Hanuman (/hnmn, hn-, hnmn, hn-/; Hanumn in IAST)[1] is a Hindu god and an

ardent devotee of Rama. He is a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and its various
versions. He is also mentioned in several other texts, includingMahabharata, the
various Puranas and some Jain texts. A vanara, Hanuman participated in Rama's war against the
demon kingRavana. Several texts also present him as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is the son
of Anjana and Kesari, and is also described as the son of Vayu, who according to several stories,
played a role in his birth.