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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Monkey god Hanuman in giant form kneeling (Thai Ramayana mural)

About this photograph

Creator
Margery H. Freeman
Date created
Unknown
Location
Bangkok, Thailand
License
This photograph copyright ©2006. Terms of use

See this photograph in context

  • The Ramayana: The Hindu epic The Ramayana is retold through the mural, painting, and dance of Southeast Asia. (Page 3.1)

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Monkey god Hanuman in giant form kneeling, as seen on Thai Ramayana mural at Emerald Buddha Temple

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This image of the monkey god Hanuman on a mural painted at the Emerald Buddha Temple shows him perched on one knee wearing golden royal Thai clothes. Hanuman’s mouth is open and his larger-than-human teeth are visible. Hanuman has made himself gigantic and he kneels in front of a crowd of tiny people.

Hanuman is the son of a monkey princess and the Wind God. This makes him the nephew of the green and red monkey kings of the forest. Hanuman is educated by the god Siva, who makes Hanuman invincible and able to transform himself into different forms. Sometimes he outmaneuvers his enemies by becoming a huge giant; sometimes he makes himself so small he can sneak past them unnoticed or even enter their bodies.

Hanuman’s mother told him when he was young that his destiny would be to aid Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, when Rama appeared on the earth. Hanuman was able to do this by providing Rama with the monkey armies he needs to storm the demon island of Lanka and retrieve his kidnapped wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.