Category: Vanara Gita

The next hymn is composed by the Vānara Gavaya –
āmishī kṛta mārtānḍam goshpadīkṛta sāgaram
Truni kṛta dasagrīvam  ānjaneyam namāmyaham.
Meaning- I bow to Lord Anjaneya, who tried to gulp down the Sun as if it were a small edible snack; who crossed the vast ocean as easily and playfully as if it were a tiny puddle holding an ounce of water and in whose opinion the 10-headed demon Ravana was as insignificant as a blade of grass.

Goshpadi is the cow’s hoof mark found in the soil. At the maximum, an ounce or two of rain water can collect within this. Hanuman playfully crossed the vast ocean as if he was crossing a goshpadi.

Gavaya was a Vanara king of another land, who joined hands with Rama and Sugriva in their war against Ravana. Through this strange hymn he brings out the glory of Hanuman.

This is a very popular hymn. Those who have not heard of it earlier should also learn and recite it regularly. This hymn summarizes the entire story of Hanuman and the entire story contained in Sundara Kanda.

Tulsidas in his Hanuman Chalisa states- Yuga sahasra yojana para bhanu, leelyo taahi madhura phala jaanoo. It means-‘O Lord, You considered the Sun, which was billions of miles away, as a fruit and tried to reach it. This act led to your being blessed with the name Hanuman’. Swamiji has translated this Hanuman Chalisa into Telugu with the meaning intact and quite a few recite it regularly in Telugu.

There are two versions of the story of Hanuman trying to catch the Sun. One version states that little Hanuman, saw the glowing Sun and assuming it to be a fruit rushed to grasp it and in the process was hit by Lord Indra’s thunderbolt. The other story is that Anjaneya saw the small rising Sun and assuming it to be a fruit, put it in his mouth and this led him to be hit by Indra’s thunderbolt.

It is immaterial whether he simply grasped the Sun or put it in his mouth. The truth is that this action of his subsequently caused him to be hit by Lord Indra’s thunderbolt. Due to the impact of the blow, Anjaneya’s jaws swelled up enormously. At that point of time He was bestowed with the name Hanuman.

‘Hanu’ means large jaws. The one who possesses large, enormous jaws is known as Hanuman. The other meaning behind the name ‘Hanu’ is knowledge (jnana). Hanuman thus means one who is proficient in all forms of knowledge. Thus from both these angles, this name is aptly suited to Him.

If even to fly up to the Sun requires tremendous courage, trying to catch and eat the Sun requires unimaginable power and strength, does it not? We do not even possess the capacity to gaze directly at the Sun. Therefore, this act of Anjaneya, trying to gobble the Sun, led to his limitless fame. This incident of his childhood days had no witness.

Rama, who desired that his devotee’s greatness should come to the limelight, created a suitable opportunity by ensuring Hanuman crosses the ocean. Through accomplishment of this unimaginable task, Hanuman’s greatness and glory became well known. The actions of Rama and Hanuman reflect their wonderful traits and attitude. They bring out the deep essence hidden within them. Hanuman sought that his Lord Rama should kill Ravana and subsequently be credited with endless fame. Rama wanted his devotee Hanuman to cross the ocean and be blessed with eternal fame.

If Rama willed, could He not have crossed the ocean on his own? Could He not have used his magical powers to carry the entire army of Vanaras across the ocean? Here He used this opportunity to bring out to the world the greatness hidden within Hanuman.

The following is the prayer offered by Vānara Sarabha-

Bhoumasya vāsare pujā  kartavyāḥ hanumatprabhuḥ
Bhave tsa suchihi ayu srīhi  putra mitra kalatravān. 

Meaning- Hanuman should be worshipped on Tuesdays. He who does so, will be rewarded with purity and cleanliness (suchi), longevity (ayu), prosperity, good children, good friends and a good spouse.

Hanuman is worshipped on Saturdays too. While that is also an accepted practice, worship on Tuesdays assumes a very great significance. Tuesday is his favorite day.

Lord Sun should be worshipped on Sundays, Lord Shiva on Mondays, Ganapati and Hanuman on Tuesdays, Maha Vishnu should be worshipped on Wednesdays, Lord Dakshinamurty as well as the Sadguru on Thursdays and the Supreme Mother on Fridays. On Saturday, Lord Shani (Shaneswar) should be worshipped. To get relief from Shani peeda (problems caused by the Planet Saturn), prayers should also be offered to Hanuman on Saturdays. This is a tradition coming down the ages.

Bhoumavara stands for Tuesday. Tuesdays are often considered inauspicious for beginning any new task. Worship of God renders the inauspicious as auspicious. Hanuman is an auspicious God. His form, his story as well as repetition of his name renders everything auspicious.

Just as bathing cleanses the body of its dirt, reciting the names of God washes away all the inauspiciousness that envelops us. Many people do not attempt even these little prayers. Just take a bath and with a pure heart, light an incense stick near the Lord’s photo. Say the hymns that you know. Instead of hymns, you can also say the Hanuman mantra- ‘Om Namo Hanumate Namaha’ for 108 times. Thereafter get ready and leave for work as usual. I assure you that auspiciousness will pervade that place. The small tensions that are there in your life will slowly untangle. All your family members will be healthy, happy and peaceful.

To acquire health and peace, it is essential that the family deity (Kula daiva) should be thought of and worshipped. It is not enough to keep God’s photo in the house. Can’t you even do this little service to God? Can you not sit in japa for even 10 minutes?

