May 2017 archive

Ruksharajasa has composed the next hymn of the Vanara gita-

Buddhirbalam yasho dhairyam nirbhayatva marogatā
Ajāḍyam vākpatutavancha Hanumat smaranāt bhavet.

Meaning- By merely remembering Hanuman, the person is blessed with good intellect and wisdom, strength, renown, courage, fearlessness, good health, agility and alertness in the intellect and excellent oratory skills.

These are the 8 essential traits of life.

Hence, remembering Hanuman is the need of the hour. By merely thinking about Hanuman, He will shower upon you all these good traits and qualities as mentioned in the hymn.

This is the most popular hymn among all hymns about Hanuman. The Vanara who composed this is Ruksharajasa. Reciting this hymn any number of times is a great penance. We should always remain indebted to Ruksharajasa, who blessed us with this all- powerful hymn. The eight traits mentioned in the hymn are the eight super-natural accomplishments.

Ruksharajasa was the Vānara emperor who raised the brothers Vali and Sugriva. It can be said that he was their father. This great personality was lucky to be associated with Hanuman right from the latter’s infancy. He noticed the unique capabilities in the little infant Hanuman and realized that this extra-ordinary child possessed the eight super-natural traits (ashta siddhi). It is essential to remember that within these super natural traits exhibited by Hanuman, there are many inherent hidden messages.

After the death of Ruksharajasa, Vali became the king of the Vanaras. Having understood the intellectual capacities, wisdom and cleverness of Hanuman, the brothers Vali and Sugriva appointed him as their minister. Later on, when problems cropped up between the brothers and Hanuman had to choose between them, He chose to support Sugriva, who was righteous (dharmic). At that critical juncture, he did not sway towards the unrighteous side (adharmic) even though power rested with Vali.

To Hanuman, Vali’s seniority, might and power were valueless when compared to righteousness (dharma). Hence He discarded Vali instantly. With his fine wisdom and maturity (buddhi), He guided the helpless Sugriva at every stage. Hanuman declared that He will stay wherever truth and righteousness prevail. Through His might and intellect He protected dharma. It is said that, in the end, when Vali lay dying, he sang hymns on Hanuman. He complimented Sugriva on having such an able and wise minister.

All of us are aware of the various obstacles faced by Hanuman when he was flying across the ocean. Using his sharp intellect and wisdom (buddhi) he successfully sailed through them. In tackling these obstacles on the path, he adopted varied techniques – he killed the demons, he expanded his size enormously when required and thereafter shrunk himself into an almost invisible state, he gave the respect that was due to some divine beings on the path and he amazed some others with his skills. Sundara Kanda of the Ramayana details all these feats and skills of Hanuman.

It is not possible to even remotely describe the extraordinary strength and the power contained within His body. Likewise, even his fame is limitless. At times we have praised his tail, at other times we have glorified the strength contained in his arms and in certain other situations, we have adored his face. In some other situations, we have glorified His compassionate eyes. We have profusely praised His heart, that has the images of Rama and Sita sealed within. Thus in so many varied ways, Hanuman’s glory is being brought out.

With his prowess he rattled the Ravana who lived in the skies. Likewise he also reduced to ashes Mayiravana who lived in the nether worlds.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Hanuman’s arms are tremendously powerful. Tulsidas, in his Hanuman chalisa, praises the Lord’s powerful arms through the verse- Mahaaveera vikrama bajarangi. 

It is impossible to describe the strength that exists within those arms. During the battle with Shatakanṭa Ravana, he lifted the brothers Rama and Lakshmaṇa on his mighty shoulders all the way from earth to high up in the skies! Just this incident gives us an insight into the power stored within those arms!

Devotees of Hanuman find His face appealing and peaceful. To the wicked, however, his sharp teeth resemble thunderbolts (diamond weapon that sharply cuts through) thereby instilling great fear. During the war, the sight of his fearsome teeth frightened en masse many demons and caused them to faint. Such mass fainting took place in the vanara army only when the demons used the powerful weapon Brahmastra.

