Dr.ravi.poet at 12:11, 4 June 2025

2025-06-04T12:11:02Z

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{{short description|Son of Hindu god Hanuman}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| image = Makardhwaja.jpg
| alt = Makardhwaja
| caption = Makardhwaja Temple at Odadar village near [[Porbandar]], [[Gujarat]]
| family = [[Hanuman]] (father)<br>[[Kesari (Ramayana)|Kesari]] (grandfather)<br>[[Añjanā]]
(Grand mother)
}}
{{Hinduism|Deity=Makardhwaja}}
'''Makaradhwaja''' (or '''Magardhwaja''') is the son of Hindu god [[Hanuman]] who is born out of his sweat. Makaradhwaja has appearance in various regional versions of the Ramayana.<ref name="a">[http://www.dlshq.org/religions/hanuman.htm] SRI HANUMAN By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA</ref><ref name=b>[http://www.lordhanuman.info/index.php/lord-hanuman-and-makardhwaja-his-son/ Lord Hanuman and Makardhwaja, his son] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203224758/http://www.lordhanuman.info/index.php/lord-hanuman-and-makardhwaja-his-son |date=3 December 2011 }}</ref> There are many unmatching accounts of his birth, however all of them mentions him being born to a [[Crocodile|Makara (or Magara)]] after Hanuman took a dip into the ocean and his sweat drop fell into the mouth of the ''Makara'', impregnating her. ''Makara'' begets Makaradhwaja who was later raised by the [[Ahiravan|Ahiravana]], a demon king who ruled [[Patala]] who was one of [[Ravana]]’s son. When he grew up, Ahiravana, seeing Makaradhwaja's strength and virility, gave him the job of guarding the gates of his kingdom.<ref name="a" /><ref name="b" /><ref name="Z" />

==Birth and thereafter==
When Hanuman took a dip in the waters of the sea (after burning down the whole of [[Lanka]] with his inflamed tail), a drop of his sweat fell into the mouth of a mighty [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]]. Out of this, Makaradhwaja was born.<ref name=a/><ref name=b/><ref>[https://archive.today/20120905015044/http://www.drishtikone.com/blog/science-doing-makardhwaj Is Science doing a Makardhwaj?]</ref>

According to another, slightly different version, when Hanuman took a dip in the sea, to cool himself after burning Lanka; a drop of his sweat, due to the extreme heat generated in his body due to extreme labour by him, fell into the mouth of a giant fish-eating-reptile like creature, [[Crocodile|Makara]], thus impregnating it.<ref name=Z/>

The fish was caught by people of [[Ahiravana]], who ruled [[Patala]], the nether-world. Markardhwaja was discovered when the stomach of the fish was cut open and thus he was named after it and was brought up by them.

==Story in the ''Ramayana''==
The story of Makaradhwaja is not found in the original ''[[Ramayana]]''. However, in local folk tales this story is related. When Ahiravana took [[Rama]] and [[Lakshmana]] to [[Patala]], Hanuman followed them to their rescue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vayusutha.in/vs4/temple76.html|title = Sri Hanuman Dandi Temple, Bet / Beyt Dwarka, Dwarka, Gujarat}}</ref> He was challenged at the gate of Patala by a creature, who was part ''Vanara'' and part reptile - a ''Makara''. He introduced himself as Makaradhwaja the son of Hanuman, the mighty warrior.<ref name=a/><ref name=b/>

Hanuman was amused and said that, he himself is Hanuman but he could not be his son, as he was ''Brahmachari'' (a [[celibate]]) since birth. However, Hanuman then closed his eyes in [[Dhyana in Hinduism|dhyana]] to see the events described above of Makaradhwaja's birth.<ref name=a/><ref name=b/>

Makaradhwaja asked him for his blessings, however, he said to Hanuman, that he would have to fight him to enter Patala, as he cannot betray Ahiravana, his [[mentor]]. Hanuman defeats Makaradhwaja in a duel and then ties him to the back to proceed further to ultimately kill [[Ahiravana]] and rescue Rama & Lakshamana as Makardhawaja is presented as the exemplary devotee (bhakta) of Ahiravana as Hanuman for Rama.<ref name=a/><ref name=b/>

==Lineage==
The [[Jethwa]]s claim their descent from Makaradhwaja. As per folk tales of their clan, Makaradhwaja had a son named Mod-dhwaja and he had a son named Jethi-dhwaja. Jethwas claim descant from Jethi-dhwaja and worship [[Hanuman]] as their [[Iṣṭa-devatā (Hinduism)|Iṣṭa-devatā]]. The Jethwa dynasty of Gujarat, who once ruled major part of [[Kathiawar]] and later the [[Porbandar|princely state of Porbandar]], therefore, had the image of Hanuman on their royal flag.<ref name=Z>''Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Community: A brief history & glory: Section : History of Rajput surnames, their origin and Myths : Sub-section : History of Jethwa : by Raja Pawan Jethwa, Kolkata (2007).Page 81.''</ref>

==Temples==
Temples dedicated to Makaradhwaja can be found in India, especially in [[Gujarat]], India where the [[Jethwa]]s once ruled. Some noted temples in Gujarat and other places in India are at:
*[[Mandvi]], of both Makaradhwaja and Hanuman
*[[Odadar]] village near Porbandar
* [[Hanuman Dandi temple]] at Bet Dwarka, where idols of Makaradhwaja and Hanuman are worshiped together<ref>[http://vayusutha.in/vs4/temple76.html DANDI SRI HANUMAN TEMPLE, BET/BEYT DWARKA]</ref>
* Chinchawan, [[Wadwani]], Maharashtra
* Karahiya near [[Gwalior]], Madhya Pradesh
*Balaji Makaradhwaja, temple at [[Beawar]], Rajasthan which is dedicated to both father-son duo in form of [[Salasar Balaji|Balaji Hanuman]] and Makaradhwaja

==See also==
{{commons}}
*[[Macchanu]], son of Hanuman and Suvannamachha as per Southeast Asian versions of the ''Ramayana''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ramayana}}

[[Category:Vanara in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Mythological human–animal hybrids]]
[[Category:Hanuman]]

Makaradhwaja - Revision history

Dr.ravi.poet at 12:11, 4 June 2025