puthu mandabam series 1 father & son

Puthu mandabam series 1

Father& son 

This is a nayaka period stone sculpture from madurai Meenakshi amman temple puthu mandabam depicts a famous episode from Hanuman’s childhood, where he leaps toward the Sun, mistaking it for a ripe fruit. and leapt into the sky to eat it. As he soared towards the Sun, Indra, the king of gods, struck him with his thunderbolt (Vajra) to stop him. Hanuman fell to the earth unconscious.Seeing his beloved son hurt, Vayu, the wind god and Hanuman’s father, became enraged. He withdrew all air from the world, causing great suffering to all living beings. To calm Vayu and restore balance, the surya revived Hanuman and blessed him with immense boons — including strength, wisdom, and immortality.

Tulasidasa recounts this incident in his Hanuman Chalisa as follows:

yuga-sahasra-yojana para bhanu

leelyo tahi madhura phala janu

This verse praises young Hanuman’s immense strength and divine innocence. He saw the glowing Sun in the sky and, thinking it was a tasty fruit, leapt thousands of yojanas (miles) to catch and swallow it. This act showcases his boundless energy and divine nature, even as a child.

Hope this is a unique  panel by madurai nayakas In this panel at the top, young Hanuman is seen flying toward the Surya seated within a circular orb. The celestial tension is shown through surrounding figures in dynamic motion. Below, the Vayu, Hanuman’s father, is seated protectively, emphasizing his divine role. This scene symbolizes Hanuman’s divine power, innocence, and the cosmic disturbance caused by his actions, highlighting Vayu’s love and the blessings Hanuman later received from the gods. 

--Ramu. Rm.N