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

 

Human effort must be yoked to God's grace

 

CHENNAI, SEPT. 25. Any task can be undertaken and accomplished

successfully by an individual only when his self-effort is

coupled with divine grace. The primary requisite is talent and

capacity to execute the work without which all efforts will only

be in vain. When these basic requirements are fulfilled and the

person chosen delegated the responsibility then his endeavour

must elicit God's grace. Hanuman successfully accomplishing the

mission of locating Sita in Lanka is illustrative of this truth.

It was after much deliberation that he was chosen as the envoy.

That he had exceptional intellectual acumen and physical prowess

to undertake the venture were beyond doubt but what singled him

out was his singular devotion to Lord Rama which stood him in

good stead when he met with obstacles and threats to his life.

 

When Hanuman finally spotted Sita in the Ashoka grove She was

almost on the verge of giving up Her life, Her misery of

separation from Rama was compounded by Ravana's constant

overtures. One of the demonesses, Trijata, was devoted to the

Lord and she had in a dream saw the kingdom of Lanka burnt by a

monkey and Ravana vanquished by Rama. She tried to instill hope

in Sita by relating all the good omens she had seen and it was

this exchange that Hanuman heard as he sat contemplating about

his next move on a branch of the tree under which Sita was

seated. Without any further delay he dropped the Lord's signet

ring down and started praising Rama's excellences with the

intention of earning Her trust.

 

In his discourse on the Ramacharitamanasa of Tulasidasa, Swami

Veetabhayananda said Sita was convinced of Hanuman's devotion to

Rama and She responded by asking him about Rama's welfare. When

She heard the message Hanuman delivered from Rama She swooned

overwhelmed by emotion. Beholding Her distress he urged Her not

to lose hope and convinced Her that there would not be any

further delay in Her rescue by the Lord. Seeing his diminutive

form Sita expressed Her doubt whether the army of monkeys which

would assist Rama was equal to the task of meeting the mighty

demons in battle.

 

To allay Her misgivings Hanuman not only revealed his original

form but also pointed out to Her, ``Mother, monkeys possess no

great strength or intelligence either; but through the Lord's

might, even the tiniest snake might swallow Garuda (the king of

birds).'' Hearing his words of devotion Sita blessed him that he

would become a repository of strength and virtue, remain immune

to old age and death, and receive the Lord's grace in abundant

measure.

 

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