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!
