists speculations that atomic dust clouds may have been the cause for Ice Ages. Thus, the arguments regarding stellar evolution suggests variation in both the quality and quantity of solar radiation as a possible hypothesis for explaining ice ages.

Astrophysicist Pricilla Frisch at the University of Chicago who studied interstellar medium noted that some of these cloudlets might be hundreds of time denser than the local fluff and that if we ran into one, it would compress the Sun’s magnetic field and allow for more cosmic rays to penetrate the inner solar system with unknown effects on climate and life. Additionally, a publication in March 2008 stated NASA observations revealed that lightening has startling effects on regions of space near Earth.

According to the epistemology of Indian philosophy, Añjanee, the mother of Shree Hanumaana was known as Pujwas of the Apsaraa – A virgin of the water, and daughter of Kuñjara, who was an Apaama Vatsa – Calf of the water. Their family’s presiding deity was Varuna – Lord of the water. Being the Avataara of Lord Shiva, Shree Hanumaana was also blessed with the power of Vaayu – The Wind (Pavandéva).

According to science, Methane is an odorless and highly combustible chemical compound (CH4) that is mainly responsible for enhancing greenhouse warming of the surface of the Earth and possible prevention of a total “snowball” Earth. Only after these events that the Cambrian explosion took place (Cambrian explosion was the factor that triggered evolution of organisms).

The story told that young Hanumaana was struck by a lightening bolt from Indra, the very fact that methane is a highly combustible gas, along with evidence uncovered by NASA that suggested lightening has startling effects on regions of space near Earth, gave the conclusion that indeed, young Hanumaana was struck by Indra. Not to mention that at the time of warming, Methane actually “became” the dominant factor of the atmosphere that caused or enhanced the “greenhouse” effect. Hence, according to the Vedas, Indra is also known as “Lord of the atmosphere” (Methane). Indra is generally regarded as the Lord of rain and thunderstorm, but according to Rig Veda, he is also Lord of the atmosphere.

So what is the connection between Hanumaana and the cloud that “swallowed” the sun? Scientifically, a cloud is a visible mass of liquid or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals that is suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planet. Thus, this combined power of Varunadéva and Pavandéva – Water and Air, resulted in the form of Hanumaana, the “Cloud” that swallowed the sun and caused the Glacier Epoch or Ice Age, and would not let go until Indra – The Dévataa of the atmosphere (Methane) intervened. 

Thus, the Earth froze when Shree Hanumaana “swallowed” the Sun. consequently, Indra Dévataa got him to release the Sun, and life began to flourish. Of course, scientists still feel that they are above Scripture; nevertheless, they are now discovering what was already written in the Scripture thousands of years ago. Bolo Pavanasuta Hanumaana Kee Jai!

Also, see the earlier Post 128 – Date: 06.06.2014, in which we examined the name of Shree Hanumaana. Hari Öm.

Post 204 – Date: 03.20.2016: Öm Namah Shivaaya.