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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Anger must be eschewed at all costs

 

CHENNAI, SEPT. 14. One of the virtues, human beings, especially

those who are wedded to righteousness, should cultivate is

forfeiting anger at all costs. Though it is easy to sermonise on

the desirability of cultivating such virtues, in real life

situations this may amount to exercising great restraint because

one may even without any reason be offended by others. But when a

person consciously makes effort to check his temper it is

possible over a period of time to master the emotion. This is

rewarding because a person in a fit of temper may do acts which

he is likely to regret in his saner moments.

 

The incident of Hanuman burning Lanka as an act of retribution

when his tail was set on fire as punishment by Ravana after he

was caught red-handed for destroying the trees in the Ashoka

grove describes the import of practising this virtue. After

locating Sita he took leave of Her to convey the good news of Her

safety to Rama but being an astute envoy he decided to assess at

firsthand the enemy's might. To draw attention to himself for

gaining entry into Ravana's palace he started uprooting the trees

in the Ashoka grove. The matter was immediately reported to

Ravana and Hanuman killed the ogres who were despatched. When he

made short work of them, finally Indrajit was sent. Though he was

capable of fighting with him, Hanuman submitted to the Brahmastra

he deployed to be taken to the presence of Ravana.

 

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said Hanuman

related with candour the purpose of his mission and went to the

extent of advising Ravana to return Sita to Rama or be prepared

for the worst. Naturally this infuriated him and Ravana ordered

the monkey to be put to death. Vibhishana interceded and advised

Ravana that virtuous rulers would not stoop to unrighteous acts

like killing a messenger even though his anger was justified as

the monkey had devastated his garden and killed many of his

subjects. He heeded his advice that a suitable punishment like

setting fire to his tail should be meted out to Hanuman.

 

At Sita's behest, the fire did not burn Hanuman and intuiting

rightly that it was due to Rama's and Sita's grace that he was

spared, anger spurred him to retaliate and he set fire with his

burning tail to all the mansions and houses in Lanka. It was only

when he saw the blazing city that Hanuman had second thoughts

about his action. With self-contempt he reproached himself for

giving vent to anger without consideration for Sita's safety.

 

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