Veera Bhakta Hanumaan !

[Guest guest]

Dear Sadhaks !

 

It gives me great pleasure to pen a few lines on Veera Bhakta

Hanuman , a great devotee of Sri Rama .

 

Hanumaanji was not only a parama bhakta ; he was a parama jnani as

well !

 

Now , tHE WORD 'JNANA' has two connotations . One is scriptural

knowlede and wisdom and the other is brahma jnana - knowledge of

Brahman or 'Tat twam Asi or 'I am That ' ( the Mahavakya from

chandogya upanishad ) .

 

In the Ramayana, It is Vir Bhakta Hanuman who is known for the 'Art

of speech'

 

In the introductory talk he gave to Sri Rama and Lakshmana on his

frst meeting with them,he impressed Sri Rama so much with his

eloquence,that Rama praised his speech to the skies.

 

The speech revealed the speaker's knowledge of all the Vedas;it was

neither too long nor too short;It was rendered without any

grammatical flaw,with the least effort and at the right

pitch.Hearing the speech, even an enemy with a drawn sword

will be humoured to friendship.A king who has such

an envoy who knows the art of good speech,can

achieve anything in the world.This was what Sri Rama felt

about HEARING SRI HANUMAN'S ORATORY!

 

YES! Lord HANUMAN WAS well versed in the four books

of knowledge (the Vedas), the six systems of philosophies

(darshanas), the sixty-four arts or kalas and the one hundred and

eight occult mysteries of the Tantras. and, his Guru was none other

Than the Sun God, Surya !

 

NOW , WAS Hanuman JUST BOOK LEARNED ? PL READ ON !

 

Sri Rama asked Hanuman: " Hanuman, what

attitude do you cherish towards Me? "

 

Hanuman answered :

 

" Dehadrshtyaa tu daasoham

Jivadrshtyaa tvadanshakah

vastutastu tvamevaaham

iti me nischitaa matih "

 

" O Rama! When I think I am the body, You are the Master and I am

Your servant, when I think I am the jivatman (embodied individual

soul), You are the whole and I am a part ; but when I have the

Knowledge of Reality, I see that you are I and I am You. "

 

Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa HAS said:

 

" There are different levels among the devotees of God: superior,

mediocre and inferior. All this has been described in the Gita.

 

The inferior devotee says, 'God exists, but He is very far off, up

there in heaven.'

 

The mediocre devotee says, 'God exists in all beings as

life and consciousness.'

 

The superior devotee says: 'It is God Himself who has become

everything; whatever I see is only a form of God. It is He alone who

has become Maya, the universe, and all living beings.

Nothing exists but God.'

 

Jai Bajaranga Bali !

 

PS THANX SHARANRACER FOR ALL YOUR INFORMATIVE POSTS - I ENJOY

READING THEM.

 

Thanx babaji for providing us all such a lively platform to discuss

issues relating to 'Saadhnaa' - now , the group is looking like the

old '' club with you back in the Saddle . thanx to all

members for their lively participation .

[Guest guest]

Thank you for you intelligent post on Hanumanji, Urvashiji.

 

As you say, Hanuman was a true Brahm Gyani, long before he met Ram.

 

Yet he didnt sit in a cave & lecture people, or become a Guru with

thousands of people. He could have gone into Nirvikapla Samadhi(where

the drop merges with the ocean) anytime, yet he spent his time beating

up & killing demons.Why didnt he become a monk, & renounce the world?

Why did he choose instead to fight in this mayayi world?

 

A second question I have is: When Hanuman was sent to find Sanjeevni

buti, he couldnt find them, instead taking whole mountain. Surely a

Brahm gyani would have knowledge of plants(as Ayurveda was main

medical system at that time, & closesly linked to Vedas)?

 

A 3rd question I have is: Hanumanji is the Avtaar of Rudra, the

terrible form of Lord Shiva. Why did Rudra choose to be born as

monkey, & not human?

 

love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

, urvashii_mohan <no_reply wrote:

>

> Dear Sadhaks !

>

> It gives me great pleasure to pen a few lines on Veera Bhakta

> Hanuman , a great devotee of Sri Rama .

 

 

Thanks Urvashi dear, it was really beautiful post on Hanuman....

you know shanracer is fond of Hanumanji, so he is so happy with your

post.

 

and again thanks for Rumi's couplets. I remember one where Rumi

says i was first chemical...then plant..then animal. If you find

that post it.

 

For the lively group I am thankful to you, farha,shanracer,

deito, bala, aradhana,keshav, jitinder,senthil, ansuya and all

others, because it is after these arrivals that the group started

shining, otherwise i was there always.

[Guest guest]

RAM RAM

 

 

Shantanu sir ji

 

As you say, Hanuman was a true Brahm Gyani, long before he met Ram.

>

> Yet he didnt sit in a cave & lecture people, or become a Guru with

> thousands of people. He could have gone into Nirvikapla Samadhi

(where

> the drop merges with the ocean) anytime, yet he spent his time

beating

> up & killing demons.Why didnt he become a monk, & renounce the

world?

> Why did he choose instead to fight in this mayayi world?

 

He had all the qualities. He had given lesson to all by doing the

things practically. secondaly when God himself was busy in setting

the rules of Dharma , then what could be the best work .

