Category: Vanara Gita

Dharma should be protected with utmost compassion (daya). In the pretext of protecting dharma, it is wrong to get angry and impose harsh punishments for trivial faults. It is wrong to wage war for petty reasons. Peace is a very important pre-requisite for establishing dharma (righteousness). Hanuman preached Gavākṣa about peace.

Our dharma preaches that we should adhere to the ‘path of the elders’. This does not mean we should keep following the elders wherever they go. It means we should follow and practice the same rules of dharma (righteousness) as was practised by them. We should obey them.

Hanuman accepted Rama, who was a personification of dharma, as his Lord and completely surrendered to Him. Undergoing a lot of pain he went to Lanka in search of Sita. Seeing the pitiable state of Sita, his heart writhed in pain and in that moment of anger, he wanted to kill the demon Ravana. Yet recollecting his dharma, he stopped short of killing Ravana. He was careful not to transgress his limits as per the dharma. He wanted to meet Ravana in person and hence did all he could to reach Ravana’s court.

Hanuman was powerful enough to kill Ravana together with his entire troops. Yet, he spared him, as it would be against the rules of righteousness for him to kill Ravana. He knew that Lord Rama held dharma in the highest esteem. Hanuman did not want to do any act that would cause even the slightest pain to his Lord.

In Lanka, Hanuman was merely a messenger. It is wrong for a messenger to wage a war with the enemy. The messenger’s duty is to pass on his master’s message to the enemy in a peaceful manner. He can advice the enemy and try to resolve the dispute amicably. Hence, Hanuman tried to preach Ravana and sang the glories of His Lord Rama. Ravana paid a deaf ear. He followed the demonic dharma. Hanuman, in displaying his might at Lanka, actually showed the demons the power and might of Rama and of his army. He returned as successfully as he had gone. In addition, he assessed the power and capacity of Ravana and was able to give this valuable information to Rama. All of these are the traits of an efficient messenger.

Within all the deeds of Hanuman, his bhakta dharma (righteous duties of a disciple) and his dhoota dharma (righteous duties of a true messenger) are vividly visible. In Hanuman, many such dharma sookshmas (underlying subtle principles of dharma) are visible. The more we discuss about it, the more of such qualities we will find in him.

Vānara Mainda has praised Lord Hanuman as follows-

Samīra sute satatam tva dāgnaya tva damṣakha prerita manasendriyaha

Karo myaham ya chha śubhāśubham prabho tvat prītaye matkruta mastu tat sadā.

Meaning-

O son of the wind! I am Your partial incarnation. I am born due to you. My sense organ called mind is deeply influenced by Your orders. Therefore, let it be said that all the good and the bad deeds performed by me, are actions that have been performed by me out of love for you.

Mainda was one of the Sugriva’s ministers. He played a significant role and offered immense help in locating Sita. During the war against Ravana, along with Lakshmana, Mainda was also rendered unconscious.

Such a warrior Mainda, praised Hanuman in this strange manner. From his prayer, it is clear that he was born out of an aspect of Hanuman. Alternatively, perhaps pleased with his services (seva), Hanuman may have reminded him that he had a partial aspect of Hanuman in him.

Stating about himself, Hanuman openly declared that when seen from the body’s perspective (deha buddhi) he was a servant of Rama (Rama dāsa); from the conditioned soul’s perspective (jeeva buddhi)  he was an aspect of Rama (Rama amsha) and from the Self’s perceptive (atma buddhi), he himself was Rama!

Mainda similarly, from the conditioned soul’s perspective (jeeva buddhi) declared that he was an aspect of Hanuman.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Addressing Hanuman as Maruti also means remembering the Marutt ganas i.e. the divine troops who are responsible for the sustenance of this entire creation, from the microcosm up to the macrocosm. Hanuman possesses every good trait! He is a storehouse of indescribable good traits! Huge mountains, precious stones, caves and many more treasures are held within the ocean. Just as it is not possible to locate and measure the treasures hidden deep within the ocean, it is impossible to estimate the number of good qualities and traits Hanuman possesses! In fact, all the good gunas (traits) emerge out of Him.

