April 8, 2017 archive

Vānara Angada offers the following prayer:

Mātā suvarchaladevi pita may vāyunandanaḥ

Bāndhavā Hanumad-bhaktāha svadeśo bhuvanatrayaṃ.

Suvarchala Devi (wife of Hanuman) is my mother; Hanuman is my father. All devotees of Hanuman are my relatives. To me the three planes of existence exist within my nation itself!

Angada was the son of King Vali. Angada was an unsurpassed warrior. On one occasion his prowess caused extreme surprise to Hanuman. Angada played a very significant role in Ramayana. From the time the Vānaras set out in search of Mother Sita, until the coronation of Lord Rama as the King of Ayodhya, intermittently Angada’s reference keeps coming up in Ramayana.

It is very rare to come across a temple consecrated for both Hanuman and his wife Suvarchala Devi. Yet, it is not that such temples do not exist at all. Occasionally, at certain places we do find temples wherein both of them have been installed.

The popular belief is that Hanuman is a celibate (Brahmachari). If we read the Paraśara Samhita in great detail and completely absorb its contents, if we attentively go deeper into the story of Hanuman and recapitulate his life story in minute detail we will understand about Suvarchala Devi. Suvarchala means Sun’s illumination. It reflects radiance.

Often people say that it is wrong to even think of Hanuman as a married man. This is yet another misconception. Debates as to whether this Lord is a celibate (Brahmachari) or a householder (Grhasta) are not uncommon. It is true that Hanuman has a celibate form.

It is wrong to interpret divine stories with a human perspective. We should not treat deities like humans. It is wrong to speak about Guru and God as if they are ordinary humans with worldly needs. Only when divinity in them is seen and respected, and their stories read with faith, the deepest secrets hidden behind the stories begin to be understood by the mind. There is no other way to understand the hidden secrets behind the divine stories.

Suvarchala is the daughter of the Lord Sun. Sun God is Hanuman’s Guru. As a Guru dakshina (fees that is rendered to a Guru upon completion of education), the Sun God asked Hanuman to marry his daughter Suvarchala. All our ancient puranas contain this story. Together with Suvarchala Devi, He resides on the Mountain Gandhamādana.

‘Suvarchala’ means absolute illumination. ‘Suvarchala’ thus means Hanuman’s Yogic power. His inner illumination (shakti) grew so vast that he could no longer enclose it within him. It can be said that he pulled it out and gave it a female form of Suvarchala. Thus Suvarchala, his wife, is none other than his Yogic energy, primordial cosmic energy (atma shakti) or power of penance (tapa shakti).

She fulfills the desire of those who seek divine radiance. Our Lord Hanuman is eternally seated immobile, engrossed in very deep meditation. Whenever we pray to Hanuman, it is actually Suvarchala Devi who fulfils them. As radiance and power always encircle the person, we can say that Suvarchala Devi never leaves her husband’s side.

Hanuman, who chooses to remain eternally in contemplation of Lord Rama, has, out of his compassion for his devotees, retained his divine energy and power outside of him and given it a female form of Suvarchala. Whenever a devotee prays or seeks anything, it is actually Suvarchala Devi who fulfills it while Hanuman is engrossed his Rama japa. With this plan, Hanuman has ensured that he is undisturbed in his dhyana (contemplation). Happily He is reciting ‘Rama, Rama, Rama’ endlessly without any disturbance, while his shakti (energy) Suvarchala Devi is fulfilling the needs of all his devotees.

All of us have heard the story of Dhruva. When he was unloved by his worldly father, he sought the divine father. He proudly claimed that to him the Divine father was his father, mother and relative in this universe. We too should adopt this approach.

Through listening to the stories of God repetitively, a person can cultivate excellent samskaras (good tendencies). That is why it becomes even more important to occasionally organize Bhagavad sabhas wherein glories of God are extolled. Encouraging children as well as the public to participate in it, leads to development of good tendencies within them all. In addition, good and healthy knowledge will sprout within them.

Children who are exposed to healthy stories will develop a desire to increase their stock of good traits. The term good traits do not refer merely to some merit that will be earned. Even to survive in this worldly life, possessing certain amount of good traits is essential. Children will imbibe such traits. Our scriptures (shastras) state that one should praise the good traits of even the enemy!

In Hanuman, good traits such as devotion towards the Lord (bhakti), attitude of sacrifice (tyaga, renunciation), adherence to the rules of righteousness (dharma), prowess and might (pratāpa), blessing others (anugraha) are in abundance. He possesses unlimited good traits. By glorifying His good traits the good traits within us begin to sprout. The beggar who begs from the rich man is sure to obtain some coins at least. If we go and beg a scholar he is sure to impart a little knowledge to us. Likewise if we sing glories of Hanuman some good traits of His will be imbibed by us! Just as the tiny worm imprisoned by the bumble transforms into a bumble bee, some of His qualities will be imbibed by us.

When we glorify the Lord, there is no further need to specifically pray to be blessed with good traits. It is automatically understood. With this intent, Sushena sought that in every birth he should be given a chance to ‘sing the glories of Hanuman’.

The third prayer of Sushena relates to Pāda seva i.e. offering service at the lotus feet of the Lord. One can offer service at the feet of the Lord only when the Lord permits. Without Hanuman’s grace and permission, it is impossible to even touch the feet of His idol. If so, then how difficult it will be to offer Him services?

Never underestimate an idol. An idol that has been properly consecrated breathes with life. It is wrong to treat it as a lifeless stone. We are able to concentrate and focus completely on that idol only because it is duly consecrated.