 

suppose you are an engineer ie you have good technical knowledge .

and also if you have 2 crore money what will you do . perhaps you

will launch some product for the welfare of society as per the

knowledge you have which would be pleasing to the God or you will

invest money in disaster management . Lord Hanuman did the same

thing . He was gyani and had bal also to fight with demons so He had

choosen that path also He left a lot of lessons everywhere. ie He

utilized his knowledge everywhere.also the Lord was busy that time

in setting the ideals so what could be the best service that time.

 

 

A second question I have is: When Hanuman was sent to find Sanjeevni

> buti, he couldnt find them, instead taking whole mountain. Surely a

> Brahm gyani would have knowledge of plants(as Ayurveda was main

> medical system at that time, & closesly linked to Vedas)?

 

*do you think that a MD of the company knows everything ,i think He

knows how to know everything at any particular time when needed .

Lord Hanuman could have asked with Devas who had control over

Sanjeevani ,when they had given permission.Because Lord Hanuman

allready inspected befor appearance of Sanjeevany Controler ( I am

not able to recall the name)

 

** secondaly it was the vaidh suggestion ,who was from Ravana side

and Lord Hanuman was not knowing too much about Vaidh. was it not a

possibility that if that sanjeevany would not work then may be other

is needed and He had fixed time before sunset , so it is better to

take all , if the Lord Hanuman had power then why take risk .

if doctor could treat patient at one time with one medicine for

critical desiese.then He is God himself i think.

 

*** this knowledge of knowing the particular sanjeevani booti is the

activity of the lower mind , it may be in memory mind or skill

mind . if you say that recognising the sanjeevan is Braham jana then

why Vaidh was needed ,Lord Hanuman must be knowing that Sanjeevany

was needed for Lord Lakshman.because vadas tells everything . Sir ji

vaise mujhe Braham jnan ke bare main koi gyan hai nahin but what Sri

Mad Bhagwad Geeta says the fundamental concepts are needed to

understand (and not the knowledge which is derived from the

fundamentals it is my interpretation as ususal i may be wrong Sir ji

please do not mind me ) . Ram was the Lord himself , then why He

could not recognise the treatment there . one may ask

 

 

 

A 3rd question I have is: Hanumanji is the Avtaar of Rudra, the

> terrible form of Lord Shiva. Why did Rudra choose to be born as

> monkey, & not human?

 

Human qualities are different from monkeys. monkeys are more

active , alert , ......... jumping power ............... their body

structure is like that. and tail of the monkeys has some

significance o to lanka main dekha hi gaya tha ......it is their

inherent natural qualities .could you fight with monkeys. so if

monkeys are equipped with knowledge , human race will be in their

control .even Dogs i think if they can acquire knowledge .. to hamko

o patte main baandh ke rakhenge Sir ji. so Lord Hanuman ji preferred

as monkey.

 

GOOD QUESTIONS, . SO MANY THINGS I LEARNED FROM YOUR QUESTIONS AND

ANSWERS.NOT ONLY FROM YOURS BUT FROM ALL WHOMEVER ARE IN THIS FORUM.

THANKS TO ALL. AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF SOMETHING WRONG FELT BY

SOMEONE IN MY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE..........

 

HARE KRISHNA , HARE KRISHNA ,KRISHNA KRISHNA ,HARE HARE, HARE RAMA

HARE RAMA ,RAMA RAMA ,HARE HARE

>

 

 

 

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

>

> Thank you for you intelligent post on Hanumanji, Urvashiji.

>

> >

> >

> > love

> Shantnu

>

[Guest guest]

, " jitendra kumar " <jtin_ja

wrote:

 

> As you say, Hanuman was a true Brahm Gyani, long before he met Ram.

> >

> > Yet he didnt sit in a cave & lecture people, or become a Guru

 

Thanks shanracer and jitinder,

 

So Shri Hanumanji's example is a reply to those drawing room

spiritualists who parrot - gyani never fights, never gets angry, he

only loves etc etc.... which is all wrong

 

A gyani fights too...a gyani induldges himself in worldly

affairs too, but with a different perspective than a common man.

 

spirituality is not all sweet-sweet gudy-gudy stuff. Love,

compassion, charity, non-violnece, peace etc are meaningless words

and have relevance in spirituality.

 

a spiritual person does, what God commands him to do... without

questioning and without any egoistic claims.

 

AUM

[Guest guest]

Dear Shantanu :

 

Thanks for your kind words. I apologize for the delay in responding

to your queries.

 

Well, my gurudeva always used to tell me a rasika bhakta never

questions ( why ) ogf God's Lila and simply enjoys listening to the

various leelas of the Lord .but , i did gather some data for you ...

Here it goes ...

 

THE THIRD QUESTION FIRST !

 

(A 3rd question I have is: Hanumanji is the Avtaar of Rudra, the

terrible form of Lord Shiva. Why did Rudra choose to be born as

monkey, & not human?)

 

Here are the anwers are found on the net !

 

(Once Shiva and Parvati, ever the adventurous lovers, decided to

transform themselves into monkeys and indulge in amorous games in

the dense Himalayan forests. During a climactic moment, the seed of

Shiva found its mark and impregnated Parvati. Since they were in

simian form it was but natural that the offspring born of such a

union too would be a monkey. Not desiring to go against the laws of

nature, Shiva directed the wind god Vayu to carry his semen from

Parvati's womb, and deposit it into that of Anjana - a female

monkey, who at that very moment was praying for a male child.

