June 2017 archive

The Vanara by name Pṛdhuvu praises Hanuman in the following manner-

Dāta dāpayitās caiva lokānām rakṣaka stadhā

Preraka chhānumodasca  kartā bhoktā kapīsvaraḥ.

Meaning- Kapīswara Hanuman is the Lord who bestows everything. He is the cause behind everything given. He is the protector of the all the planes of existence. He is the one who encourages the performance of good deeds. It is he who performs good deeds and it is he who experiences the resultant fruits of the deeds.

Isn’t this hymn helpful to the true spiritual aspirant in his sadhana (practices)?

The person performing the deed, the person who ensures the performance of the deed, the person who instigates the performance of the deed as well as the person who derives enjoyment from the deed, all of them share the good as well as bad results of that action in equal proportions!

The yajamana (person who performs the sacrificial Yagna), and all the people supporting him, obtain equal share in the results of the Yagna. It is therefore very essential to exercise full caution.

The person who has reached the pinnacle of devotion sees God in everyone and in everything. This hymn brings out the perception and feelings of such devotee.

While fulfilling all the desires of the devotees, Hanuman additionally motivates them towards seeking Self-realization. In other words, Hanuman does not limit himself to fulfilling the desires of the devotees. He creates in them a desire to acquire Self-realization.

Hanuman is being praised in this hymn as ‘dāpayita’. It means that when a devotee is in distress, Hanuman uses the help of another (third party) as a medium and through him drives away the distress of the devotee. For example, many times important lessons are imparted to people not directly, but through the medium of another human being. The Supreme Lord does not directly descend from heaven. Instead he motivates some beings for the completion of his tasks. There are many examples of this.

It is Hanuman who protects all the planes of existence in entirety. He encourages the performance of good deeds. Not everybody is lucky to possess a good intellect that pushes him or her to perform good deeds. In reality it is extremely difficult to get the inclination and wisdom to perform good deeds. Hanuman causes such good intellect to sprout in the individual. Seeing people perform good deeds, gives Him immeasurable happiness. For every good task performed, the devotee should learn to attribute it to the Lord- ‘It is he who has performed it and it is he who has motivated me to perform this’. This is true bhakti.

It is wrong to apply this principle of attribution to sinful deeds. ‘O God, You are the motivating force behind everything. Hence You instigated me to perform this evil deed. You are responsible for it’. This is a perverse way of argument where the argument is driven purely for the sake of winning in it. Such attitude when demonstrated in sinful deeds reflects demonic traits. The demons discard the good motivation received from the Lord and continue to cling towards the evil. They then say that it was God who motivated them towards the evil.

The Lord has motivated countless demons to undertake good deeds. Following this, most of them have transformed into saints and yogis. Prahlada is the good example of this. Although Prahlada was born in the clan of demons, through constant recollection of God’s names and God’s deeds, he turned out to be a great saint.

Let us, for argument sake, assume that it is really God who instigates the person towards evil deeds. Even then, the realization that the deed is sinful exists within the person, does it not? He participates in the deed with this complete realization. It is the past karma that drives him towards it. When a person willfully undertakes a deed, knowing fully well it is sinful in nature, then on what basis can he hold God responsible for it? It is demonic behaviour. Destruction is the punishment that is meted out for demonic behaviour. In other words, it means ‘teaching a lesson’.

Nā ham bhokta– is a Vedic verse which means, I am not the one who is enjoying the fruits of the action. Attaining this realization is said to be of utmost importance in philosophy of non-dualism (advaita). ‘I am only the performer of the action. It is the Supreme Lord who enjoys of the resultant fruit of this good action” is the meaning implied in this verse. As discussed before, this is applicable for good deeds alone.

Lord Rama is Puruśa (Self). Mother Sita is Nature (Prakriti). Hanuman is the Prana-shakti (life or vital energy). With Hanuman’s help, Rama and Sita were rendered courageous. They could then fulfill their dharmic duties and emerge totally victorious.

Lord Hanuman resides within us in the form of the life-force (prana shakti).  Supreme Knowledge and Yoga are obtained by the person who meditates upon Hanuman Such person is also relieved from these sorrows caused due to the unending cycle of re-births together with all its bondages.

Anjaneya namastubhyam samsārārṇava tārakah

Prasīda jagatām nātha deva deva namostute

The Vanara by name Ŗṣabha states-

 Karuṇārasa poorṇāya jagadānanda hetave

Kukṣisthākila lokāya Hanumat brahmaṇe namah.