Countless demons were crushed under Hanuman’s tail. With his arms he smashed limitless demons against trees. Many more were hurled against mountains and killed, and an infinite number were thrown into the ocean and crushed under his feet. In this manner, in his universal form, he destroyed hordes of demons.

The face that caused the demons to simply collapse out of fright appeared absolutely calm and peaceful to the Vānaras. The demons found this face fearsome. Sinners and those who do not adhere to dharma (rules of righteous living) find it impossible to look into Hanuman’s face.

Many persons avoid looking into Sadguru’s face. They shy away from it. The reason being they have sinned. Their sin deters them from looking into the Guru’s face or even from having the darshan of his feet. There is no expiation for such sins. Such persons find his face very fearsome.

Hanuman’s mother Anjana Devi, was a great ascetic and a great saint. Forced by circumstances, Maharishi Goutama cursed his sons Vali and Sugriva to turn into monkeys. Vali in turn cursed his elder sister Anjana to turn into a monkey. Without any grievance, Anjana adopted quickly to the new life as a monkey. She led a very pious life. Adhering to Sage Narada’s advice, her father Maharishi Goutama gave her in adoption to the Vanara king Kunjara. Kunjara in turn gave her in marriage to the Vanara by name Kesari.

Anjana was initially a Gandharva (celestial being) maiden by the name Sukanya. In her next birth she was born as a woman by name Sadhvi. In this birth she performed intense penance. Sadhvi was re-born as Anjana. To understand the janma rahasya (secrets behind the birth) it is essential to dig back into the past lives. When the present experience is seen in isolation, it appears puzzling, funny or queer. It creates many doubts. However, it is from such doubts that profound messages appear. Ultimately, they clarify our doubts. For this reason, in the character of every deity, the past births and stories are detailed.

Here, through the knowledge of the past births of Anjana Devi, we understand the extent of penance that she performed. In this birth, even after transforming into a Vānara, Anjana performed intense penance and procured the grace of Lord Shiva. With steadfast determination she continued her penance. She consumed the fruit containing the luster of Shiva and thus with the blessings of the Lord of Wind (vayu), she gave birth to Lord Hanuman. No sooner was He born, than He, considering the Sun as a fruit, flew up to catch it. All these incidents are inter-twined. Any amount of explanations that are given for these incidents seem insufficient.

Vanara Gaja offers his prayers to Anjana Devi who was such an elevated and profound being.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

The next hymn is composed by Vanara Gaja-

Tanov vāla-paśaha pitā pārvatīśaha
Sphurat bāhudanḍō mukhē vajradaṃṣṭra
Satī ca anjana yasya matā tatonyam
Na jāne na jāne na jāne na jāne.

Meaning- I do not know any other God except the mighty Lord Hanuman who retains in his body a tail that is as powerful as a noose; who has Lord Shiva himself as his father; who possesses mighty arms that glow with limitless radiance; who has teeth that are as razor-sharp as a thunderbolt and has Anjana devi as his mother.

Through this hymn, the Vānara by name Gaja emphatically re-iterates that he does not know anyone apart from Hanuman. Towards this, the phrase ‘na jāne’ is repeated four times. ‘Everywhere and in everyone I can see only Hanuman. Hanuman has enveloped the entire surroundings. I see no one but him everywhere’ is the essence behind this hymn.

The tail assumes a unique significance in Hanuman’s form. It is said that just seeing and touching the tail in Hanuman’s idol is enough to drive away all sorrows.  It frees the being from all forms of bondages. Such bondages are the noose within which the being is trapped. Hanuman shreds these bondages amongst his devotees.

At the same time, Hanuman holds within his noose-like tail, the wicked and evil minded persons who are his enemies. This tail also traps the enemies of those devotees of his, who ardently worship his tail. The tail tightens itself around such wicked beings and swallows them in totality. For this reason, Gaja compares Hanuman’s tail to the noose held by Yama (Lord of death). There is no escape from this noose-like tail of Hanuman. It can be said that it wields even more power than the Brahmastra.

