Power Of Music

[Guest guest]

It is my pleasure to bring to you a story involving two great bhaktas

of the Lord, both musicians - Sri Narada and Sri Hanuman.

 

Who is a greater Devotee ?

 

Narada, the sage bard, used to delight Lord Vishnu in Vaikunta every

day with his music. In course of time Narada got to be sure of his

expertise and ability to please the Lord, and a touch of pride and

over confidence began to manifest itself. The Lord noticed this and

wished to teach Narada a lesson.

 

One day when Narada was playing his veena before the Lord, he

noticed that the Lord was not showing any interest; on the contrary

there were frequent frowns on the Lord's face indicating

displeasure. Narada at once knew that something was wrong. And,

falling at the Lord's feet, asked to be enlightened as to the cause

of the displeasure. The Lord smiled and said, "If you desire to know

what real music is, go to Hanuman who is performing tapas in

Kandamadana hill and learn it from Him".

 

Narada set forth to meet Hanuman. On the way when he was

passing near a grove, he heard the wailing's of a number of women and

went into the grove to ascertain the cause. He was shocked at what

he saw. He saw a group of otherwise beautiful damsels. Disfigured in

various ways; some with their noses cut, some with other limbs

dismembered a ghastly and pitiable sight. Moved at the heart Narada

made enquiries as to the cause of their plight. They said, " We are

the raga devatas; a rishi named Narada played such bad music today in

vaikunta that we have been reduced to this plight. It is only a

really good musician who knows our true forms that can bring us back

to our original shapes." Narada was humbled. He confessed to them who

he was. He said that he was going to Hanuman to learn true music and

he promised to restore their original forms as an act of expiation

for the sin he had in his ignorance and pride committed against the

devatas.

 

Narada went to meet Hanuman in his hilly home and explained his

mission to him; the latter took the veena from Narada and began to

play on it. Narada was simply astonished at the mastery and finesse

of Hanuman's music and forgot himself in the enjoyment of that

soulful music. He sang with such devotion, although he couldn't play

veena, that his devotion melted the floor under the veena. After a

while Hanuman stopped singing and put the veena down on the floor.

When he put it down, it was on this molten granite. When the rock

cooled and solidified the veena got struck up in it, Narada did not

know what to do. Prompted by Hanuman, Narada tried singing to melt

the rock but in vain. Hanuman sang again, melted the rock and then

took out the veena. Narada was cured of his pride.

 

 

Manojavam Maarutha Thulya Vegam Jithendhrhiyam Budhdhimathaam

Varishtam

Vaathaa-thmajam Vaanara Yoodha Mukhyam Sree Raama-dhootham Sirasaa

Namaami

 

MEANING

 

I salute, by bowing down my head, the messenger of Sri Rama, Hanuman,

who travels as fast as the mind and the wind, who has won over his

sense organs, who is the best among the intelligent, who is the son

of the wind god and who is the commander in chief of the army of

monkeys

 

Jai Ram Bhakth Hanumanji ki !

 

Lakshmi