About this stotra
This shloka is a beautiful expression of Hanuman bhakti (devotion) in the Hindu tradition. Sri Hanuman the devoted servant of Lord Rāma, is a symbol of unwavering devotion, immense physical strength, courage, and humility. The verse extols the divine qualities and heroic abilities of Lord Hanuman. The verse begins by highlighting his extraordinary physical abilities - being swift as thought (manojavaṃ) and fast as the wind (mārutatulyavegaṃ), referring to his incredible speed and efficiency in accomplishing tasks. It then transitions to his spiritual qualities, describing him as one who has complete mastery over his senses (jitendriyaṃ) and is foremost among the wise (buddhimatāṃ variṣṭham).
The verse continues by acknowledging his divine heritage as the son of the Wind God (vātātmajaṃ) and his position as the chief among the monkey warriors (vānara yūtha mukhyaṃ). Most significantly, it culminates by recognising his eternal role as the messenger of Lord Rāma (śrī rāmadūtaṃ). The finale "śirasā namāmi" - I bow down my head in reverance, is a complete surrender to Hanuman, acknowledging that one with such perfect combinations of physical prowess, intellectual, spiritual advancement, and devotional dedication is the ideal refuge and role model for spiritual seekers.
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Verse 1
Manojavam Maruthathulyavegam – Verse 1
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं
जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम्
वातात्मजं वानर यूथ मुख्यं
श्री रामदूतं शिरसा नमामि
manojavaṃ mārutatulyavegaṃ
jitendriyaṃ buddhimatāṃ variṣṭham
vātātmajaṃ vānara yūtha mukhyaṃ
śrī rāmadūtaṃ śirasā namāmi
I bow down with my head to Hanuman, the messenger of Sri Rama, who is swift as the mind, as powerful as the wind, the conqueror of the senses, the foremost among the wise, the son of the Wind God, and the leader of the Vānarās (monkey army).
Word by word
- मनोजवं (manojavaṃ)
- swift as the mind (manas:mind | java:speed)
- मारुततुल्यवेगं (mārutatulyavegaṃ)
- as powerful as the wind (māruta:wind | tulya:equal | vega:speed)
- जितेन्द्रियं (jitendriyaṃ)
- conqueror of the senses (jita:conquered | indriya:senses)
- बुद्धिमतां (buddhimatāṃ)
- among the wise (buddhi:wisdom | mat:possessing)
- वरिष्ठम् (variṣṭham)
- foremost
- वातात्मजं (vātātmajaṃ)
- son of the Wind God (vāta:wind | ātmaja:son)
- वानर (vānara)
- monkey
- यूथ (yūtha)
- army
- मुख्यं (mukhyaṃ)
- leader
- श्री (śrī)
- auspicious
- रामदूतं (rāmadūtaṃ)
- messenger of Rama (rāma:Rama | dūta:messenger)
- शिरसा (śirasā)
- with my head
- नमामि (namāmi)
- I bow down