Our Lord Hanuman eternally serves the feet of Lord Rama. Hence He is not very keen that others should hold on to his feet when he himself is serving at Rama’s feet. As such not everyone can easily touch his feet. That is why Sushena explicitly begs for pāda seva in every birth of his. As this cannot happen without the Lord’s blessings He openly prays to the Lord to bless him with this chance in every birth.

Often, we say- O Lord, I offer obeisance at your feet. All these are in reality, mere verbal statements. We have not acquired the ability to hold on to the Lord’s feet. We should put in efforts and acquire this ability.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhāgavatam are all holy texts which contains messages for persons belonging to every stage of life. They dispel all the doubts that emerge in the hearts of every person. Such are His compositions!

The Supreme Lord, out of his limitless mercy and compassion towards his devotees, composed such sacred texts. Due to our intense devotion we believe that He underwent a lot of hardships during every incarnation. But in His (Lord’s) opinion, there were no hardships or difficulties of any kind.

The Lord incarnated as a fish, as a boar, as a turtle and many more. In each of these incarnations, he suffered and struggled. To save his devotee Prahlāda, he took birth from a pillar in a half-man and half animal form. He experienced unbearable agony in that strange body. He killed the demon and saved his devotee. In every story He teaches a new lesson which dispels our doubts.

Creation itself is very strange. In every incarnation he willingly took on so much pain and troubles. Recollecting all of them will cause the true devotee to turn emotional. Out of devotion, if a devotee thinks that the Lord underwent troubles and hardships, there is nothing wrong.

Each incarnation of His teaches a different lesson. It clarifies the different doubts that different people entertain. A deep lesson will be hidden behind every story. That is why it is essential to listen to such stories. Everyone should organize gatherings wherein the stories of the Almighty are explained. These are known as Bhagavad sabhas. They should listen and give everyone else a chance to listen to such stories.

It is very important to introduce children to listen to such stories relating to God. Children should be encouraged to sing songs that extol the glories of the Lord. They should be given a chance to enact the roles of the Divine on stage plays. It could be a trivial role but yet it will have a great impact on the mind. It is the best treasure that we can ever give them. They should be trained to sit and listen to such stories.

By praising the divine qualities that the Lord possesses, the good qualities within us multiply. To inculcate good qualities and traits it is very important to think about them and to glorify them.

Very often we come across people who constantly complain- ‘Oh, I do not get the required concentration. I do not somehow get the proper devotion (bhakti)’. The focus here is on driving away the bad or negative traits. This is like trying to forcibly push away the darkness inside. They do not understand that where there is light, there can be no darkness. Where there is knowledge, there cannot be ignorance. So instead of concentrating on what they do not have, they should focus on getting the right knowledge (bringing in light).

The bad habits and traits have settled down very deeply inside. They have completely enveloped the mind. There is no use in fighting with them every minute- ‘O bad habit, leave me, go away, go away’. Instead sow a good habit. When the good habit increases its grip, the bad habit has no place to sit and rest. It will have to go away and make way for the good habit. This is the correct approach.

Instead of this, people say that until they are totally pure and have rid themselves of all bad qualities and traits, they will not enter the sacred precincts. This will never ever happen. It is akin to waiting for all the waves in the ocean to recede before bathing. The waves will never cease and hence the person can never bathe.

Now there is another class of devotees. They say, “Ah! Let this difficulty pass away. After that I will wholeheartedly offer service to Lord and Guru”. The difficulties/desires in life will never cease and they can never ever go for seva. “O Swamiji, let me just get through this difficulty, that’s all. After that I am ready”. Remember that after one difficulty, another will begin to raise its head. The person should be willing to snap the ties with the difficulties. Some desires he should sacrifice. Some others, he should willingly disown. After joining the Lord’s service, the person should never even slightly regret his decision. He should not encourage others to even raise the topic about it.

To summarize today’s teachings- only when we praise or glorify good habits and traits we can inculcate them!

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

All the stories contained in our epics and Puranas such as Ramayana, Mahabharata etc. have the capacity to dispel all the doubts and confusions of the human race in each of the 4 Yugas (eons). The power to convey the right message to people across all the eons rests in these epics. For this reason, they are recollected even today. Lord Brahma himself declared that Ramayana will be in people’s memory for as long as the mountains, oceans, stars, Sun, Moon and rivers exist on earth. In such an eternal Ramayana, the story of Hanuman appears.

To a true devotee, the story of his Lord is always like nectar. ‘O Rama, nee naamame yenta ruchira’ (O Rama, what a lovely taste exists in your name) sang saint Ramadasa. One who has enjoyed the inherent taste that exists in chanting divine names will never give it up. The taste (ruchi) multiplies as the recitation increases. ‘Rama, Rama, Rama’ or ‘Hanuman, Hanuman, Hanuman’ as one continuously recites his joy only multiplies. Those who recite the glories of God as well as those who listen to it, both lose track of the time spent in it. Enraptured in singing the names of Vitthala- Vithala, Vithala, Vithala, Vithala…, devotees are oblivious to the passage of time.

An erroneous misconception that people entertain is that the stories of the Lord are to be heard only in old age and that too only for the sake of earning some merit (punya). The truth is that every child should be introduced to them right from infancy! Lessons required for every stage of life are contained in these epics. They contain some stories that are suitable for children; stories that are apt for the youth and some other stories which are for the aged. Take for example, the Mahabharata. It contains stories that are suitable for people from all stages and phases of life. Be it a yogi (saint) or a rogi (diseased), a youth (yuvaka), a king, a pauper or a poet every one can draw lessons from it. The traits and the characteristics of every human being have been incorporated into the characters of this epic. Hence every being can draw suitable inference from this epic.