Who was the Son of Lord Hanuman Ji?

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Hanuman is believed to be celibate, with no traditional account of him having any offspring. Revered as a divine being and an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, Hanuman is celebrated for his unparalleled strength, devotion, and loyalty. His story primarily revolves around his unwavering service to Lord Rama and his exploits in the Ramayana.

Biological Parentage of Hanuman

Historically, Hanuman is the biological son of Vanar King Kesari and Anjana, a celestial dancer (apsara). According to legend, Anjana was chosen to bear the power of Lord Shiva in her womb. Lord Vayu, the God of Wind, who is also a form of Lord Shiva, blessed the child in Anjana's womb, bestowing upon him the divine power of Shiva and Vayu. As a result, Hanuman was born with the divine attributes of both deities.

Vayu acted as a protective deity and a sort of father figure to Hanuman, giving him both spiritual and physical protection. Some sources even attribute Lord Shiva to be his father in the same way. Tulsidas, in his Hanuman Chalisa, mentions the divine paternity of Hanuman as follows: "Shankarasuvana "—where Shankara refers to Shiva, Avana to Vayu, and Kesari to one of the vanar kings. Thus, Hanuman is technically the son of Anjana and Kesari, but in a broader sense, also the son of Shiva and Vayu due to their divine connection.

The Incident with Makardhwaj

While there is no canonical mention of Hanuman having a son, an interesting legend involves a drop of sweat that fell from his body while extinguishing a fire in Lanka. According to the Valmiki Ramayana, when Hanuman was above the ocean, a drop of sweat from his body fell into the ocean. A fish consumed this drop of sweat, and from that, a son named Makardhwaj was born. Due to his unusual birth, he was given the name 'Makardhwaj,' a blend of 'Makara' (a divine sea creature) and 'Dhwaj' (standard or symbol).

One day, Ahiravan, the demon king of the underworld, had captured Lord Rama and Lakshmana. Hanuman embarked on a quest to rescue them. Upon reaching the underworld, he was surprised to encounter a monkey as strong as himself at the last gate. This guard was named Makardhwaj, and he claimed to be the son of Hanuman. Intrigued, Hanuman asked for an explanation, and Makardhwaj recounted the story of his birth, revealing the identity of his mother as the fish that had consumed the sweat drop of Hanuman. This mysterious connection further underscores the divine nature of Hanuman and the intricate web of divine relationships in Hindu mythology.