Hanuman
Manojavam — Hanuman dhyana
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् । वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥
Manojavaṁ māruta-tulya-vegaṁ jitendriyaṁ buddhimatāṁ variṣṭham, vātātmajaṁ vānara-yūtha-mukhyaṁ śrīrāma-dūtaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye
Simple reading: Ma-no-ja-vam maa-ru-ta tul-ya ve-gam, ji-ten-dri-yam bud-dhi-ma-taam va-rish-tham, vaa-taat-ma-jam vaa-na-ra yoo-tha mukh-yam, shree-raa-ma doo-tam sha-ra-nam pra-pad-ye
About this mantra
The dhyana verse of Hanuman from the closing part of the Rama Raksha Stotra — a string of epithets and one act: taking refuge in Rama's messenger.
Meaning
I take refuge in the messenger of Shri Rama — swift as thought, fast as the wind, master of the senses, foremost among the wise, son of the wind, chief of the vanara hosts. Every epithet is superlative, yet the verse ends by calling him dutam, messenger: the greatest speed in creation, defined by whose word it carries. Taking refuge in him is taking refuge in strength that has already surrendered.
When to recite it
Recited before journeys, at Hanuman Jayanti, and on Tuesdays and Saturdays; kept by messengers of every kind — those carrying responsibility for others' words and work.
Word by word
- मनोजवंmanojavaṁ
- swift as thought
- मारुततुल्यवेगंmāruta-tulya-vegaṁ
- fast as the wind
- जितेन्द्रियंjitendriyaṁ
- master of the senses
- बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम्buddhimatāṁ variṣṭham
- foremost among the wise
- वातात्मजंvātātmajaṁ
- son of the wind
- वानरयूथमुख्यंvānara-yūtha-mukhyaṁ
- chief of the vanara hosts
- श्रीरामदूतंśrīrāma-dūtaṁ
- messenger of Shri Rama
- शरणं प्रपद्येśaraṇaṁ prapadye
- I take refuge
Source: Rāma Rakṣā Stotra (Budha Kauśika) — among its closing verses