 

Another slightly variant version of this story in the Shiva Purana

states that when Vishnu once disguised himself as the heavenly

beauty Mohini, her charms so impressed Shiva that he could not

restrain his seed. Vayu then carried the seed and deposited it into

Anjana's womb. There was no question of Shiva's potent discharge

resulting in an offspring less than extraordinary and the child

conceived under such exceptional circumstances was bound to be

especial, and so it was. The resulting bundle of joy was none other

than Hanuman, one of the most celebrated and worshipped figures in

Indian thought. )

 

Shantanu , i would encourage You and other bhaktas to read this mind

blowing article on Veer Hanumaan at

 

The Mystery of Hanuman - Inspiring Tales from Art and Mythology

Article of the Month - August

 

http://www. exoticindiaart.com/article/hanuman

 

then your first question is

 

(why did he decide to fight in this mayayi world instead of being a

yogi)

 

Good question, shantanu ! As you know - the very meaning of the

word'hanuman' means one who is without an 'ego' - Hanuman was

am 'amsha' avataar of Lord Shiva . Lord shiva wanted to experience

the 'dsaya ' bhava of bhakti and what better way than to serve Lord

Rama , an avatar of vishnu ? As you know , both vishnu and shiva are

each other's devotees ! Vishnu does puja to shiva linga in his yoga

nidra in ksheerasagara and shiva is always meditating on Vishnu! IN

HIS AMSHA AVATATA AS HANUMAN, LORD SHIVA WANTED TO EXPERIENCE THE

ECSTASY OF Dasya mode of worship !

 

and then your second question

 

(When Hanuman was sent to find Sanjeevni buti, he couldnt find

them, instead taking whole mountain. Surely a Brahm gyani would

have knowledge of plants(as Ayurveda was main medical system at

that time, & closesly linked to Vedas)?

 

 

Shantanu , you know the phrase 'time was of the essence' - here was

Lakshmana lying in the battlefield wounded and dying ? Hanumanji did

not waste a single minute - his only mission was to bring the

Sanjeevani Bhuti and come back to the battlefield as soon as

possible ? He leapt over all the mountains and the seas in one leap

with only Rama nama on his lips to accomplish his mission ! Hanumaan

was well vered in all the ashta siddhis - he could have even brought

Sita devi to Lord Rama without a war ? While RAMA HAD TO BUILD A

BRIDGE TO GO TO LANKA , HANUMANJI CROSSED TO LANKA WITH RAMA NAMA ON

HIS LIPS ! in fact , while hanuman was flying over the mountains ,

he was accosted by a Rakshashi (DEMONESS) whom he GOT RID OF USING

HIS SIDDHIS !

 

so , basically there is no rhyme and reason FOR ANY OF THIS EXCEPT

TO ENJOY THE LILA OF THE LORD!

 

Sukshma roop dhari Siyahi dikhava

Vikat roop dhari Lanka jarava

 

You presented yourself before Sita in a tiny unthreatening form. You

burnt Lanka taking a gigantic terrifying form.

 

Bhima roop dhari asur sanhare

Ramachandra ke kaaj sanvare

 

In your formidable form you defeated demons and cheerfully performed

all tasks assigned to you by Rama.

 

Laye Sanjivan Lakhan jiyaaye

Sri Raghuvir harashi ur laaye

 

You brought the magic herb that restored Lakshmana to life thus

pleasing Rama.

 

Raghupati kinhi bahut badayee

Tum mama priya Bharatahi sam bhai

 

The lord of the Raghava clan (Rama) extolled your virtues and said

you were as dear to him as his brother, Bharata.

 

Sahas badan tumharo yash gavai

Asa kahi Sripati kanta lagavai

 

Thousands of beings will sing your praise, so saying the Lord (Sri

Rama) embraced you.

 

( HANUMAAN CHALISA)

 

JAI HANUMAANJIKI!

[Guest guest]

> Well, my gurudeva always used to tell me a rasika bhakta never

> questions LORD SHIVA WANTED TO EXPERIENCE THE

> ECSTASY OF Dasya mode of worship

> You brought the magic herb that restored Lakshmana to life thus

> pleasing R>

> The lord of the Raghava clan (Rama) extolled your virtues and said

> you were as dear to him as his brother, Bharata.

>

 

> This is great beautiful and indeed a guru bhakta can say the

beautiful thing that you spoke above about " rasa " .

 

>Yeh tan vish ki belri ,

guru amrit ki khaan,

sheesh kata kar bhi mile ,

to bhi sasta jaan

 

>thanks Urvashi for this devotional post.

Urvashi arent you forgetting the story about Narada's curse to Lord

Narayana? ?

[Guest guest]

Yeah The curse was indeed lord's will , to make His future plan, be

expressed through his devotee, in for of curse that too.

 

This curse was taken by Narayana, he told, I will take this curse as

my will, and execute it, and hence he Appeared, as Rama.

 

Is this the one Aradhana, or there is something els,e which i am not

aware of.. Kindly let me know.

 

-- bro

 

Harirnama Harirnama Harirnama Kevalam.

 

, " i_free_spirit " <i_free_spirit

wrote:

> > ECSTASY OF Dasya mode of worship

[Guest guest]

> This curse was taken by Narayana, he told, I will take this curse as

> my will, and execute it, and hence he Appeared, as Rama.

