I have read in multiple forums, which talks about Hanumana being rewarded as future Brahma.
Can anyone point out, where exactly it is mentioned that he is going to be future Brahma?
I have read in multiple forums, which talks about Hanumana being rewarded as future Brahma.
Can anyone point out, where exactly it is mentioned that he is going to be future Brahma?
This is foretold to Śrī Rāma by Mahaṛṣi Agastya himself in Chapter 36 of the Uttara Kāṇḍa:
श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः
सर्वासु विद्यासु तपोविधाने प्रस्पर्धते ऽयो हि गुरुं सुराणाम् ।
सोऽयं नवव्याकरणार्थवेत्ता ब्रह्मा भविष्यत्यपि ते प्रसादात् ।। ७.३६.४८ ।।महर्षि अगस्त्य ने श्री राम से कहा -
यह (अर्थात् हनुमान) समस्त विद्या और तपोविधान में सुरगुरु वृहस्पति की टक्कर के हैं, और व्याकरण के जानने वाले हैं। अब आपकी (अर्थात् श्री राम की) कृपा से यह ब्रह्मा भी होंगे।
[चतुर्वेदी द्वारका प्रसाद शर्मा कृत हिन्दी अनुवाद]
English Translation of the above Hindi Translation by Self
Mahaṛṣi Agastya said to Śrī Rāma:
Hanumāna rivals the preceptor of devas (i.e., Brihaspati) himself, in all branches of learning and austerities. He is well versed in 'the Nine-Grammars' (i.e., Nava-Vyākaraṇa-Vettā'), and by your grace he will become the next Brahmā.
Further, as pointed out by the user Keshav Srinivasan, this same verse is quoted (and thus translated as such) by Swami Krishnananda of the Divine Life Society in his discourse on Chapter 9 of the Śrīmada Bhagavada Gītā.
The Gita Press Gorakhpur, and so do Hari Prasad Shastri, also, uses the same recension with the same verses as used by the translator Shri Dwarka Prasad Sharma as given above. Although both of them, contrary to the popular notion, translates the Brahmā part as implying that 'Hanumāna will command respect similar to god Brahmā (and not become Brahmā himself in the next kalpa)'.
Further, in some recensions like that used by, MN Dutt and Bibek Debroy, the 'next Brahmā' verse seem to be completely absent or in the case of the Hindu scriptures website, the second part of verse 38 is replaced (or omitted completely) by this line as follows:-
सर्वासु विद्यासु तपोविधाने प्रस्पर्धतेऽयं हि गुरुं सुराणाम्।
प्रवीविविक्षोरिव सागरस्य लोकान्दिधक्षोरिव पावकस्य।
लोकक्षयेष्वेव यथान्तकस्य हनूमतः स्थास्यति कः पुरस्तात्।।४६।।
I've a doubt. If there are 9 brahmas (ours is 7th currently) in this universe, then what about the fact that while vishnu exhales a thousand brahmas come into existence? We know that we can measure grains of sand in Ganga or raindrops when indradev rains, but we cannot know how many universes got created and destroyed. If only 9 brahmas will come into existence, does it mean that our universe life span is 900 brahma years? What about other universes?