Vrishakapi is the name of a tawny yellow bull monkey
mentioned in the Rig Veda. Some scholars are of the view that the mentioning of
the Vrishakapi is an indirect reference to Hanuman in the Vedas.
In Rig Veda, wife of Indra complains that a huge monkey
has stolen her husband’s portion of the Vedic offerings. Only one specific hymn mentions about the naughty monkey.
In Harivamsa, Vrishakapi is identified with the 11th
form of Rudra. Some scriptures indicate that Hanuman was the 11th
avatar of Rudra.
The name is also found in the Mahabharata and in the Vishnu
Sahasranama (thousand names of Vishnu). In both these holy texts, Vrishakapi is
one of the names of Vishnu.