>

> Is this the one Aradhana, or there is something els,e which i am not

> aware

Yes dieto I am talking about the curse of Narada muni when lord Narayan

made him monkey faced to break his pride and he got angry and cursed

him that he will suffer seperation from his wife and then the monkey

will help him

[Guest guest]

My Dear Aradhana,

 

I will write this and one more similar story of lord's Leela when i

get a chance, with my heart felt words and my respectful description

to the lord.

 

Sure, will send it to you flower. Lord bless you with wisdom and grace

my dear sister. this is my hearts prayer, also take a look at the swan

i drew, and also when you ifnd time, read the story of revered and

great Prahladha, that i have suthored, with help of his grace, and

getting inspired form the Vishnu Purana, Baghavat Purana and my

meditation on attributes of hari.

 

Specially, carefully read form first and read every word of last 3

pages, My dear sister, This is humble request of your Bro.

 

-- Deito

 

Harirnama Harirnama Harirnama Kevalam.

 

, " i_free_spirit " <i_free_spirit

wrote:

>

>

> > This curse was taken by Narayana, he told, I will take this curse as

[Guest guest]

Shri Hanuman - Biography of a Masterful Servant

====================================================

 

'Jaya Hanuman jnana guna sagara, jaya Kapisha tinhu loka ujagara,

 

Ramaduta, atulita baladhama, Anjaniputra, Pawanasuta nama.'

 

Victory to thee, O Hanuman, thou art the ocean of knowledge and

virtue. Victory to thee O Lord of Monkeys, thou art known in all

three worlds. O Emissary of Rama, thou art the home of

unparalleled might; Anjaniputra - Anjani's son, and Pawanasuta -

son of the wind god, art thy names.

 

This Hanuman, who possesses ocean-like unfathomable knowledge and

virtue, incomparable might and earth-like steadfastness, is known

and worshipped primarily as the redeemer in crisis : 'Ko nahi

janat hai jaga mein Kapi Sankata-mochana nama tinharo' - who

knows not in the world, O Monkey-god, redeemer in crisis is thy

name. And, the laudation is least exaggerated. In theology or

tradition of devotion, no god of any pantheon in India is

venerated so much for redeeming in crisis as Hanuman. As

occasions of misfortune outnumber those of happiness in life,

mankind looks more to him who redeems from misfortune rather than

him who bestows happiness. Hanuman, the redeemer, is hence more

widely worshipped and has a larger number of shrines dedicated to

him than even Rama, his master. Hanuman's power to redeem is not

a mere theological conceptualization or a believer's hypothesis,

his life, as it reveals in different sources, is its example. In

Rama-katha - story of Rama's life, which is broadly also the

story of Hanuman's life, this emissary and servant of Rama often

rises above his master at least in the face of a crisis.

 

Whatever Rama's attributes as the supreme God or Vishnu's

incarnation, when broken hearted he wandered in search of Sita,

Hanuman came to his aid. He not only pledged to his cause

himself, Kishkindha's monkey king Sugriva, his entire army and

ministers, and discovered Sita but also initiated efforts for her

recovery by waging a psychological war against Ravana. He put

Lanka into flames leaving Lankans panicky, and brought to Rama's

fold Ravana's brother Vibhishana without whose aid Rama's victory

over Ravana would not be so easy.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/DC47/

 

When struck by the 'shakti' - divine weapon of Meghanatha, Ravana's

eldest son, Lakshmana swooned and helpless Rama only wailed,

Hanuman not only brought Ravana's personal physician Susena

competent to cure Lakshmana along with his house but also the

mountain Dron from the Himalayas with Sanjivini on it, and

Lakshmana's life was saved. He rescued Rama and Lakshmana from

Ahiravana's custody almost when Ahiravana was going to behead

them for sacrifice. Bharata had pledged to end his life by

immolating himself if Rama did not return to Ayodhya before

sun-set on the day his fourteen years of exile ended. Rama was

delayed, but before Bharata entered the pyre in full flames and

immolated himself Hanuman rushed to Ayodhya, assured him that

Rama would reach there in minutes and saved Bharata's life. 'Rama

jasu jasa ap bakhana' - true that Rama himself narrated Hanuman's

glorious deeds, but more notably, he recalled him specifically

for redeeming him and his brother from crisis. When Ahiravana

asked Rama and Lakshmana, before beheading them, to commemorate

anyone they held in reverence, Rama asked Lakshmana to invoke

Hanuman who alone could rescue them.

 

 

Hanuman, The Protector

 

This redeemer of scripts is the protector of common folks. He is

invoked by common masses also for redeeming them but more often

to protect them from everything untoward. His images are

installed and worshipped invariably as the protector and patron

deity having power to ward off misfortune. He is Kherapati, the

patron deity of 'khera' - village, and Ghatoria, the protector of

'ghats' - valleys, to include river-crossings, descents, ascents,

forts and village boundaries. As Balaji, he keeps evil spirits

and maladies away and exorcises ghosts and ills from within. His

name by itself has the status of the 'mantra' - hymn, which,

being commemorated, dispels evil, evil spirits, ghosts : 'Bhuta

pishacha nikata nahin abein' - ghosts and evil spirits dare not

come around. As Bajaranga - with body made of 'vajra', or

Bajrangabali - having 'vajra'-like strength, he presides over

gymnasiums and wrestlers' rings infusing into wrestlers' bodies

his own might, and in the bodies of gymnasts and acrobats, his

own agility and swiftness.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/OR33/

