Hanuman: childhood, education and curse
Hanuman ji’s religious father was Vayu, that is why he is also known as the son of wind. Apart from being divine since childhood, he also had unlimited powers within him.
Once in his childhood, considering the sun to be a ripe fruit, he started flying to eat it. At the same time, Indra, in an attempt to stop him, struck him with a thunderbolt. Due to the strike of the thunderbolt, the chin of child Hanuman was broken and he became unconscious. Fell down on the ground. Angered by this incident, Wind God stopped the influence of wind across the world due to which there was an outcry among all the living beings.To pacify Vayu Dev, Indra finally withdrew the effect of his thunderbolt. At the same time, other gods also gave many boons to child Hanuman. However, the impact of the thunderbolt left an indelible mark on Hanuman’s chin.
Subsequently, when Hanuman came to know that Surya was a Mahagyani, he enlarged his body and placed it in Surya’s orbit and requested Surya to accept him as his disciple. But Surya rejected his request saying that since he always travels on his chariot as per his duty, Hanuman would not be able to receive education effectively.Undeterred by the words of Sun God, Hanuman enlarged his body and placed one foot on the eastern end and the other foot on the western end and again requested the Sun God and finally, pleased with Hanuman’s steadfastness, Surya relented. Accepted him as his disciple.
Thereafter, Hanuman received his education by continuously traveling with the Sun God. After completion of education, Hanuman requested Surya Dev to take Guru-Dakshina but Surya Dev refused saying, ‘The joy I have experienced in imparting education to a dedicated disciple like you cannot be compared to any Guru-Dakshina. Is not less than’.
But on Hanuman’s request again, Surya Dev, in the form of Guru-Dakshina, ordered Hanuman to help Sugriva (Dharma, son of Surya).
Surya Dev teaching Hanuman as per Hanuman’s wish describes Surya Dev being eternal, eternal, eternal, indestructible and a witness to action.
Hanuman ji was very mischievous in his childhood, he used to torment the saints and sages with his nature. Often they used to snatch their puja materials and many other things. Angered by his mischievous nature, the sages gave him a short curse to forget his powers.Due to the effect of this curse, Hanuman would temporarily forget all his powers and would remember his unlimited powers only after being reminded by someone else. It is believed that if Hanuman had been curse-free, the nature of the Ram-Ravana war in Ramayana would have been different. Perhaps he himself would have destroyed entire Lanka including Ravana.