Goddess Anjana

Goddess Anjana is better known as the mother of Lord Hanuman, the monkey-god. She is the goddess of long life and joy in Hinduism.

Goddess Anjana was originally a beautiful nymph named Punjiksthala. Owing to the interruption she made in the meditation of a sage, she was cursed to be reborn as a ‘vanara’ (half human and half monkey being). Her repeated pleading for forgiveness caused the sage to reduce the extent of the curse by giving her the ability to change her form to a human being on will.

She was born as a ‘vanara’ in her next life. She was married to a monkey-chief named Kesari, who was known for his bravery and valor. Their severe penance for a child caused Lord Vayu, the lord of air, to bless them with an illustrious son named Hanuman, who was actually the incarnation of Lord Shiva. Lord Hanuman being born to Goddess Anjana is thus also referred as Anjaneya.