 

It is only Hanuman who wards off adverse influence of planets

like Saturn and Rahu, protects from business failures, failure in

examinations, politics, sports and other fields. In a strange

fusion of the machine and the faith, which reveals when a

road-roller, truck, locomotive engine, or a ship, painted with an

icon of Hanuman or simply his name, passes across, Hanuman is

believed to avert mishap at sea, rail-track and roads, and

protect machine and treasures it contains.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/ET32/

 

 

Hanuman's Birth And Parents

 

Except that Hanuman was born to Anjana and that Anjana was

married to Kesari, the monkey king of Sumeru, there is hardly any

unanimity in regard to the circumstances, date and day of his

birth, pre-birth and childhood days. Despite that Kesari was

Hanuman's father, the legends of his birth evolves in such a way

that Shiva and the wind-god Maruta, too, seem to be vitally,

sometimes even directly, responsible for his birth. In hymns

devoted to him Hanuman is often lauded with epithets alike

Kesari-Nandana - Kesari's son, Maruti-Nandana - son of Maruta, or

Pawana-Suta - son of Pawana, another name for wind-god, and also

as Rudra-rupa - Shiva manifest.

 

 

Anjana, Hanuman's Mother

 

Kesari is alluded to unanimously as a mighty monkey possessed of

exceptional wisdom. However, such unanimity is not seen in regard

to Anjana. In one of her accounts she is said to be the daughter

of Kesari, a demon. The childless Kesari underwent great

austerities to appease Shiva for getting a son. Shiva, however,

granted him a daughter who would give birth to a mighty and wise

son. She is sometimes identified as Indra's celestial nymph

Punjikasthala. Exceptionally beautiful but as much playful and

naughty Punjikasthala one day provoked a sage to curse that she

would be born on the earth as a female monkey whose nature she

shared. Shaken with fear Punjikasthala entreated the sage to

forgive her but the words announced could not come back.

Punjikasthala was later born as the daughter of the saintly

monkey king Kunjara who named her Anjana. When she was in her

youth, she was married to Kesari. As per yet another account,

Anjana was born to Ahilya by sage Gautam. Drawn by her bewitching

beauty one day Indra in disguise came to Anjana to seduce her.

Sage Gautam saw them together and cursed that she would remain

unmarried her whole life. However, realizing his error he later

blessed her to have a son with extraordinary might and wisdom.

The curse was thus averted. Jain texts identify Anjana as an

erstwhile celestial nymph born as the princess of Mahendrapur.

Here both, Anjana and her husband Pavanajaya are alluded to as

absolute human beings.

 

 

Accounts Of Hanuman's Birth In Various Texts

 

Accounts of Hanuman's birth and parentage in the Ramayana, Skanda

Purana, Bhavishyottara Purana, Brahmananda Purana and some other

texts are almost identical. The myth in the Brahmananda Purana

begins with Anjana's father Kesari, a demon. The childless Kesari

underwent rigorous penance for a son. Pleased by it Shiva

appeared and asked him to name anything he wanted. Kesari asked

him to grant him a son who was unparalleled on warfront and in

might, wisdom and steadfastness. Shiva showed his inability for

Providence had not allowed him a son. He, however, granted him a

daughter who would bear a mighty son. In due course his wife bore

a girl with exceptional beauty. Kesari named her Anjana. When

fully grown, she was married to a mighty monkey, also named

Kesari. For quite long they had no child. One day, Dharma, god of

Righteousness, disguised as a low-born woman adept in astrology,

came to their place. She told Anjana that if she performed

penance for seven thousand years on mount Venkatachala, she would

have a mighty son. She underwent seven thousand years long

penance. Afterwards she bore a son with no one like him in valor,

wisdom and might.

 

Some other texts also allude to Anjana's journey to Venkatachala

for a son but on the advice of sage Matanga, not Dharma. Sage

Matanga saw Anjana engaged in rigorous austerities at mount

Kishkindha. He asked her the object of her penance. A sad Anjana

revealed her heart and entreated the holy saint to tell how she

would get a son. Sage Matanga advised her to go to Venkatachala.

There she should first worship Venkateshvara and then take a holy

dip at the sacred Akashaganga and drink a handful of its water.

So purified she should stand and pray the wind-god who would

bless her with a son invincible against men, gods and demons.

Anjana did as advised. When she was engaged in rigorous penance,

the wind-god appeared. She asked him for a son as mighty as him.

The wind-god thereupon assured her that he himself would be born

to her as her son. Thus, Anjana's son was born by wind-god and

was himself the wind-god. Hanuman is hence lauded as both Maruti

and Maruti-nandana.

 

 

Bharata And Hanuman Born Of A Common Source

 

Here the legend has two variations; one presenting a rationale as

to why Hanuman's love and devotion for Rama was such as between

two brothers born of the same womb, inspiring the all-knowing

Rama to say : 'Tuma mama priya Bharatahi sama bhai' - you are as

dear to me as Bharata; and other, indicating his birth direct

from Shiva's part. Ayodhya's illustrious ruler Dasharatha, being

childless, performed 'yajna' for a son. On its completion the

fire-god appeared with 'havya' - sanctified offering, and gave it

to Dasharatha to distribute it among his wives. Dasharatha gave a

part of it to each of his wives Kausalya, Sumitra and Kekeyi.