It was this tail that drove away Sita’s grief in entirety! Hanuman did not do anything; it was his tail that showed its might and achieved complete success. When Hanuman, in the form of a little monkey, appeared in the Ashoka Vana where Sita was held captive, Mother Sita at first sighted the tail that was hanging down from the branches of the tree. From then on, the tail assumed full responsibility of driving away her grief. The moment this tail was torched with fire, it burnt down the entire city of Lanka.

Mother Sita fervently prayed to the Lord of Fire –‘O Lord, please protect my son Hanuman. After all, He is also your grandson. Please ensure his safety’. She prayed in many such ways. This tail ensured that every demon in Lanka was grieving. It transferred the sorrow of the Divine Mother Sita to these demons. The greatness of this tail is such that many ardent worshippers of Hanuman worship only his tail.

Hanuman killed another form of Ravana known as Shata kanta Ravana (100 faced Ravana). In this war with Shata kanta Ravana, Hanuman stood on His tail. The tail grew in size and from the earth, it reached the skies. It enveloped the entire creation. Using this tail as a ladder, all the Vānaras climbed up.

Anjaneya is born out of an aspect of Lord Shiva and hence is known as ‘Shivāmsha sambhoota’. He is also addressed as son of Lord Shiva. By addressing him in this manner, the traits of Shiva that exist within him are being highlighted. Bound by the order of Lord Shiva, the Lord of Wind handed over the fruit containing the radiance of Shiva to Anjana Devi, who was seated in intense penance. While in penance she would daily consume one such fruit. Thus Anjaneya, with the complete radiance of Lord Shiva was born to her. Anjaneya was ayonija (not born in the ordinary course through the womb of the mother).

Obeisance to that holy Lord who possesses such a powerful tail!

Due to the effect of the Brahmastra, other prominent Vānara warriors such as Angada, Jambavanta, Neela and Sugriva were rendered motionless even though they were alive. They were absolutely distressed upon seeing the plight of Rama and Lakshmaṇa. In their uncontainable grief, they too fell into a swoon. The weapon had only rendered them immobile; their grief however caused them to periodically lose their consciousness.

Addressing these warriors Vibhishana (brother of Ravana) said-‘Great heroes. Do not panic. Do not grieve that Rama and Lakshmaṇa have fallen unconscious. To show their respect to Lord Brahma, they have willingly fallen unconscious with the Brahmastra’.

On that pitch dark night, Hanuman and Vibhishana carried fire torches in their hand and went all over the battlefield searching for the Vānara warriors. They spent the whole night carrying the warriors back to the camp, consoling and reassuring them.

At one spot, Vibhishana located the great hero Jambhavanta. Even in that immobile state wherein he could barely speak, Jambavanta asked Vibhishana,- “Is Hanuman alive?” This brings out Jambavanta’s faith in Hanuman, which is – ‘For us to win the war, it is sufficient if just Hanuman remains alive. Singlehandedly he will bring us victory.’ He did not want any other reassurance or consolation from Vibhishana. He continued-‘Do not worry about me. Leave me here itself. Please tell me if Hanuman is alive’.

Expressing his astonishment, Vibhishana asked, “Sir, is it not strange that you enquire about Hanuman instead of enquiring about the welfare of Rama and Lakshmaṇa?” To this Jambavanta said, “Vibhishana, if Hanuman is alive, not only will we all remain alive but also all the dead soldiers will be brought back to life. You will see this happening shortly. On the other hand, if just Hanuman is absent, the combined force of all the other Vānara warriors will be of no use. We will fare miserably. Even collectively we cannot win the war.”

Jambavanta then called Hanuman and asked him to fetch a herb from the Himalayan range so that Rama and Lakshmana could be revived. During the war, Hanuman fetched the mountain twice, of which this was the first. Hanuman flew up to the Himalayas and returned back with the entire mountain in hand. The herb Sanjivani, which was plucked from this mountain, restored back to life 67 crore dead warriors, in addition to restoring Rama and Lakshmaṇa back to consciousness.

