Wherever you are in India, you are likely to have seen this sticker on a car bumper or screen, on a moped or some other form of transport. The image is also seen on T-Shirts, watch dials, as laptop skins and on other merchandise: It’s Lord Hanuman in a stylised, graphical avatar; but shorn of the deity’s usual humility and devotion. This is an angry Lord Hanuman. We look at the story behind the angry Hanuman and explore why this angry avatar has caught on in such a big way.
Graphic artist and designer from Kasargod District in Kerala created the image a few years ago for the young members of a youth club looking for a fresh design for their Ganesh Chaturthi flags. This is a bit surprising though; to have Lord Hanuman for Ganesh Chaturthi flags. Nonetheless, soon the image spread across social media and is now seen on vehicles, merchandise and gadgets as well.
The image has really caught on in bigger cities and elsewhere. On a recent trip to Bangalore, Acharya was quite surprised to find out how ubiquitous the image is. This is in spite of the fact that he has neither given the rights to the image to anyone nor does he charge a royalty for the same.
The sticker is easily available on Amazon. You can get it for your car or your bike. Google auto suggest shows that people also look to download the HD wallpaper, stickers and photos of this image.
T-Shirts bearing the Angry Hanuman image are also available. However, the creator of the image has derived no benefit from his wildly popular representation of this particular avatar of Hanuman.
Hanuman has always been a popular God, but this is a new representation of a God usually seen to be kneeling at the feet of Lord Ram, his palms joined in supplication. This new Hanuman is a commanding Hanuman emanating strength and power.
Shiva is often depicted in his Rudra Avatar. Goddesses such as Durga and Kaali are also depicted in fiery and angry representations. Hanuman, however, is typically portrayed as being very strong but also very gentle.
It would seem that anger among the general public has increased in recent times. You only have to see the kind of road rage that exists; which so quickly escalates into a full-blown fight to see an anger that constantly simmers just below the surface. In one instance, a man bit off another’s nose! People attack family members for flimsy reasons, friends fight for something seemingly inconsequential; colleagues can quickly turn foes… everyone, it seems is angry or waiting for a reason to get angry.
Aum laptop skin
Indians have always been a very religious lot. Now more than ever, religious symbols appear to be evidently displayed. Young people sport chains and bracelets with religious symbols or figures. Gods feature on clothing. Pictures of gods and goddesses and graphic representations of Aum are everywhere too. Being proud of one's religion is not a bad thing in itself. But the eagerness to display the Angry Hanuman – otherwise a wise and gentle soul – is a little troubling. Perhaps, the whole trend of overt religiosity – across religions – is just not what we need in these thin-skinned, fraught times.
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