But, when they yet held their parts of the 'havya' on their

palms, a kite dived and snatched away from Kekeyi's palm her part

and shot back. It occurred exactly when at Venkatachala Anjana

with her full stretched hands was praying the wind-god. While

flying southward over Venkatachala exactly where stood Anjana,

the grip of kite's beak loosened and the 'havya' it carried

slipped and dropped on Anjana's palms. Taking it as the wind-god's

grant of her prayer Anjana ate it. She soon conceived and bore a

son almost when at Ayodhya Dasharatha's queens bore theirs.

Significantly, Rama equated Hanuman with Bharata, not Lakshmana,

perhaps because Hanuman was born of Kekeyi's share of 'havya',

and thus Bharata and Hanuman were born of the same source, if not

same womb.

 

Shaivite texts differently account the event. After Anjana's

penance was over Shiva appeared before her. She prayed him to

grant her a son. Shiva assured her that his eleventh part -

'ansha', would be born to her as her son. This would be his

Anshavataras - partial incarnations, last of the eleven Rudras.

 

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/OQ58/

 

He gave her a 'mantra' and instructed her to commemorate it with

her wide-stretched palms. He said that the wind-god would give

her 'havya', by which she would bear a son. Accordingly, when

from kite's beak slipped Kekeyi's part of 'havya', the wind-god

collected it and dropped it onto Anjana's palms. The myth of

Hanuman's birth from Shiva's 'ansha' varies in other texts. When

Ravana's atrocities grew unbearable Brahma, Vishnu, other gods

and sages approached Shiva for redeeming the earth from him.

Vishnu proposed to himself incarnate as Rama but he felt that

Ravana, by worshipping Shiva in all his ten forms and winning

from him several boons imparting to him invincibility and

immunity against death, might not be eliminated without his help.

Thereupon Shiva announced that he would be born as a monkey in

his eleventh Anshavatara. Shiva then entered Kesari's body.

Vayu - wind-god also entered his body. As part of Kesari they had

copulation with Anjana. In the process Shiva passed into Anjana's

womb and was born as Hanuman exactly after twelve years when

Kausalya, Dasharatha's principal queen, gave birth to Rama.

 

As much interesting is the other myth. Once Vishnu transformed

himself into Mohini, a maiden with bewitching beauty and youth,

to delude demons. Shiva heard of it and insisted on Vishnu to

show him his Mohini transform. Vishnu tried to dissuade him but

without result. He finally disappeared unnoticed. When looking

for him Shiva saw a young exceptionally beautiful maiden behind a

grove of trees. When he yet looked at her, a gust of wind removed

her clothes. Shiva forgot Vishnu and rushed after the young lady.

When she saw him coming towards her she hid behind a shrub. Shiva

discovered her and caught her but she slipped away leaving her

clothes in his hands. She ran ahead and Shiva behind taking

several rounds of the world. In excitement Shiva's virya was

discharged. Not to let it waste and to use it for Rama's errand

in coming days, Saptarishis - seven sages, witnessing the scene,

collected it on a leaf and planted it into Anjana's womb through

her ear when she stood at Venkatachala praying the wind-god for a

son.

 

In yet another legend the wind-god has a more assertive role. One

day, long after her marriage, Anjana, brilliantly clad, bejeweled

and adorned, was strolling around a mountain top. Suddenly, a

gust of wind removed her sari uncovering some part of her body.

She felt as if somebody touched her. She shouted at the teaser

and inclined to curse but before it the wind-god appeared in

person. He assured Anjana that without injuring her chastity

simply by embracing her he only planted into her womb a son who

would be as swift as him and unique in valor, wisdom and might.

 

In one legend echoes a Vedic context. Kesari had two wives, the

monkey-like looking Anjana and cat-like looking Adrika, both

erstwhile celestial nymphs born on the earth due to Indra's

curse. Neither had a child. One day when Kesari was out sage

Agastya happened to come to his house. Anjana and Adrika accorded

him great honor. Pleased with their hospitalities the sage

blessed them with mighty and noble sons. One day when strolling

around a mountain slope, they met Vayu and Nrati. As a result

they conceived. Later, Anjana gave birth to Hanuman, and Adrika,

to Adri. When grown up, Hanuman took Adrika, and Adri, Anjana to

pilgrimage to two sacred spots on Gomati's banks. Anjana and

Adrika were redeemed of their curse and returned to Indraloka.

The spot known as Vrakshakapi is believed to be the same whereto

Hanuman had taken Adrika. The term Vrakshakapi occurs in Vedic

literature many times.

 

 

Hanuman's Origin And Evolution Of Name In Jain Literature

 

Jain texts have quite a different legend of Hanuman's birth. In

Jain myths, Hanuman, Bali, Sugriva and other Vanaras are

identified as Vidyadharas, a clan of supernatural beings. As has

Paumachariyam, a text by Vimalasuri, a Jain monk, dated in

between 2nd to 4th century, Anjana, Hanuman's mother, was the

princess of Mahendrapur married to Pavanajaya, the prince of

Adityapura. To avenge a pre-marriage remark of hers Pavanajaya

had married Anjana but had not consummated his marriage. One

night when on warfront he had an intense feeling to meet her. He

instantly rushed to his palace, went to Anjana's chamber,

remained with her the whole night indulging in love and all, and

returned unnoticed to his camp before sunrise. Anjana conceived.