Flying up to this remote part of the Himalayan range is itself a complex task, especially if one has to travel both up and down on the same night. Added to this, Hanuman had to brave the many obstacles that came on his path during his onward journey. Further, Hanuman could not even locate the herb on the mountain. At last, he decided to carry the entire mountain itself to the battlefield. He carried the entire mountain just on one palm!

Even the photo of Hanuman carrying the mountain on his palm amazes us. It looks so fearful. We doubt whether it is a fact or a fiction. Wasn’t this an unimaginable achievement? It was immaterial whether Rama and Lakshmaṇa willingly fell unconscious or not. However once they were completely unconscious, they needed to be revived.

May Lord Hanuman who is thus being praised by Dharmaka and Jambavanta, protect us!

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Vanara Dharmaka states-

Sapta-ṣaśṭir hatān koti vānarānām tarasvinām
Ya sanjīvana yāmāsa tam vande mārutātmajam.

Meaning- I bow in reverence to that great Vanara hero, Hanuman, who brought the Sanjeevani herb and brought back to life 67 crore strong Vanaras who were lying dead in the battlefield.

Aha! Each great Vānara warrior, through his hymn, showers limitless praise upon Hanuman. It can be said that the entire life story of Hanuman is being brought out through these compositions.

67 crore vanaras could be revived just by the smell of the Sanjivani herb! The next logical question would be-‘why couldn’t the smell of this herb bring back to life the dead demons as well?’ It is true that the demons could not be revived. This was because Ravana had given stringent instructions that the body of any demon who dies in the battle should be disposed off into the ocean instantly. The number of dead demons should not be countable. He did not want Rama to know how many demons had died in battle. The bodies that were being thrown into the ocean instantly became the food for the animals inhabiting the ocean. How then could they be revived?

During the war, Indrajit, the son of Ravana, began to fearfully strike Sugriva’s army with fierce weapons. He was invincible in war. Using the powerful weapon Brahmastra, he wiped out crores of vanaras. Rama who was watching this, called Lakshmana and said-‘Indrajit is waging a ferocious war. Due to the boon received from Brahma, he has made himself invisible and is striking our army with his Brahmastra. We cannot attack him when he is invisible. Therefore, let us stand here in the battlefield in a composed manner and allow the weapons to pierce us.  For the time being, give up your anger as well as your desire to fight. Let us pretend to have fallen in a swoon due to the effect of the Brahmastra. Seeing us unconscious, Indrajit will be under the illusion that he is victorious. He will make himself visible and will leave the battlefield”. This was Rama’s strategy.

Our ancient Puranas contain innumerable stories wherein Brahma gives away very powerful boons to the demons. It also appears to us that such boons eventually land Brahma in trouble. However, it should be noted that all these happen as per God’s will. The events are pre-destined. Brahma has to give away these seemingly invincible boons to the demons, the Lord has to incarnate as a result of these boons and through that incarnation the Lord has to destroy these demons. All these three steps are inter-twined. Indrajit likewise had the boon from Brahma due to which he could become invisible. Using this boon, he began to strike the helpless vanaras from various directions.

Rama and Lakshmana fell into a swoon. Whether this was the effect of the Brahmastra or whether they did this due to their will, has been retained as a secret in Ramayana. This is also a debated topic. If it is said that Rama and Lakshmaṇa fell into a swoon due to the effect of the Brahmastra, then people question- how could the brothers, who were incarnation of the supreme, be affected by a Brahmastra? If it is argued that they did not allow the Brahmastra to affect them, then the question that props up is – how can the all-powerful Brahmastra be rendered ineffective? Now, from the conversation between the two brothers we clearly understand that they pretended to be in a swoon.  Indrajit’s response was exactly as predicted by Rama, and in great elation Indrajit returned back home.

Due to the effect of the Brahmastra, other prominent Vānara warriors such as Angada, Jambavanta, Neela and Sugriva were rendered motionless even though they were alive.