Hanuman

Hanuman is an integral and an important part of the Ramayana. There are very important lessons that we can learn from him. In the following discourse, Bhagavan Baba illustrates the various ways in which a true devotee can serve his Lord.

Hanuman had succeeded in coordinating the thought, word, and act. Consequently, he had great physical strength, mental stability, and virtuous character. He shines as an invaluable gem among the personalities of the Ramayana [the Hindu epic]. He was also a great scholar who had mastered the six schools of grammar. Further, he knew the four Vedas and the six Sastras—Hindu scriptures.

The Bhagavad-Gita says that a scholar is one who recognizes that the same Divine force motivates everyone—pandithah samadarsinah. Hanuman truly reflected this outlook. His scholarship did not lead to undue pride.  He was the very picture of humility, born out of genuine sincerity and wisdom. Realizing that the Rama [divine] principle, atmarama [the Self within], was illumining every being, he adored it above all else.

During their search in the forest for clues about Sita’s [Rama’s wife’s] whereabouts, Rama and Lakshmana [the Avatar and His younger brother] arrived at the Rshyamukha Mountain, where they rested awhile in a shady glen. They were sad and physically exhausted as a result of the search. The king of the vanaras [monkeys], Sugriva and his confidante, Hanuman, saw them from the top of a neighboring hill. At first, Sugriva feared that they might be the emissaries of his brother, Vali, who had sworn to avenge him. Alternatively, he thought that they might be his own spies moving about incognito. So, Hanuman offered to go and find out about their identities and intentions. He advised Sugriva that it was dangerous to jump to conclusions without adequate facts.

Approaching the brothers, Hanuman addressed them with sweet, gentle, and pleasing words. Rama was struck by the grammatical accuracy of his [Hanuman’s] sentences. They answered readily all his queries, and Hanuman was satisfied with their bona fides. He offered to take them to his king. Immediately, Hanuman grew in size and lifted them on to his shoulders.

The darshan [sight of a divine being] of Rama and Lakshmana removed all his [Hanuman’s] sins; their sparshan (divine touch) burnt away all the conse-quences of his deeds in previous lives, and their sambhashan (conversation) filled him with joy. That is the experience of all who welcome the association with Divinity. As a result, Rama and Sugriva, who had similar anxieties and problems, entered into a friendly conversation, and both got assured that their respective problems would be successfully solved through mutual help.

In effect, Hanuman became a messenger of Rama. There are three classes of messengers: those who do not understand the orders of the master or do not care to understand, and as a result, who operate to the detriment of the assignment given; then, those who do only just as much as the order literally contained; and, finally, those who grasp the background and significance of the orders, and carry them out fully until the purpose is achieved.

Hanuman belonged to the last and the best category. He never flinched in his efforts regardless of the obstacle; and, he reported back only after his conscience was satisfied with the result of his assignment. He could delve into the commands of Rama and know what the order meant. As soon as he received the order, he felt infused with power and new confidence that Rama Himself will grant the strength, intelligence, audacity, and adventurous spirit needed for the task. So, he never doubted his capacity or capability. His body and spirit were vitalized by the very fact that Rama asked him to do something. The electric wire has a copper wire inside the plastic coating; both must be of good quality to be effective. So, too both the body and the spirit within have to be trim. And, Rama’s words made him both efficient and vigorous.

Rama’s darshan conferred and reinforced Hanuman’s strength and power. How else could Hanuman jump across a hundred miles of sea? Simply through repetition of the name of Rama, Hanuman accomplished a task that Jambavan, Angada, and other vanara heroes would not dare to venture into.

The Indian youth must pay special attention to this feature of Hanuman’s life. He never calculated the pros and cons when Rama asked him to locate Sita. He did not question whether he would succeed or why he was chosen for this mission. He did not weigh the chances of success or failure because he reasoned that Rama, who had entrusted him with the task, would bear the responsibility. So, he decided to pray and do his best.

During Hanuman’s flight to Sri Lanka, a hill rose up from the sea and offered him rest and hospitality. But, keeping his focus on his task, he refused to accept the invitation. Then, a demoness rose from the sea, and challenged him to fight with her before he proceeded further. Once again undistracted, he brushed her aside and flew on. He sped through the sky like one of Rama’s own arrows. Self-confidence was the basis of his courage; he erected the walls of self-satisfaction over it; he constructed the roof of self-sacrifice above that, and he dwelt in that house enjoying the bliss of self-realization.

Here is an episode that illustrates Hanuman’s devotion toward Rama. Upon the completion of the bridge [that connected India to Sri Lanka], and on the night before the march across to Sri Lanka, Rama was resting on the sands of the sea-shore in the cool, bright moonlight with Sugriva, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Jambavan, Angada, Nala, Neela, and others around him. He was lying with his head on Lakshmana’s lap. Suddenly, he asked them whether they knew what the blue patch on the surface of the moon indicated.

Each one ventured to give an answer. Some said that it was the shadow of the earth; some said that it indicated a big hollow or crack on the surface of the moon; and some said that it must be a huge heap of [moon] soil. Rama asked Hanuman, who was silent all along, what he thought about it. Hanuman said that it was the reflection on the moon of the cloud-blue face of the Rama he adored. This showed that Hanuman had the unique fortune of visualizing Rama in everything he cast his eyes on.