Her in-laws, considering her corrupt, drove her out. Her own

parents, believing the allegation, also turned her away. A cave

gave her shelter where she bore her child. The other day, her

maternal uncle Pratisurya of Hanuruhapura, hearing of the

incidence, came to her and took her with the newborn to

Hanuruhapura. When yet on their way, the child slipped from

Anjana's lap and Pratisurya's 'vimana' - aircraft, and fell on

the earth. When landed, Anjana and her maternal uncle could not

believe their eyes. The child with the thumb of his right leg in

his mouth was in smiles and the rock he fell on was completely

smashed. This tradition discovers in Hanuruhapura, where the

child spent his early days, the source of his name as Hanuman.

 

 

Evolution Of Hanuman's Name In Other Texts

 

The evolution of Hanuman's name is differently traced in

Brahmanical texts. It is said that a day after his birth the

child, with hunger in eyes, looked upward and saw the sun. He

took it for a ripe fruit, leapt towards it, grabbed it and put it

into his mouth. It was the day of sun's eclipse by Rahu, the

notorious planet. Rahu reached the sky but not finding the sun in

its place went to Indra and charge-sheeted Anjana's son for

hiding the sun and aborting nature's course. Finding the

complaint genuine Indra hurled his vajra - thunderbolt, to punish

the child and get the sun released. Though Hanuman bore Indra's

'vajra' on his 'hanu' - chin, he fell from the sky. His chin was

slightly hurt. Thus for spanning Indra's utmost power with his

'hanu' he got his Hanuman name. The incident, however, infuriated

Vayu, his father. In protest, he stopped blowing, endangering

life of all, man, animal and vegetation. All gods entreated Vayu

to resume functioning. To compensate damage each god blessed the

child with one of his attributes. Indra declared that hence

onwards his 'vajra' would remain ineffective against Hanuman.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/DI21/

 

The incident is narrated in some texts with some variations.

Despite that Indra hurled his 'vajra' on Hanuman, he did not

release the sun. Hearing sun's cry for help Ravana rushed to its

rescue. He began pulling Hanuman's tail which greatly annoyed

him. The furious Hanuman released the sun but attacked Ravana. In

a year long fight Ravana got defeated but Hanuman continued to

strike on him. It was only after sage Visrava persuaded him that

Hanuman let Ravana go. In Valmiki Ramayana, it is the sun, not

Rahu, that runs to Indra praying for protection but Hanuman

chases him there too, which annoys Indra and he hurls his 'vajra'

on him.

 

 

Child Hanuman In The Service Of Rama

 

Not so widely, texts allude to one more legend from Hanuman's

early life. Once Shiva, disguised as a monkey trainer, visited

Ayodhya with Hanuman as an ordinary monkey dancing for its

master. Just in front of the royal palace Shiva began beating his

drum, and Hanuman, dancing on its notes. Rama along with his

brothers watched the play and enjoyed it. When it ended, Rama

insisted to have the monkey. This was what Shiva wanted. Thus,

Hanuman was with Rama for whose service he was born. Hanuman

danced and did whatever his master wanted him to do. Days passed

happily. One day sage Vishvamitra came to Ayodhya to take Rama

and Lakshmana with him. Before he left Rama called Hanuman and

instructed him to go to Kishkindha and befriend Sugriva as he

would require Sugriva's services in eliminating Ravana for which

he had incarnated on the earth.

 

 

Hanuman's Later Days

 

Such isolated incidents apart, hardly anything is known of

Hanuman's life after his early childhood to his emergence at

Kishkindha. As Sugriva's emissary he meets Rama and impresses him

with his humility, elegant manners and refined and eloquent

language. Now begins Hanuman's multifarious role in the Rama

katha almost as significant as Rama's. He engineers an

understanding between Rama and Sugriva to mutually help and

Sugriva gets back his kingdom and queen. Hanuman jumps over the

sea to Lanka frustrating Surasa, Nagamata, Sinhika and other

mighty demons - Ravana's sea-guards that sought to devour him.

More than his might he displays unparalleled intelligence in

tackling them. At Lanka he not only discovers Sita but also

Vibhishana, Ravana's younger brother, and Rama's sole devotee in

the island. Always just and true to a relationship, as in case of

Sugriva, Hanuman does not use Vibhishana for Rama's cause but

also has in mind from the first day Vibhishana's equal

benefaction - Lanka's crown and in him a right ruler to the land.

He foresees the future and initiates Rama's war against Ravana by

killing many of his warriors along with his youngest son Aksha

Kumar and strikes all with panic by putting Lanka into flames.

His role during a crisis in war or Rama's personal life apart, on

warfront, too, his exploits are countless. In most texts, it is

Hanuman who kills Kumbhakarana, his son, and the great warriors

Nikumbha, Devantaka, Trisira, Dhurdhara, Prahasta and Mahaparva.

In Rama-katha his role has same magnitude as Rama's.

 

 

Hanuman's Iconography

 

A monkey-like face and tail apart, the images of Hanuman, wearing

a helmet-type crown and loincloth, pursue norms of human anatomy.

