The Importance of Being Hanuman

Hanuman

Hanuman was my childhood hero. He became my favorite god then.

While I was a kid my parents used to tell me: “He is your great-grandpa. Address him as “Hanumanthabo” (in Konkani Language, it means Grandpa Hanuman). Ask him for whatever you need.”

During my school days, kids from other religions and half-baked products of communist breeds used to tease me: “Monkey worshipper!” “Your Grandpa has a tail!!”

I had felt ashamed. Today I regret it. I regret that I felt ashamed then. For, I didn’t realize the importance of being Hanuman. Now I know. I have not yet come across as beautiful a concept of God as Hanuman represents anywhere in this world.

The ego is the product of Ignorance. Ego feeds on Memory. Crossing over ego and memory makes a human being eternally happy – this is the gist of our sacred teachings.

For the beginners, Hanuman didn’t have both.

He had the power of trillions of supermen together. Yet he chose to be at the feet of an ordinary man – Rama. His surrender to the divine cause and his devotion to Rama were unique, exemplary, and unconditional. Hanuman symbolically stands for pure devotion, complete surrender, and absence of ego.

Hanuman was so humble that he was not identified with his manifested self. His friend, Jambhavan had to remind him about his own powers: “Anjaneya, you are so powerful that you can jump over the ocean and reach Sri Lanka within no time…”

“Oh, is it so?” He would ask. So egoless he was.

“Yes, you will have to do it for the sake of Rama.”

The next moment – Hanuman jumped across the ocean, burned the entire Lanka.

According to Indian mythology, Hanuman was born to a monkey chieftain Kesari and Anjana Devi, with the blessings of Lord Siva. He is also known as the son of the wind god Vayu (hence known as Pavanputra=son of wind). To make it simple, mythology says Hanuman had three fathers.
Nevertheless, all three fathers loved him and adored him.

Hanuman was a kid when he saw the rising sun and thought it was a fruit to eat. He tried to snatch the Sun but ended up collapsed. However, all gods came to his rescue giving him thousands of boons and blessings.

Hanuman was endowed with miraculous powers and strengths. Eight primary powers are mentioned in the scriptures concerning Hanuman: – Anima (the ability to shrink ones size), Mahima (increase size), Lagima (weightless), Garima (increase weight), Brapti (the ability to travel anywhere and acquire anything), Parakamya (irresistible willpower), Vastiva (mastery over all creatures) and Istiva (to become godlike with the power to create and destroy). These are basically yogic powers that people had in the past. (Repeat – IN THE PAST only)

With so many powers, so many boons and blessings, and invincible, Hanuman could have been the real God of the universe. Yet he surrendered to a man, who was known as the Perfect Man (Maryada Purushottam).

After his rejuvenation from the fall, he went to the same Sun to learn Vedas (Sacred Wisdom). He traveled along with Sun’s movements and learned everything.

Before that, he had a short stint with Sugriva, ousted monkey king, as the latter’s minister. This was on request by his mother Anjana. People asked me a question: “If Hanuman was so powerful, why didn’t he kill Vali (or Bali – Sugreva’s brother who threw him away)”. Anjana had clearly instructed Hanuman not to get involved in both brother’s conflicts and don’t fight with Vali.

Even though Hanuman was surrendered to Rama, once he had to fight with him regarding the King of Kashi. Rama tried launching arrows at Hanuman, but he could never win Hanuman. For, Rama’s arrows would pierce his own heart because he is residing inside the heart of Hanuman – a concept that never can be digested in modern knowledge.

It is said, you don’t have to pray to Hanuman. Just recite the name of Rama and Hanuman will come there. “Yatra yatra raghunatha kirtanam; Tatra tatra kritha masthakanjalim; Bhaspavaari paripurna lochanam” (Wherever the glorious name of Raghunatha (Rama) are sung, there, with folded hands and his bowed head in salutation, and eyes filled with tears, Maruti (Hanuman) is present).

The existence has used Hanuman to mar the ego of many. Sage Narada, the No.1 devotee of Narayana (Vishnu) was a great musician. This created ego in him. Vishnu sent Narada to meet Hanuman to hear him sing. Narada kept his Veena (musical instrument) on a rock while listening to Hanuman. Hanuman’s melodious voice was so enthralling that the hard rock melted. Later, Narada found that his Veena embedded into the rock which hardened once the singing stopped. Narada’s arrogance vanished after the incident.

The mighty Bhima, one of the heroes in the epic Mahabharat, also had an ego about his physical powers. Once he saw an old monkey lying across his path blocking the way with his tail. Bhima tried to scare off the monkey but in vain. “I am very old and weak and can’t move. Please just move my tail and you may pass”. Bhīma tried his level best to move the tail but failed to move it even for an inch. Humiliated Bhīma realized that this is no ordinary monkey and realized his limitation. Then the old monkey said: “I am Hanuman, son of the wind, your elder brother.”