When it is said that Hanuman bestows boons upon his devotees, it means that He bestows upon them the ‘best boon’ (most supreme boon)!

The greatest of the great Devatas, as well as the mightiest of the mighty demons, secured what appeared to be the most invincible boon from God. Even then, what was the lifetime of such boons? All boons are generally short-lived. Every boon generally comes with a hidden clause. Once the lifetime of the boon comes to an end, the clause becomes operational and the boon is destroyed. At that time the being feels ashamed to seek another boon.

Therefore right at the outset, when seeking a boon, the best boon should be sought. Seeking the Supreme Knowledge is the best boon to be sought from God.

Do we even have the eligibility or worthiness to ask for Supreme Knowledge? Acquiring Supreme Knowledge is a very difficult target. Towards this, we need to understand who Brahma (God) is; then we should decipher what is this knowledge (jnana) to be learnt and finally we should put in stringent efforts and undertake spiritual pursuits to acquire it. Hanuman however very easily blesses his devotees with this Supreme Knowledge! He simply showers it upon them! For this reason, He is adored as ‘Varada’ and as ‘Bhakta vatsala’. This is the only true boon. Apart from this boon, every other boon is only a trivial and temporary boon.

When describing the qualities of Rama, the following statement is made- agre vāchayati prabha~njanasute. It means when Rama was seated on the throne, surrounded by his entire family and retinue, Hanuman reverentially sat the feet of his master and read from the various Upanishads and Brahma Sutras, while Rama happily provided commentary for the same. This is not mere imagination. Rama and Hanuman eternally remain seated in this manner. Hanuman, who sits at the feet of His master and learns this subject, easily showers it upon his devotees! He blesses his devotees with Self- realization.

Now let us move to the next hymn in this Vānara Gita composed by Vānara Gavaksha.

Vāyuputrēṇa mahatā yadya duktam karomi tat

Nā jānami tatho dharmam madharmam raksha mām sadā.

Meaning-  I am adhering to the dharma (rules of righteousness) that has been taught to me by mahatma Hanuman. I do not know any dharma apart from this. O Hanuma! Please protect my dharma.

Gavaksha, the great warrior, was the commander-in-chief for a troop of 60000 Vānara warriors. To lead a team effectively, commander-in-chief should possess the correct knowledge of rules of righteousness. Hanuman taught Gavaksha this knowledge of dharma (righteousness).

It is the mandatory duty of a king to protect dharma (righteousness). Towards this, Rama has been praised in Valmiki Ramayana as – Rakshita swasya dharmasya swa-janasya cha rakshita. Dharma should be protected with utmost compassion (daya). In the pretext of protecting dharma, it is wrong to get angry and impose harsh punishments for trivial faults. It is wrong to wage a war for petty reasons.

Bhakta kalpatarum soumyam lokottara guṇākaram

Suvarcalāpatim vande mārutim varadam sadā.

Meaning- I offer my obeisance to the son of the wind, Lord Hanuman, who is like a wish-fulfilling tree to his devotees; who is gentle and pleasant (soumya), who is a repository of the most extraordinary and exceptional traits (guna) and who is the husband of Suvarchala Devi.

Neela, the son of Agni (Fire God), was one of the prominent Vanaras in Rama’s army. In the war between Rama and Ravana, he killed the mighty and powerful demon Prahasta, who was also a minister in Ravana’s army. Neela played a very pivotal role during the construction of the bridge to Lanka.

Such a warrior praises Hanuman as a Kalpavriksha i.e. wish fulfilling tree. This sacred tree emerged during the churning of the ocean. As this tree fulfills all the desires of the Devatas, until the end of the kalpa (period equivalent to 4.32 billion earth years), it is known as Kalpavriksha. It fulfills every desire. Kalpavriksha means not only to fulfill the desires expressed by the devotee, but also to understand and fulfill those desires that are created (kalpana) in the mind of the devotee. Going a step further, it means, to recognize the desires that will be born in future and to fulfill them even before they are born. A ‘Kalpavriksha’ thus understands those desires that will arise in the future birth of the devotee and fulfills them in this birth itself!

