The Untold Story of Hanuman’s Son Makardhwaja

"सर्वदेवमयं वीरं हनुमन्तं महाबलम्।

वायुपुत्रं महोत्साहं श्रीरामदूतमाश्रये॥"

I take refuge in Hanuman, the embodiment of all divine powers, the mighty son of Vayu, the one of boundless energy and the eternal messenger of Shri Rama.

Hanuman is celebrated as the eternal celibate, the tireless devotee of Rama, and the embodiment of strength and humility. Yet hidden within our sacred lore is a story many have never heard. It is the story of Makardhwaja, Hanuman’s son. His birth did not come through desire but through divine mystery. Though rarely spoken of, his tale reveals powerful lessons about destiny, duty, and the ways in which our legacies continue even when we least expect them.

After setting Lanka aflame, Hanuman leapt into the sea to cool his burning body. A drop of his sweat fell into the waters where it was swallowed by a Makara, a great aquatic creature of myth. From this union Makardhwaja was born. His birth was not an act of desire but a miracle of destiny, proving that divine power creates life in ways beyond human imagination.

The Makara is a recurring symbol in Hindu tradition, serving as the vehicle of Ganga and Varuna. It is half aquatic and half terrestrial, a being that belongs to two realms at once. By making the Makara the mother of Makardhwaja, the story highlights that his birth was not ordinary. He carried within him both the force of Hanuman and the mystery of the cosmic waters.

In regional Ramayana traditions, Makardhwaja appears as the loyal guard of Patala, the underworld realm of the Nagas. When Hanuman descended there, he was stopped by a warrior of immense power. To Hanuman’s surprise, that warrior was his own son. This moment shows that destiny had placed Makardhwaja not in the world of mortals but as the protector of hidden realms.

When Makardhwaja revealed that he was Hanuman’s son, the mighty Vanara was taken aback. Bound by his vow of celibacy, he could not understand how such a thing was possible. Yet the truth of his miraculous birth was revealed. This encounter is more than a story. It is a reminder that even those who renounce the world leave behind legacies, not through desire but through divine will.

As gatekeeper of Patala, Makardhwaja stood firm in his duty. Even when faced with his father, he refused to abandon his post. His loyalty to responsibility outweighed filial affection. This trial demonstrates one of the deepest principles of dharma. Duty comes before personal ties, and true honor is found in fulfilling one’s role with steadfastness.

Though Hanuman overpowered him, he did not reject Makardhwaja. Instead, he blessed him for his courage, his loyalty, and his strength. In this moment, Hanuman showed that fatherhood is not only about physical connection. It is about passing on virtues. By blessing Makardhwaja, he accepted him as part of the cosmic order and gave him a place in the story of dharma.


Makardhwaja may not be widely known, yet his presence lingers in living traditions. In Gujarat, at Hanuman Dandi, he is worshipped alongside his father. In Odisha too, he appears as a guardian figure in certain temples. These quiet traditions prove how local faiths preserve stories that larger narratives overlook, ensuring that even forgotten heroes are remembered.

Makardhwaja’s tale is more than a forgotten episode. It speaks of life emerging in mysterious ways, of duty rising above attachment, and of legacy continuing through recognition and blessing. His existence symbolizes the unseen consequences of actions, much like the doctrine of karma. He is proof that our essence leaves traces in the world long after we act, whether we intend it or not.


The story of Makardhwaja invites us to think deeply about family, duty, and legacy. Hanuman remained the servant of Rama, untouched by worldly desire, yet through divine mystery he still became a father. This paradox does not weaken his greatness but enriches it. It reminds us that life does not follow the lines of human logic.

Makardhwaja’s story asks us to reflect on our own lives. What legacies are we leaving behind through our actions, our values, and our choices. Are we loyal to our duty even when emotions test us. Do we accept the unexpected with grace. The forgotten son of Hanuman shows us that destiny is vast, and that even in the hidden corners of our stories lie truths that can guide us.