Vanaras Vs Monkeys Vs Hanuman

[prasad1]

Share:

Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Share Link

There are three main theories about the etymology of the word "Vanara":

• It derives from the word vana ("forest"), and means "belonging to the forest" or "forest-dwelling".
• It derives from the words vana ("forest") and nara ("man"), thus meaning "forest man".[SUP][[/SUP]
• It derives from the words vav and nara, meaning "is it a man?"[SUP][[/SUP] or "perhaps he is man".[SUP][[/SUP]

Although the word Vanara has come to mean "monkey" over the years and the Vanaras are depicted as monkeys in the popular art, their exact identity is not clear. Unlike other exotic creatures such as the rakshasas, the Vanaras do not have a precursor in the Vedic literature. The Ramayana presents them as humans with reference to their speech, clothing, habitations, funerals, consecrations etc. It also describes their monkey-like characteristics such as their leaping, hair, fur and a tail.
According to one theory, the Vanaras are strictly mythological creatures. This is based on their supernatural abilities, as well as descriptions of Brahma commanding other deities to either bear Vanara offspring or incarnate as Vanaras to help Rama in his mission. The Jain re-tellings of Ramayana describe them as a clan of the supernatural beings called the Vidyadharas; the flag of this clan bears monkeys as emblems.
Another theory identifies the Vanaras with the tribal people, who dwelled in the forests and used monkey totems. G. Ramdas, based on Ravana's reference to the Vanaras' tail as an ornament, infers that the "tail" was actually an appendage in the dress worn by the men of the Savara tribe. (The female Vanaras are not described as having a tail. According to this theory, the non-human characteristics of the Vanaras may be considered artistic imagination.[SUP][[/SUP] In Sri Lanka, the word "Vanara" has been used to describe the Nittaewos mentioned in the Vedda legends.
In the Ramayana

Sampati meeting with Vanaras painted by Balasaheb Pandit Pant Pratinidhi
Vanaras are created by Brahma and other gods to help Rama in battle against Ravana. They are powerful and have many godly traits. Taking Brahma's orders, the gods began to parent sons in the semblance of monkeys (Ramayana 1.17.8). The Vanaras took birth in bears and monkeys attaining the shape and valor of the gods and goddesses who created them (Ramayana 1.17.17-18).[SUP][[/SUP] After Vanaras were created they began to organize into armies and spread across the forests, although some, including Vali, Sugriva, and Hanuman, stayed near Mount Riskshavat.
According to the Ramayana, the Vanaras lived primarily in the region of Kishkindha (identified with parts of present-day Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Maharashtra). Rama first met them in Dandaka Forest, during his search for Sita. An army of Vanaras helped Rama in his search for Sita, and also in battle against Ravana, Sita's abductor. Nala and Nila built a bridge over the ocean so that Rama and the army could cross to Lanka. As described in the epic, the characteristics of the Vanara include being amusing, childish, mildly irritating, badgering, hyperactive, adventurous, bluntly honest, loyal, courageous, and kind.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanara



Just as Naga of Nagaland are not snakes, the Vanara of Ramayana need not be monkeys. Definitely not all monkeys are Hanuman.

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Now a doubt - Jambhavan a Kornagu or Karadi? How he joins Sugreeva & other Vanara?

 

[auh]

Now a doubt - Jambhavan a Kornagu or Karadi? How he joins Sugreeva & other Vanara?

Anyone cared to wonder why lions, tigers, wolves, foxes, snakes etc did not join the Ramsena? Were they on the "other" side?

 

[sangom]

I believe that at the time when Ramayana was formally composed as a long poem by someone (whom we call Valmiki) the north Indians did not have a complete knowledge of the southern portion of the sub-continent. The folk memories about Rama's exploits might have referred to the Southern portion as having been inhabited by ape-like people and this concept became vanara with the passage of time.

Jambavan is referred to as Riksharaja or king of Rikshas, something like vanaras but in later times, rikshas became bears.

Basically, Ramayana panders to the feeling of north Indian (Aryan?) superiority vis-a-vis the inhabitants of southern India.

 

[yesmohan]

In 19th century, in most part of the European nations, there was an impression that India is a Land of cannibals and uneducated aborigines.

No wonder the Northern Indian people thought that south is inhabited by ape-like people .