When desires are thus being fulfilled even before they are created, what else can the devotee seek? This is the speciality behind the Kalpavriksha. In fact, Hanuman blesses the devotee with much more than what he (devotee) desires. For thus fulfilling all the desires that enter into the mind of his devotees, Neela praises Hanuman as ‘Bhakta Kalpavriksha’.

Gentleness (soumya) is yet another great trait possessed by Hanuman. Soma also refers to the Moon. He who is calm, gentle and beautiful like the Moon, and he who showers his coolness upon others akin to the Moon, is known as soumya. Just by speaking to a person who possesses a gentle nature our mind will enjoy calmness and coolness. It will jump with joy. That person who just by his speech, grants us this merriment and joy, can aptly be addressed as ‘Soumya’. Where gentleness exists, peace automatically exists. Each of us should imbibe this trait from Hanuman.

Seeing Rama and Lakshmana approaching the Mountain Rishyamukha, Sugriva entertained many apprehensions. The truth was that Rama and Lakshmana were searching for help in locating Sita Devi. Not knowing this, Sugriva suspected them to be enemies or agents sent by his brother Vali, for his destruction. Seeing two mighty warriors approaching them, Sugriva panicked. Not just Sugriva, his entire retinue, barring Hanuman, panicked. Hanuman was calm and composed. He knew that his master and his Lord had arrived. In a very calm and composed (soumya) manner Hanuman preached Sugriva. He put to rest the unnecessary fears expressed by Sugriva.

Our Lord Hanuman is the repository of unimaginable good traits. Just as an ocean contains within it all the precious stones, Hanuman possesses within him every good trait. ‘Maruti’ is one of the most famous names of Hanuman. The divine troops responsible for the sustenance of this entire creation, right from the microcosm up to the Macrocosm are collectively known are Marutt. He who possesses this ability within him is known as Maruti. By addressing Hanuman as Maruti, it means we are recollecting his good traits (gunas) in entirety.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.

Angada considered Suvarchala Devi as his mother. This can be interpreted in two ways. The first is to treat Suvarchala Devi as his own mother. The second is to see Suvarchala Devi in his own mother. Both are correct.

We can consider Lakshmi-Narayana as our parents. We can also see Lakshmi-Narayana in our parents. Both are correct. To say that God exists within us is one approach. Stating that all of us exist within God is another approach. Both are same and both attitudes are essential. We should develop such faith.

Treating all devotees of Lord as our relatives is one approach. However it is not possible to consider all our relatives as devotees of the Lord. Among our relatives, not everyone will have faith in the Lord. We have no right to demand from the Lord that all our relatives should transform into devotees of God and Guru. It is a sin to demand in this manner. It is their fate; their karma. That’s all. It is said that our balance of merit will reduce if we demand. ‘Why don’t these relatives of mine follow a Guru?’ By commenting about them your balance of merit has reduced. At the same time do not consider yourself as superior.  We should only pray to the Lord to compassionately bless all of relatives with good faith in God. We should pray that they too should develop devotion towards the Lord’s feet.  We should not criticize them nor call them as unfortunate. “O Lord, please bless that they develop devotion”- is the only prayer you can offer.

Angada was the crown price of the land. Through his prayer, he also brings out his love for his nation. He declares that all the three planes of existence exist within his nation (kingdom)- svadesho bhuvana trayam. There is yet another lesson to every being within this statement made by Angada. Each one should love and respect his/her own nation (desa bhakti). We should strive to respect our nation. Every one should have the feeling that all the three planes of existence are within his nation.

Moving on to the next shloka in Vanara Gita, Vanara ‘Neela’ offers the following prayer to Hanuman-

Bhakta kalpatarum soumyam lokottara guṇākaram

Suvarcalāpatim vande mārutim varadam sadā. 

Meaning- I offer my obeisance to the son of the wind, Lord Hanuman, who is like a wish-fulfilling tree to his devotees; who is gentle and pleasant (soumya), who is a repository of the most extraordinary and exceptional traits (guna) and who is the husband of Suvarchala Devi.

Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.