Anomanꦄꦤꦸꦩꦤ꧀

Origins and birth

Anoman is a white-furred monkey, the son of Dewi Anjani. It is said that his name comes from the word sinom, which means the tip of a tamarind leaf. When Anjani was meditating at the Ganges River, a sinom leaf was blown by the wind from the sky and entered her mouth. The leaf had been touched by the kama (seed) of Batara Guru, causing Anjani to become pregnant and subsequently give birth to Anoman.

Anoman is also known by the name Maruti, because he is the adopted son and student of Batara Maruta, the god of wind. For this reason, he is sometimes also called Bayu putra.

Searching for his father

After growing up, Anoman asked his mother who his real father was. Anjani told him to ask the god who rules the Triloka (three worlds).

Since childhood, Anoman was powerful, brave, and very curious, in accordance with his instincts as a monkey. One morning, he mistook the sun for a ripe fruit and swallowed it, causing the world to become pitch black. The gods persuaded him to vomit the sun back out. Anoman agreed on one condition: he must be told who his father was. Batara Guru then confessed that Anoman was his son, and Anoman bowed to pay his respects.

The birth of Anila and the monkey army

Resi Narada witnessed the event and teased Batara Guru jokingly: how could the king of the gods have a monkey for a son? Batara Guru was offended. He plucked a nila leaf and stuck it onto Narada's back. With the power of his command, the leaf turned into a blue monkey named Anila.

From that moment on, Batara Guru ordered every god to have a monkey child. Those monkeys followed Anoman down to earth and served Prabu Sugriwa in the Kingdom of Kiskenda. Eventually, they became the army of Rama, who were famous for their power.

Anoman Duta (Anoman as a messenger)

Journey to Alengka

Rama wanted to ensure that Sinta was truly being held captive in Alengka, so he appointed Anoman as his messenger. In the world of pedalangan, this story is known as the play Anoman Duta. Pancawati and Alengka are separated by a vast ocean, so Anoman had to fly there.

His journey was full of trials. While flying over the sea, he was suddenly sucked in and swallowed by Wil Kataksini, a giant frog who was a subordinate of Rahwana. Anoman went on a rampage inside the monster's stomach and destroyed its insides until Kataksini died.

Meeting Sinta in Taman Soka

After overcoming various obstacles, Anoman arrived at Taman Soka and met Dewi Sinta, who was accompanied by Dewi Trijata, the daughter of Wibisana. Anoman fell in love with Trijata's kindness and beauty, but his love remained unrequited.

Anoman's arrival lifted Sinta's spirits. He sang the tembang wanara seta (song of the white monkey) which described Rama's condition, and Sinta was comforted and regained hope of meeting Rama. Anoman handed over a memento from Rama in the form of the cincin Sotyaludira. In return, Sinta entrusted a kancing gelung (hairpin) for Rama.

Spy and the burning of Alengka

After leaving Taman Soka, Anoman carried out his duties as a spy. He mapped out Alengka's defenses: the state of the city, the armory, and the estimated number of troops. Then, he deliberately damaged buildings around the park to provoke the soldiers. Alengka's soldiers attacked, but Anoman easily evaded them while continuing to cause destruction. Finally, the crown prince Indrajit released a magical chain arrow that bound Anoman.

Anoman was then to be burned alive in the middle of the town square. His mischievous and playful nature resurfaced: he lifted the bonfire that was burning him and flew with it, then spread it in all directions. The magnificent city of Alengka was consumed by fire. Prabu Rahwana was furious and cursed the white monkey with profanities. Anoman immediately returned to Pancawati and reported to Rama that his mission was a success.

Anoman's heroism

Tambak Setubanda

When Rama was building a tambak (bridge) to cross to Alengka, Anoman felt pity seeing the monkey soldiers working so hard. He performed triwikrama: his body grew as large as the rising tide, towering like a giant reaching the sky, and his eyes were like two suns. He uprooted bukit Setubanda and planted it in the middle of the sea to dam the ocean. Because of this, the dam was named Tambak Setubanda. Thanks to Anoman's efforts, the bridge construction proceeded smoothly.

Rama's loyal guard

Anoman's strength and power were equal to Prabu Sugriwa, but he was younger, smarter, and more humble. He was always Rama's personal bodyguard and never for a moment separated from his master during the war at Swelagiri.

Anoman is a hero of the Ramayana. Devotees of Wisnu lovingly call him Ramadayapati, the powerful and beloved servant of Rama. When Rahwana fell, Anoman lifted gunung Selon and placed it on top of Rahwana's body so that the giant king would not rise again.

Long life until the Mahabharata era

Anoman's loyalty to the incarnation of Lord Wisnu did not end with Rama. Until the Mahabharata era, he remained close to the next incarnation of Wisnu, namely Kresna.

Anoman was granted a long life. Lord Wisnu required him to protect the Pandawa and all their descendants from the disturbance of the sukma Rembuculung, which is the spirit of Dasamuka (Rahwana). Therefore, in plays featuring evil spirits in disguise such as Dasasukma or Godayitma, the resolution is always in the hands of Anoman, who at that time was commonly called Begawan Kapiwara.

Anoman's exemplary traits

• Lifelong service. His life was filled with service after service.
• Powerful and clever. He is depicted as the most powerful and the most clever.
• Polite speech. His language was refined and beautiful like a poet, and that was one of the reasons he was chosen to be Rama's messenger to Alengka.
• Responsible and trustworthy. For this reason, he was nicknamed Ramadayapati, meaning Rama's powerful commander.
• Bringer of hope. His gentle and wise words convinced Sinta, who at that time had been determined to end her life. Anoman rekindled her hope of meeting Rama, and the power of that love gave Sinta the courage to keep living.
• Inspiration for the youth. As a dashing, mighty, and brave youth, Anoman is an inspiration for all time: an example of sincerity in service and courage in defending the truth.

Source: Dr. Suyanto, 2014.