Hanuman is pictured as a monkey, and monkeys, by nature, are wayward and frolic-some. The word ‘monkeyish’ has become a byword for fickleness. But, Hanuman did not have any trace of this fickleness. He was of divine birth; and, he exhibited the divine qualities mentioned in the Gita. He derived bliss through contemplating on the Rama [principle] in the heart of every being. He had full mastery of physical and sensual cravings; and he shone with atmic  splendor. He had established his career on the basic foundations of sathya [truth] and dharma [righteousness]; and he led his companions also on the same path, exercising the force of his example on them.

Of the three gunas [qualities]—satwa (the balanced), rajas (the passionate), and tamas (the dull)—rajas is the quality that has to be watched care-fully, for its first progeny is kama or lust. Lust destroyed Ravana [the ruler of Sri Lanka who abducted Sita] although he was a great scholar, warrior, emperor, and a mighty hero. It [rajas] can overwhelm and neutralize every good quality in man, and reduce him to something worse than a beast. Anger is the second among the progeny of rajas. Anger can seize the treasure chest of wisdom from your grasp and break it into smithereens. It is usually compared with fire, anala, as it is called in Sanskrit [the language of the Hindu scriptures]. Anala also means ‘not enough’. It always relishes more and more fuel so that the flames may rise skyward. It seems to enjoy eating up entire forests or cities.

Hanuman had no lust. His anger was not of the ‘not-enough’ variety. In order to search for Sita, Hanuman had to enter the women’s apartments in Ravana’s palace. He had to look into the faces of the sleeping women and compare their features with that of Sita, as described by Rama. He felt embarrassed as he went through this ordeal. So, he went to the seashore, feeling quite depressed. He even contemplated suicide because he was too ashamed to show his face to Rama. But, he consoled himself that it was, after all, Rama’s order that he was obeying. Thus, he returned to continue the search. He considered every woman, including Sita, as his own mother. This is a good lesson for today’s youth.

Upon Rama’s return to Ayodhya, on the occasion of His coronation, presents were given to the ministers and distinguished visitors, collaborators and companions of Rama—Vibhishana [Ravana’s brother], Sugriva, Jambavan, Nala, Neela etc. Hanuman was not given any. Observing this, Sita, who had benefited most by his selflessness and heroism, devotion and dedication, felt pained. She communicated her feelings to Rama, who was sitting beside her on the throne. Rama told her that she could give him [Hanuman] any present she favored.

So, she took off her own pearl garland and placed it in the hands of Hanuman. Immediately, Hanuman took the pearls apart and putting them one by one between his teeth, he bit each pearl and spat it out in disgust. Sita became flushed with anger. She whispered to Rama that Hanuman could not but be a monkey. Rama replied that there must be some deep meaning in what he was doing, for, Hanuman would not indulge in sacrilege. When questioned about his odd behavior, Hanuman said, “No. I was only examining whether these pearls had the name Rama in them; I could not find anyone that had. So, I cast them away.” “If a thing does not have Rama’s name in it, it is as worthless as stone to me.”

At this explanation, Agastya, one of the renowned sages who assembled in the hall, rose up and challenged Hanuman thus: “Hanuman! You say that you will not wear or bear, eat or carry anything that does not resound with Rama’s name. Well, you carry your body around, don’t you? Does it resound with Rama’s name?” Hanuman accepted the challenge. He pulled a single hair off of his wrist and held it to the ear of the sage. Lo, it was reciting the name Rama, Rama, without interruption. Hanuman’s loyalty and his devotion to all that belonged to his master were so deep and sincere. That is the reason he achieved victory, what-ever the assignment.

One day after the coronation celebrations, Sita Rama, and His brothers were reminiscing over past events when some of them expressed a desire to have a larger share in serving Rama. Bharata and Shatrughna were the most eager. So, a list was drawn up of all items of service that could be offered to Rama, and the responsibilities were allotted to those present. Hanuman was not present at the time and when he came in, the others announced with a certain amount of glee that he had no more chance to serve Rama, as others will now do everything. Rama also joined in the fun. Hanuman was terribly dejected. He pleaded with them: “Pray, go over the list again. Give me any bit of service, however small, that might have been overlooked.” They were sure that nothing had been overlooked and so, they handed the list to Hanuman himself to look over.

Luckily, he discovered one item that had not been allotted—when someone yawns, it is a typical practice to clack one’s fingers to produce a snapping sound. Of course, the person who yawns usually does it himself. But, in the case of Rama, the emperor of Ayodhya, He should not be doing it Himself. Hanuman pleaded that he be given the duty of clacking the fingers whenever Rama yawned. And, the others agreed, for they thought that the chances of Rama yawning would be very rare indeed. For Hanuman, it was a god-send, however for he was ever ready with his fingers steady, watching Rama’s face, waiting for the chance to perform the rite that was his duty.

This, too, was the grace of Rama, for, what can happen without His knowledge and His plan? Who can keep the devotee away from the presence of God? Rama demonstrated by this incident that no one can obstruct His wish and stand between His devotee and Himself.

Source: Sanathana Sarathi, August 1977