The deities Hanuman and Ganesh are considered to be symbolic of the ultimate service and devotion unto God respectively.

Hanuman is distinguished by his monkey-like features, which result from the fact that his mother was cursedly sent to Earth as a monkey by the sage, Angira Rishi. She eventually begged forgiveness and the merciful Rishi granted her a boon that her son would be a chaste servant of the Lord. There are numerous episodes in ancient scriptures such as the Ramayan, in which Hanuman has selflessly served Lord Ram. Thus Hanuman is a personification of all the qualities a devotee should aspire to in his service to the supreme Lord SwaminarayanBapa Swamibapa.

Lord Hanuman giving darshan in the Swaminarayan Art Gallery.

Hanumanji is a dedicated follower of God and has taken a strict vow of celibacy. Naturally, he will not touch any lady. The demon Sani Graha realised this and assumed the guise of a woman named Panoti. He thought that as he was in the form of a woman, Hanuman would not touch him and he would be free to harass the world. However, Hanuman became aware of the deceit and trapped her under his leg. He taught her a bitter lesson that if any demon came to him, in any form, he would fight them in order to protect mankind.