Meaning-  I offer obeisance to Lord Hanuman, who is abounding with the feelings of compassion (karunārasa), who is the cause for the bliss (ananda) enjoyed by this entire universe, who retains all the planes of existence within his stomach and who is none other than Lord Brahma.

For this kalpa (period of 4.32 billion earth years) the four-faced Brahma is the creator. Hanuman will take on this position as Brahma in the next creation (kalpa). Vanara Ŗṣabha therefore offers his salutations to Hanumad Brahma.

Hanuman’s intellect and mind eternally overflow only with feelings of compassion. Apart from compassion there is no other thought in his mind. His heart bleeds when he sees any of his devotees suffering. He stays by the side of such devotees and takes trouble to drive their difficulties.

The mind has been compared to a rock. Just as a rock gradually dissolves with the force of flowing water, a rock-like mind melts under the feelings of compassion. Water is therefore compared to flow of compassion. Our scriptures declare that total dissolution of mind is itself liberation.

Hanuman has been praised here as the ‘cause’ behind the bliss enjoyed by all the planes of existence. Why is it so?

Lord Rama, is in reality none other than the Supreme Lord. Hence He is an embodiment of bliss. The traits of the Supreme Lord are Sat (eternal), Cit (Pure Consciousness, knowledge) and Ananda (bliss). All these various planes of existence derive bliss from His bliss. By driving away the sorrows of this Supreme Lord Rama, Hanuman brought bliss to Him. He also brought bliss to the universal mother Sita. Thus he showered bliss on that Supreme Lord, who himself is an embodiment of bliss. For this reason Hanuman has been bestowed the title ‘Jagadānanda Kāraka’ (the cause for the bliss enjoyed by the entire creation).

At one point of time, when serpents who reside in Nāga-loka were lacking peace, the Serpent-Gods invited Hanuman to their plane. By his mere presence they secured bliss. Similarly, the mere arrival of Hanuman brought about happiness in the entire Brahma-loka. When Hanuman arrived in the lower planetary system called Patala to kill Demon Mayiravana, some demons residing there derived great bliss upon seeing him. They transformed into saints. Hanuman did not kill all the demons in Patala. He spared the noble ones! Such major transformation could take place merely by his darshan!

We have discussed earlier that Hanuman is a partial aspect of Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva consumed the Halahala poison, His consort, Goddess Gowri, pressed His throat tightly with her hand. “Why are you squeezing my throat in this manner?” asked the Lord. To this, the Divine Mother replied, “O Lord, all the planes of existence exist within your stomach. If this poison travels to your stomach, the living beings therein will suffer.” Therefore, Hanuman, who is an aspect of Shiva, also holds this entire creation within His abdomen.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Sorrows cannot exist where Hanuman exists. This single factor ensured that Sugriva, who had completely placed his faith in Hanuman, could be eternally happy and peaceful even amidst hostile surroundings. Vali, the brother of Sugriva was a demon of unconquerable might. Added to this, he was also an expert conjurer. Using illusory tricks he could have in some way or the other killed Sugriva. It was only due to the presence of Hanuman by his side that Sugriva remained alive. Had Hanuman not been around, surely Sugriva would have met his end in the hands of his brother Vali.

Having Hanuman by his side brought about all auspiciousness to Sugriva. It was Hanuman who ensured his friendship with Lord Rama. This in turn led to his becoming the king and enjoying the luxuries of kingship.

When He first saw Hanuman Rama, the omniscient Lord, understood that it was an auspicious turn in life. He realized that His life would now take a turn for the good. From that very moment, every event in the life of Rama turned out to be auspicious. Every day was a special day.

The team led by crown prince Angada was ordered to go in the southern direction in search of Mother Sita. Hanuman was also a member of this team. Rama had implicit faith that Hanuman would accomplish his task and would thus come back with the good news. In the presence of numerous mighty Vanara leaders, Rama especially called Hanuman and gave him a ring with the specific instructions that it should be handed over only to Sita. There were many warriors who were senior to Hanuman in that congregation. Yet, if Rama chose Hanuman, what faith He would have had in Hanuman? Specifying that the ring be handed over to Sita, implies that Rama already knew the whereabouts of Sita.

Upon sighting the majestic and mighty ocean in front of them, Angada’s team realized that they had hit a dead end. Needless to say they were totally dejected and began to lament loudly. They feared Sugriva would kill them for failing in the mission. Just dying at the hands of their king was not so worrisome. The fact that Sugriva would mercilessly torture and kill them was very dejecting. So they concluded that it was better to die by the banks of the ocean than returning home unsuccessfully.