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Ravana spoke fearful, dirty, shameful and unworthy words to Sita in order to provoke her to marry him. Such unholy words should not be spoken to a chaste woman (pativrata).

Sita was upset and watching her cry caused Hanuman great agony. It was a heart rendering scene. Ravana’s appalling behavior angered Hanuman enormously so much so that he was tempted to kill Ravana that very instant. Hanuman was positioned on the very same tree, beneath which Sita was sitting. Hanuman was in a very advantageous position. One leap from that tree and he would land straight on Ravana’s head. With his might, Hanuman could simply hit the fatal blow and kill Ravana then and there. Yet, with great restraint Hanuman controlled himself. Instead he desired to see the grandeur of Ravana’s court and assess his might and thus resisted from killing him.

Through various tricks Hanuman managed to enter Ravana’s court. Here once again when Ravana spoke very low of Rama and used unworthy words, Hanuman was tempted to choke Ravana’s throat then and there. This was another great opportunity. Once again he used great restraint and controlled himself.

He recollected that his Lord Rama was an incarnation of the Supreme and that He had taken a human form solely for the elimination of the demons. He thought, ‘When this is the purpose behind the incarnation, why should I take up this task? Of what use will it be if I kill Ravana? Ravana should die exclusively at the hands of Lord Rama. With that, Rama’s incarnation would be complete. Moreover, Rama had taken on a pledge that He will kill Ravana. If I kill Ravana now, I will be betraying my master. I should take all the steps to ensure that my master successfully accomplishes His pledge. I am a servant of that master. He is my Lord, my master. Hence I should leave this task for my master. This is my master’s dharma, not mine’. With such thoughts Hanuman let go of the multiple opportunities he had through which he could kill Ravana.

Through Mainda’s prayer earlier, we have learnt that Hanuman considered himself as Rama (from the point of view of the Supreme Self). With this energy of Rama, he could easily destroy Ravana. Destroying Ravana along with his army was like a child’s play to him.

While singing the glories of Rama in Ravana’s court, Hanuman said to Ravana- ‘O Ravana, my army of Vānaras and I possess the capacity to easily kill even 1000 demons of your might and size. Forget fighting with Lord Rama, you will be finished much before that. Rama or myself can single- handedly destroy all of you completely. Even one strand of hair plucked from the body of any Vānara has the capacity to wipe out the entire demon race as each and every hair in their body vibrates with the name of Rama. In just about 10 minutes I can create ample destruction in this court.  But yet, abiding by my dharma, I am leaving you alive. I seek that you should meet your end in the hands of my Lord”.

Hanuman’s greatness lies in this. Even while possessing the ability to kill Ravana, he did not do so. He believed that he was just a servant and in that sense, he did not seek the fame associated with it. He whole heartedly believed that this fame should go to his master. He wanted to do all that it takes for his master to be rewarded with this glory. He believed that this glory and fame was rightfully Rama’s.

In the war that took place afterwards, Rama and Lakshmana killed all the demons and obtained great fame.

Om Namo Hanumate namaha.

Dividha, another Vānara has glorified Lord Hanuman as-

Ramadīnām raṇe khyātim dātum yo rāvaṇādikān
Nāvadhī tu svaya may vaika tam vande hanumatprabhum.     

Meaning- I pay obeisance to Lord Hanuman, who, although single handedly possessed the ability to destroy Demon Ravana together with his entire army, refrained from doing so purely with the intent that the glory of killing Ravana should go to his master Rama and his associates.

Vividha was a very great Vānara warrior very closely associated with Hanuman. As such he scrutinized and observed Hanuman from a very close angle and was aware of the valor and the capacities of Hanuman completely. He knew that only Hanuman could accomplish tasks such as crossing the ocean; having darshan of Mother Goddess Sita in Lanka, and thereafter returning successfully.

Ordinary people may wonder why Hanuman, who possessed such unsurpassed might, did not destroy Ravana and Lanka when he reached there in search of Sita. He could have easily killed Ravana and brought Sita back, when he possessed such inherent capacity. In the earlier episode, we discussed that at one point, Hanuman too felt like killing Ravana and rescuing Sita.

Hanuman, who was hiding in the trees of Ashoka Vana, trying to understand the situation, saw Ravana arriving there together with hordes of demonesses in the morning. Thunderous noise followed by loud welcoming slogans greeted Ravana upon his arrival. Ravana spoke fearful, dirty, shameful and unworthy words to Sita in order to provoke her to marry him. Such unholy words should not be spoken to a chaste woman (pativrata).

Sita was upset and watching her cry caused Hanuman great agony. It was a heart rendering scene. Ravana’s appalling behavior angered Hanuman enormously so much so that he was tempted to kill Ravana that very instant. Hanuman was positioned on the very same tree, beneath which Sita was sitting. Hanuman was in a very advantageous position. One leap from that tree and he would land straight on Ravana’s head. With his might, Hanuman could simply hit the fatal blow and kill Ravana then and there. Yet, with great restraint Hanuman controlled himself. Instead he desired to see the grandeur of Ravana’s court and assess his might and thus resisted from killing him.

Through various tricks Hanuman managed to enter Ravana’s court. Here once again when Ravana spoke very low of Rama and used unworthy words, Hanuman was tempted to choke Ravana’s throat then and there. This was another great opportunity. Once again he used great restraint and controlled himself.