Hanuman Sets Off

Hand-knit toy by my next-door neighbor, Val. One of the many and varied toys she knits. They go like hotcakes...(I added the Buddha, of course)

I admit I am somewhat mixing my religions and cultures here.  Hanuman is the Hindu monkey-god known for his strength and devotion (and much loved by Ram Dass, the longtime meditation teacher, author, and speaker).  Hanuman is normally depicted with a human body, but I hope we can cut him a little slack here.  And then of course, there's Buddha.  Actually, Hanuman is also found in some Buddhist teachings as well, but not as commonly as in Hinduism.

I put Buddha in Hanuman's lap because I thought this "alternative version of Hanuman" might need a dose of equanimity before he got crammed into a box and mailed off to a friend as a gift to her 8 month old son.  So, Hindu and Buddhist figures are playing together in this photo.

[NOTE:  Hanuman is now on his way to his next adventure - he's in the mail - and I've no doubt he is fully up to it.]

This is another wonderful toy made by my next-door neighbor.  She has a large assortment of hand-knitted toys--penguins, ducks, dogs, kitties, dinosaurs, you name it.  All beautifully made.  And then there is all her other lovely knitting, but since I don't have pictures, I won't go into that.  But you can imagine how kids react to these toys!  It's pandemonium when she sells them at fairs.  She is so clever.