Shiva Avatar Shri Hanumanji

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>From The Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva

Section XVII

 

Upamanyu said: (Mahadeva) Thou art the mighty ape Hanuman that aided

Vishnu in the incarnation of Rama in his expedition against Ravana.

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Hanuman

By Sri D.Ramkissoon B.A. (Hons)

 

The Legend : The Origin

 

Sri Hanumanji is an incarnation of Lord Siva.

 

Brihaspati (the preceptor of the gods) had an attendant by the name

of Punjikasthala who was cursed to assume the body of a female

monkey. The curse was to be removed on her giving birth to an

incarnation of Lord Siva. Accordingly, she was born as Anjana and,

together with her husband Kesari (so named on account of his being as

brave as a lion), lived a life of chastity and purity. She performed

intense Tapasya (austerities) for a great many years, during which

period she worshipped Lord Siva who being pleased with her granted

her a boon. She asked that He (Lord Siva) be born to her so that she

may be freed from the curse.

 

When Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya was given the sacred payasa

(pudding) by Agnideva to share among his wives so that they may have

divine children (Ram, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna), by divine

ordinance, a bird (kite) snatched a fragment of that pudding and,

whilst flying over the forest, dropped it where Anjana was engaged in

worship. Pavandev (the deity presiding over the wind) delivered that

fragment of pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana who

immediately swallowed it. With that grace, she, in due course, gave

birth to Hanumanji. Thus we find that Lord Siva incarnated as

Hanumanji in the bodily form of a monkey through the grace and

blessings of his god-father Pavandev, with Anjana and Kesari as his

earthly parents.

 

Childhood

As soon as Hanumanji was born, Anjana was released from the curse and

wished to return to Heaven. Hanumanji asked his mother what his

future would be and how he was to earn his living. She assured him

that he would never be destroyed, and said that fruits as ripe as the

rising sun would form his food. Thinking that the glowing and

glittering sun was food to be eaten by him, the baby Hanumanji being

divine in nature, made just one leap for it. He was 1600 miles from

the sun when Rahu, who was exclusively enabled to harass the sun

(thus causing eclipses or obstacles to the sun) complained to Indra

(king of the gods in heaven) of this new threat to his power. Indra

struck Hanumanji with his thunderbolt, wounding his chin and causing

him to fall down to earth.

 

The god-father Pavandev carried Hanumanji to Patala (the nether

regions) and as he departed from the earth, all life was endangered.

Brahma and all the other gods went to Patala and begged Pavandev to

return. In order to appease him they conferred great boons on the

baby Hanumanji. The blessings of all the gods made Hanumanji

invincible and more powerful than any other being, divine or

ordinary. Thus Hanumanji is an embodiment of the powers of all the

gods and goddesses.

 

Education

Hanumanji mentally chose Surya (the Sun-god) as his preceptor.

Therefore he approached Surya with the request to be taught the

scriptures so that he may manifest spiritually in daily life. Surya

agreed to have Hanumanji as his disciple but pointed out that it was

not possible for him to stop his journey across the sky as that would

cause chaos in the world. But Hanumanji was so mighty that he

surprised all the gods by facing his Guru, who had to be constantly

moving, thus (Hanumanji) traversing the sky backwards and at the same

time concentrating fully on his lessons.

 

In this way Hanumanji enabled Surya to perform his duty and to impart

knowledge at the same time. Within a short period of 60 hours,

Hanumanji mastered all the scriptures. Surya considered the manner in

which Hanumanji accomplished his studies as sufficient dakshina

(tuition fees), but Hanumanji pressed him to accept more. Surya then

asked Hanumanji to assist his son Sugriva, who was living in

Kishkindha, by being his minister and constant companion.

 

In the Service of Sri Rama

Sri Hanumanji met Sri Rama whilst Sri Rama was in banishment. Sri

Rama, together with his brother Lakshamana, was searching for his

wife Sita. (Sita was abducted by the demon Ravana). Their search had

taken them to the vicinity of the Pampa Lake situated at the base of

the mountain Risyamukha. Sugriva (together with his ministers) was

hiding in this region. Sugriva was being persecuted by his brother

Bali. Sugriva was suspicious that Rama and Lakshmana might have been

sent by Bali to kill him. Therefore, to ascertain whether they were

friends or foes, Hanumanji approached them in the guise of a Brahmin.

His first words to them were such that Sri Rama immediately said to

Lakshmana: "None can speak thus without mastering the Vedas and their

branches. Nor is there any defect in his countenance, eyes, forehead,

brows, or any of his limbs. His accents are wonderful, auspicious and

captivating. Even an enemy who has his sword uplifted is moved.

Indeed, success awaits the monarch whose emissaries are so

accomplished."

 

When Lord Rama revealed his identity, Hanumanji fell prostrate before

Him and Lord Rama picked him up and clasped him to His bosom. Sri

Rama reveals His identity as the son of Dasaratha and prince of

Ayodhya, but Hanumanji perceives Him to be the Lord of the universe

and prostrates.

 

Thereafter the story of Hanumanji is inextricably interwoven with

that of Lord Rama, and is exhaustively dealt with in the Ramayana of

Valmiki and the Ramacharitamanasa of Goswami Tulasidas.

 

To summarise in a few words: Hanumanji introduces Lord Rama to

Sugriva; goes off in search of Sita; discovers and consoles Sita in

Lanka; Burns the city of Lanka and kills many demons; brings together

Vibhishana and Lord Rama; returns to Lanka with Lord Rama, and

features very prominently in the battle that ensues between Lord Rama

and Ravana; saves the life of Lakshmana by bringing the Sanjivani

(life giving herb) from the Himalayas; and served Lord Rama for as

long as He lived a human life on earth.

 

Service to the Pandavas

Hanumanji met Bhima in the forest and recognised him as his spiritual

brother. (They were both born with the blessings of Pavandev).

Hanumanji promised to aid the Pandavas in the battle of Kurukshetra.

There Hanumanji positions himself on the flag of Arjuna's chariot,

thus stabilising and protecting it. Hanumanji's flag signifies sense

control and mind control that gives victory to the higher nature over

the lower nature. Wherever the servant of Lord Rama is, there,

victory is secured.

 

General

 

Hanumanji is said to be Chiranjivi (immortal) and is present in the

world even today. He is the link between the devotees and God, for,

as instructed by the Lord, he serves, protects and inspires the

servants of God. Saints like Tulasidas had the darshan (divine

vision) of the Lord through the grace of Hanumanji.

 

In the epics of no other country is there a character so powerful,

learned and philosophic as Hanumanji.

 

May we always proclaim, "Bajrangbally Ki Jai", victory to Hanumanji

who has the strength of the thunderbolt.

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