Hanuman: the Logo

I took this picture, from the side of a truck, because it illustrates the way Hindu gods are so proximate, so intimately known, that you can even use them as business logos, or for advertising slogans.

This transport company, now a courier, has been around for a long time. The picture of Hanuman which is its logo illustrates a story from the epic Ramayana. According to the website of a Hanuman temple here in Chennai:

During the war between Lord Rama and Raavana, an arrow of Meghnad hit the Laxman and he became unconscious. The army of Lord Rama sunk in the ocean of sadness and grief. Lord Rama himself was too much sad. Then Sushen Vaidya told that only `Sanjivani Booty' (A herb only found on Sumeru Hill) could save Laxman. Hanuman went on Sumeru hill, which was far away from the battlefield. There were many herbs like `Sanjivani Booty'. Confused Hanuman immediately lifted Sumeru Hill in his right hand and flew back to Lanka battlefield. Laxman was saved.

Here is more about Hanuman, from the temple's website.

And here is a joke, which refers to the end of the Ramayana, when Hanuman rescues Sita. (For the purposes of Indian humour, Sardarjis - Sikhs - are considered to be extremely stupid.):

Q: How do you know Hanuman was a Sardarji?

A: Only a Sardarji would be so stupid, to set his tail on fire to burn down a city in order to rescue another man's wife.

(update: Ramnath adds:

I had recently been to Trichy and there is a Sanjeevini hill about 100 kms from there, in Nilakottai. It is supposed to be having hundreds of medicinal herbs. ... a range of hills in Rayalseema region in Andhra Pradesh is believed to be 'coloured' by the ashes from his tail, as he flew back from Sri Lanka. If you look at those hills, you will find the upper part dark brown in colour, and the rest light brown.

I love the way there are stories everywhere -- it's one of my favourite things about India. And they are endless.)