At this critical juncture, Hanuman, with the intention of re-assuring and motivating his team members, proved his might by simply shaking his tail. Just this was greatly reassuring to the others. ‘Why do you grieve when I am around? Just see the feats that I can achieve with my tail-’ saying this he hit the ocean once with his tail. The power of his tail was such that the ocean receded vastly for invisible lengths. The dried up bottom of the ocean was clearly visible to everyone present there. ‘If Hanuman’s tail can accomplish such a major task, then how wondrous would be the feats that Hanuman can accomplish?’ Thinking thus, the Vanaras were greatly enthused. They shed all their fears. Hanuman assured them that he would cross the mighty ocean in a jiffy. He could also carry them and fly, he said.

Anyway, events in life have to take place in the orderly manner. After this, several events took place. In the presence of all the Vanaras, while listening to all their praises and victory slogans, Hanuman playfully crossed the ocean. Hanuman has been cursed to recollect his Universal form and grow enormously only when others praise Him. At all other times, he cannot remember it. As the Vanaras continuously praised and sand his glories, Hanuman began to grow enormously. He showed them His complete universal form and flew to Lanka. Here, it appears that, by singing His praises, the Vanaras helped Him recollect his capacities in entirety. For every praise, he grew by one foot.

Thus Hanuman not only brought cheer to the Vanaras but also to Rama, Sita and to the 330 crores Devatas as well. By handing over Rama’s ring to Sita and Sita’s jewel choodamani to Rama, He breathed life into both of them. He brought brightness & joy to the eyes of Rama and Lakshmana, who had been weeping for months.

Rama was the Supreme Lord’s incarnation as a human being. In this form, He enacted the role of a human being in totality to such an extent that He wept profusely for months at stretch for Sita. All this is maya (illusion). Did He not know where exactly Sita was? But for having incarnated as a human being He acted like one. He did not think of himself as the Supreme Lord. Hanuman brought joy to Rama who was thus grieving.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Dadhimukha ran to Sugriva complaining about the damage that the Vanaras had caused to his garden. Sugriva could not control his happiness upon learning of these developments. Addressing Dadhimukha, an ecstatic Sugriva said- “No one can enter this garden that has been gifted by Lord Brahma himself. If Hanuman has been able to gain entry into it, it is confirmed that he has successfully completed Rama’s mission”.

Thus, Hanuman’s actions were an intimation of the good news that was to shortly arrive! It was now confirmed that Mother Sita had been located. The vast garden Madhuvana, consisted of thousands of bonsai plants and was secretly tucked away in a valley between two mountains. Bonsai plants existed even in that period of time. Hanuman was very well aware that this garden belonged to Lord Brahma and hence it should not be trespassed into. Yet, if He had entered the garden, it was obvious that in the elation of having been successful, he had done so. Sugriva consoled Dadhimukha in many ways. He said – “Did you presume them to be ordinary Vanaras? If so, you are mistaken”.

After this incident Dadhimukha found out in detail the astonishing accomplishments of Hanuman. He realized that Hanuman was a divine energy and from then on Dadhimukha developed feelings of devotion towards Hanuman. He emerged a great devotee of Hanuman. He felt remorseful that he stopped Hanuman from entering the garden. All the great saints present there extolled the greatness of Hanuman. Dadhimukha realized the truth in the words of the great seers that there is no God greater than Hanuman. With a view that this message should reach one and all, Dadhimukha composed this hymn.

Sudhamstra, the Vanara, glorifies Hanuman in the following hymn-

Mangaḷam hanumannityam mangaḷam kapi pungava

Mangaḷam cānjana sūnno mangalam raghavapriya.

Meaning-  May Hanuman be eternally auspicious! O hero of the Vanaras, may you be eternally auspicious. O son of Ajnana, may auspiciousness always come to you! O darling of Rama, may you emerge auspicious at all times!

Mental impurities are totally washed out in those who ardently worship Hanuman. Peace reigns in them. New enthusiasm sprouts within them. As Hanuman is none other than Karyasiddhi Hanuman, tasks taken up after offering Him due worship always turn out to be successful.

The mental tensions and sorrows of both Rama and Lakshmana vanished the moment they met Hanuman, for the first time, on the banks of the River Pampa. They felt greatly reassured that their task would be successfully completed. All this could happen just by seeing the complete form of Hanuman! Lakshmana said to Rama, “Dear brother, our troubles and sorrows have all ended. We will emerge successful.” Rama and Lakshmana experienced profound mental peace.

It was the association with Hanuman that bestowed Sugriva with peace and auspiciousness. Sugriva could remain alive even when his enmity with brother Vali was at its peak solely due to Hanuman’s grace.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.