Hanuman embodies true devotion

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Hanuman Embodies True Devotion

 

 

The Times of India [ SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2002

12:51:56 AM ]

 

THE Ramayana Mahamala Ratnam calls Hanuman the

greatest jewel among bhaktas. Empowered by the sattvic

power of bhakti or devotion, he is depicted in the

Ramayana as a saviour and divine helper.

 

His recital of the Ramayana helps Sita overcome

depression in captivity; his bringing the Sanjeevani

mountain’s herbs saves the life of an injured

Lakshmana; he even saves Bharata, who is about to

commit suicide in the absence of his beloved Sri Rama,

by reciting the Ramayana.

 

When he first meets Sri Rama, Hanuman says: “The jeeva

is deluded by maya, so I could not recognise my Lord

in your form”. Sri Rama remarks to Lakshmana: “No

ordinary monkey can speak as he has done.

 

Who is he?” According to Hindu mythology, when Vishnu

incarnated as Sri Rama, Shiva decided to incarnate as

Hanuman to help establish dharma on earth. He chose

Vayu Deva, the wind god, and Anjana, consort of

Kesari, the chieftain of monkeys, to be his parents.

 

Shiva found that in the monkey form, he could be free

from desires and the ego, impediments on the path of

true service, that normally beset human beings.

Hanuman, thus, is desireless and possessionless. By

conquering Kamadeva, the god of lust, he achieved

complete control over his body and senses.

 

Hanuman manifests in his being, the three paths to

attain god-realisation: through karma (action), bhakti

(devotion) and jnana (knowledge). He tells Rama: “When

I think of myself as a body, I am your servant; when I

think of myself as an individual soul, I am part of

you; but when I realise I am atman, you and I become

one”. Hanuman helps Sugreeva, Vibhishana and Ravana.

When Vibhishana is doubtful whether Sri Rama would

accept him, Ravana’s brother, as his bhakta, Hanuman

consoles him playfully: “Tell me, from what

distinguished lineage have I descended?” Scriptures

say that an animal is incapable of meditation, yet

Hanuman is an example that any creature can become the

greatest devotee of God.

 

All the obstacles Hanuman runs into, during his search

for Sita and thereafter, signify pitfalls a sadhaka

encounters on his path to god- realisation. During the

search, he puts Rama’s ring in his mouth since, to

cross hurdles, one must always have the Lord’s name on

one’s lips. His reaching the ocean signifies that to

find the Ultimate Reality there are various hurdles —

foremost being that man must rise above the thought

that ‘I am body’.

 

Mainaka Mountain offers him rest, signifying bodily

temptations. Then he encounters Surasa, the mother of

serpents, who is waiting to swallow him. As she swells

in size to match Hanuman’s, he escapes by shrinking to

miniscule proportions. This denotes that to overcome

adversity, it is not only might and courage that is

required. Flexibility and politeness, the ability to

bow before the other, are more important.

 

To reach Sri Rama — the Supreme Truth — Hanuman, the

sadhaka, must first find Sita, who denotes bhakti

captured by maya. To achieve this, one’s mind, body

and intellect should be in harmony, as Hanuman’s, who

possesses a wise mind, a pure heart, and a body ever

ready to serve God. Only he can destroy Lanka, the

land of sensory pleasures. Ravana is symbolic of the

desires within us that can be conquered only by right

thoughts (the vanara-sena) combined with God’s

blessings.

Sensual desires make one unconscious of one’s true

Self.

 

When Hanuman brings news of Sita, an overjoyed Sri

Rama recognises Hanuman’s true devotion and embraces

him. An overwhelmed Hanuman prays: “Please grant that

my affection for you never diminishes. Do not allow me

to think of anything else but you”.

 

Anecdotes about Hanuman always depict him as one who

is balanced and calm in every situation. When Sita

presents him with a valuable necklace on Rama’s return

to Ayodhya, Hanuman discards it, as the jewels are not

inscribed with his Lord’s name. As the assembly mocks

him, Hanuman tears apart his chest and displays Rama

shining within him.

 

Hanuman exemplifies how a devotee can acquire godhood.

When Sri Rama ended his sojourn on earth, Hanuman

wished to stay back so that he could listen to Rama

Katha for as long as it is recited. Sri Rama granted

him the boon of being eternal — a chiranjeevi. It is

believed that even today, wherever the name of Rama is

sung with true devotion, Hanuman sits in silence,

hands folded in prayer and eyes moist with tears of

love.

 

(Today is Hanuman Jayanti)

 

did you sing the hanuman chalisa today?

 

JAI HANUMAN!

 

Keval

 

 

 

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