Most of his images have normal two arms and single face, however

his images with four arms, and sometimes more, and five faces -

Narsimha, Varaha, Hayagriva and Garuda, three, Vishnu's

incarnated forms, and fourth, his vehicle, besides Hanuman's own,

also exist.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/RD64/

 

In this form Hanuman symbolizes unity of man and animal, born and

unborn, and thereby of the cosmos. Whatever his form, Hanuman's

is a simple iconography, neither mystic nor symbolic. It reveals

his pure form - physical and spiritual. Whatever little

experimentation, it is in folk arts, or paintings, and sometimes

in stone-reliefs, narrating or illustrating an episode. His

votive images in stone, metal or clay, or on paper, enshrining

thousands of shrines or walls in India and beyond, are almost

rigidified representing him as carrying in his left hand a

mountain, and in the right, his usual mace, one symbolizing his

power to redeem, and other, his power to protect.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/EE13/

 

Apart, sometimes Rama and Lakshmana are represented as seated on

his shoulders, and sometimes, as bursting from his chest. His

tail plays a significant role in his iconography. Lying on the

ground it symbolizes humility, and upheld, his vigor, victory and

authority. In his 'tantrika' forms he usually holds a demon, or

two, in the coils of his tail. Multi-armed and multi-faced icons

apart, in 'tantrika' forms his body parts are usually inscribed

with various 'mantras', especially the Hanuman-mantra.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/WI11/

 

The common man's deity, as if one born like him, worshipped by

millions of people across the world, Hanuman does not represent

any school of philosophy or a metaphysical system. Even mysticism

is not his character. If classified, he would fall in Vaishnava

'bhakti' - devotion, cult, a path which through ecstasy and

delight leads the devotee from sensuous to spiritual, temporal to

transcendental and finally to salvation.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/BG73/

 

Hanuman's devotional cult does not lead to such ecstatic

expression of delight nor incites to dance and frisk and to

sensualism never. He breeds contemplative seriousness. Though an

incarnation of Shiva, he is more like a folk deity, a hero-god

endowed with unique vigor, valor, and ability to destroy evil. At

a mundane level Hanuman is an ideal human, upright man, friend

and emissary worthy of trust, statesman of great caliber and a

wise and brave warrior, and at spiritual, the god that inspires

faith.

 

 

Wishing all our readers on the occasion of Ram Navami (14th April

2008), the birthday of Shri Rama.

 

===========================================

This article by Prof. P. C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet

===========================================

 

--------------------

For Further Study

--------------------

 

1.. Valmiki Ramayana

2.. Ramacharita-Manasa by Tulsidasa

3.. Harivansha Purana

4.. Brahmananda Purana

5.. Puranic Encyclopedia

6.. Charitra-kosha

7.. Kalyana's Hanuman-Anka - 49 (1975), Gita Press, Gorakhapur

8.. Acharya Ramakinkara : Hanumat Charit

9.. Dr. Daljeet : Veer Hanuman (portfolio

---------------------------

 

To view the illustrations along with the text, please read the

HTML version of the article at

http://www.exoticindia.com/article/hanumana/

 

To forward this article to a friend, please click on

http://www.exoticindia.com/forward/hanumana

 

For a Printer friendly Version of the above article, please visit

http://www.exoticindia.com/acrobat/hanumana.pdf

 

---------------------------

 

We hope you have enjoyed reading the article. Any comments or

feedback that you may have will be greatly appreciated. Please

send your feedback to feedback

 

Our past articles are available at

http://www.exoticindia.com/newsletter.php3

 

Warm regards,

 

Nitin Kumar

Editor

Exotic India

http://www.exoticindia.com

 

JAYA Sri Hanumanji !

Jaya Sri RADHE !!

 

, urvashii_mohan <no_reply wrote:

 

> It gives me great pleasure to pen a few lines on Veera Bhakta

> Hanuman , a great devotee of Sri Rama .

>

> Hanumaanji was not only a parama bhakta ; he was a parama jnani as

> well !

>

[Guest guest]

Wise PRAYER to the Lord by the Great Rasik, Sri Hanumanji-

 

bhava bandhacchide tasmai spRhayAmi na muktaye

bhavAn prabhur aham dAsa iti yatra vilupyate

 

O Lord, Who is capable of giving Liberation

by destroying all the material bondage!

Under any circumstance I NEVER DESIRE to be LIBERATED,

in which state that I AM your Loving Servant and

You are My BELOVED MASTER is PERMANENTLY LOST !!!

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

 

 

 

, urvashii_mohan <no_reply wrote:

> Sri Rama asked Hanuman: " Hanuman, what

> attitude do you cherish towards Me? "

>

> Hanuman answered :

>

> " Dehadrshtyaa tu daasoham

> Jivadrshtyaa tvadanshakah

> vastutastu tvamevaaham

> iti me nischitaa matih "

>

> " O Rama! When I think I am the body, You are the Master and I am

> Your servant, when I think I am the jivatman (embodied individual

> soul), You are the whole and I am a part ; but when I have the

> Knowledge of Reality, I see that you are I and I am You. "

>

> Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa HAS said:

>

> " There are different levels among the devotees of God: superior,

> mediocre and inferior. All this has been described in the Gita.

>

> The inferior devotee says, 'God exists, but He is very far off, up

> there in heaven.'

>

> The mediocre devotee says, 'God exists in all beings as

> life and consciousness.'

>

> The superior devotee says: 'It is God Himself who has become

> everything; whatever I see is only a form of God. It is He alone

who

> has become Maya, the universe, and all living beings.

> Nothing exists but God.'

>

> Jai Bajaranga Bali !