Since Hanuman represents Success, centuries later, Krishna (also an avatar of Vishnu) advised his friend Arjuna (Bhima’s younger brother and hero of Mahabharat) to hoist a flag of Hanuman so that the chances of winning a war are very high.

Hanuman is regarded as the knowledge body (jnana guna sagara) in man, the immortal man (chiranjeevi), the animal man, and the flying human (va+nara). When he is cheerful he is called Prasannanjaneya. When he is in a ferocious mood he is called Veeranjaneya. When he is in a meditative mood he is called Dhayananjaney and when he is absorbed in devotion he is called Bhaktanjaneya.

Once my good friend (not an Indian) teased me by calling “monkey worshipper”

I can explain to him about the evolution of man and the significance of stories of ten avatars to claim that he is our real great-grandpa.

Instead, I replied to him in a language that he would understand: “Brother when I believe that my humble monkey is a god – there is at least logic to satisfy my child-like mind in it. But how would you substantiate a mafia-kingpin type insecure God who sits beyond the mysterious clouds shamelessly spying on you and threatening you through HIS so-called, self-styled messengers that if you don’t follow HIS commandments and pray to HIM, you will be roasted in the hell? Such irrational and non-sense stories don’t even qualify to be a kid’s bedtime story.”

Hanuman neither claimed he is god and nor demanded anybody to worship him. (Coming to that, no Hindu gods among 330 million, has ever made such a ridiculous claim). I am worshipping him because I adore that concept.

For, Hanuman is an invitation to the world of love and humility. He is a strong hope of a better creation. For, he is the next Brahma (A creative force according to Indian mythology). Puranas say, after Kaliyuga (present time), the land will be submerged in the ocean and most of the world will be destroyed. Just an Arctic melt or ozone break is more than enough to reach this stage.

Then, the cosmic power known as Hanuman will take birth of a Brahma, whose manifestation will again spread its wings as the big bang. The ignorant people call it creation. And their fallacy will create a separate creator too. And it becomes part of their ego. Such ego results in violence and hurt in this world. The concept of Hanuman is just the opposite of that.

Hanuman shows us how to serve ordinary people like Rama who follow the path of Dharma (righteousness). We call such people avatars (incarnation) of gods. They are for real. Great power comes with great responsibility. And the responsibility is surrendering and humility.

This message comes from Udaylal Pai’s WhatsApp Broadcast List – articles/blogs/answers. If anyone wants to join the list: (1) Save/add the number “+91-94475-33409” in your phone by creating a new contact (2) Then just send ONLY your name through your WhatsApp to +91-94475-33409. The broadcast will happen ONLY IF the sender’s number is saved in the contact list of the receiver.)

By
Udaylal Pai
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7 Responses

  1. Pratibha says:

    Yes Lord Ram was no ordinary person.
    He was enlightened and probably fully enlightened !

  2. A.S. hariprasad says:

    Again beautiful analysis of mythological character Lord Hanuman froom you. Thank you brother.

  3. ruchi says:

    Very well explained. Thank you Udaylal ji.

  4. Vishwas says:

    Its a great portrait of Lord Hanuman. In the Ramayan, Sri Rama describes Hanuman to Laxamana – “na rig veda venithasya, na yejurveda dharanaha, na samaveda vidhushaha” means Hanuman has mastered the vedas.
    Also there is a khanda (Book) of Ramanyana – Sundarakhanda. This only speaks about Hanuman & Valmiki himself names Hanuman as Sundara (Beautiful).
    The inspiration for the movies like Superman is none other than Hanuman, so are the quotes of the director. Also we have seen that Obama carrying Hanuman’s idol and picture always.

  5. Sudha Mehta says:

    Its a good attempt from your end to highlight the glories of Shri Hanuman. Its indeed praise worthy. However couple of times in the aforesaid article you mention Lord Ram as ordinary human. That is incorrect understanding of the Supreme Lord. Lord Rama is Sakshat Narayana / Maha Vishnu who had descended into this material world during the Treta Yuga. Maha Vishnu is none other than Shyama sundara or Krsna who is Bhagawan the Supreme Lord. Krsna tu Bhagawan swayam (Srimad Bhagawatam)- Meaning Krsna is the Original supreme personality of God. Hanuman is glorified for his unconditional surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord. His devotion sets example to ordinary mortals like us as to how we should develop unalloyed and unconditional love towards the Supreme Lord Krsna. His power, strength, wit etc he surrendered unto the Supreme and that is the perfection of Life and we ordinary Jiva’s must learn to develop that kind of surrender and thus perfect our lives. And when we pray to Hanuman he blesses us with that devotion. Hanuman never claimed he is God. He is the servant of the Lord. Just like Jesus Christ was a servant of Lord. He carried the message of Lord and descended into this world. But his message was not well received and he was crucified. God is never interested in finding our faults and casting us into hell. He wishes that we give up out tendencies to enjoy and control this material world, reform our polluted consciousness and surrender unto his Lotus feet

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