A Divine Birth

Thousands of followers sat around him, waiting for him to open his eyes. None of them knew how long the wait would be. They didn’t want to be absent when he did open his eyes. He would go into such a state many times and the experience would be different each time. Not just the duration, but also the way he would come out of the trance. There was always a deep, mysterious secret associated with his waking up. A secret known only to him....‘Rama…Rama…Rama!’

Everyone present there, including his closest associates, were surprised at this sort of an exit he made. Who was Rama? His eyes were still closed. They had a few more moments to admire their hero. Seated in perfect lotus posture, he was the best of the yogis. His brilliantly chiselled body was draped in tiger skin. Three stripes of white ash adorned his forehead, neatly, only to be intercepted at the centre by a vertical third eye that was peacefully closed. His powerful arms were ornamented with armlets of rudraksha beads. His matted hair bunched on top of his head was held in place by a similar string of beads. With a crescent moon on one side and the Ganga flowing from the other, Lord Shiva was a perfect abode of peace and tranquillity.

When he finally opened his eyes, he found his wife, the gorgeous Sati, by his side. Her sixth sense told her that he needed her presence. Seeing her by his side, Lord Shiva lovingly spoke into her ears. He informed her, ‘Lord Vishnu is incarnating soon on Earth to annihilate the demonic forces accumulated by Ravana and to put an end to his atrocities. He has instructed all the demigods to take birth as monkeys to assist him in his Lila. I don’t want to miss this golden chance to be associated with the incarnation of Lord Rama. I will expand myself to participate in this Rama Lila.’

Sati was extremely saddened to hear this. It seemed to her that she could never really experience the bliss of associating with her husband. When he was with her, he was meditating and when he did come back to consciousness, he was serving. Not wanting to come in the way of her husband’s desire to serve Lord Rama, she made a unique request. ‘My Lord, if you are planning to expand yourself into a monkey to participate in Rama Lila, may I accompany you in your service by taking the form of your tail?’

Lord Shiva was more than happy to agree to this proposal. But Sati still had one doubt unresolved. She decided to voice it. She was unable to comprehend how Lord Shiva, on the one hand, offered so many boons to Ravana seeming to be his well-wisher and on the other hand, was planning to join the plot to destroy him. Lord Shiva smiled at her innocence and inquisitiveness. He told her that though Ravana had managed to please his ten expansions or rudras, he had dissatisfied and actually angered his 11th expansion. Lord Shiva explained that his 11th expansion would incarnate on Earth as the son of Anjana and would be known as Hanumana.

Satisfied with her husband’s intelligence and desire to serve Lord Rama, Sati embraced Lord Shiva. Soon, both of them transformed into monkeys and began enjoying conjugal pleasures. Their union converged into an energetic conception that Lord Shiva handed over to Vayu (the Wind God), for delivering it at the appropriate time to Anjana. The Wind God was unsure of his ability to handle the power bestowed on him for long. The conception of Lord Shiva was so hot that if it were to be in his possession, the searing winds would continue blowing and the world would eventually perish. He invoked the presence of the Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages) and requested them to handle the conception of Lord Shiva till the appropriate time arrived. These Seven Sages brought a metal leaf from the Mandakini Ganga and placed the powerful energy in it and assured the Wind God of its safety in their custody till he came to reclaim it.

Meanwhile, in the heavenly planets, Brihaspati, the guru of the demigods had cursed one of his servants whose name was Punjikasthali to become a monkey in the earthly realm. As a result, she was reborn on Earth as Anjana. When she attained youth, she married a Vanara King named Kesari. Despite long years of their marriage, they were unable to have a child. Anjana decided to perform austerities to invoke the blessings of the Lord. As she was  absorbed in tapasya (austerity), the Wind God, who was keenly observing her realized that she was purified enough to receive the grace of Lord Shiva.

Suddenly, Anjana felt an invisible force taking hold of her. She panicked and began to scream. She yelled so that she would curse the one who was responsible for this. That was when the Wind God appeared in front of her and explained that he was here under the direction of Lord Shiva to offer her the child that would be the greatest hero the world had ever seen. He would be a direct expansion of Lord Shiva and the son of the Wind God. Hearing this, Anjana gracefully accepted the powerful conception.

While his wife was engaged in tapasya to beget a son, Kesari decided to perform a different type of austerity to please Lord Shiva. He wandered around various sites of pilgrimage offering ardent prayers. As he was travelling from one holy place to another, he reached Gokarna. At this place, he found a monster named Shaambasaadhana torturing innocent sages. He challenged this demon and after a gruesome fight, he managed to slay him by hitting him forcefully on his chest.

Pleased with Kesari for relieving them of their burden, the sages collectively blessed him that he would have a powerful son who would become the protector of the innocent and destroyer of evil in this world. To make this happen, they offered him a Shiva mantra. As soon as Kesari chanted this mantra, Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. Instantly, Kesari felt himself empowered with Shiva Shakti. He returned home in time to see his wife Anjana back from her mission.

On seeing each other, the couple embraced joyfully. Shiva Shakti that resided within Kesari was now transmitted to Anjana and Kesari became his normal self. In due course, the world’s greatest superhero was born.

An attempt to abort Hanumana

A King entered stealthily into another King’s palace in the dead of the night. This was not a regular occurrence. But when it did happen, it meant something was going to go wrong. This was such a crucial task that he didn’t want to risk appointing anyone else.

As he was walking down the secret tunnel below the palace, Bali, the King  of a section of the Vanara clan was thinking of all the events that led up to this bold and rather risky decision.

It all began when Narada, the transcendental spaceman descended upon the lanes of Kishkinda. People were awestruck by his charisma. He was effulgent and extremely handsome. Singing in his divinely melodious voice and playing the chords of his famous Veena, he danced his way towards the palace of the King. King Bali greeted Narada respectfully, knowing full well that he had a message to convey. If he had chosen to come all the way, the message had to be of utmost importance to Bali.

After impatiently going through the formalities of reception, Bali sat next to Narada to hear what he had to say. Finally, Narada revealed the secret. A secret that shook Bali to the core and, in an instant, converted him from a confident King to an insecure monkey. In the womb of Anjana, the wife of King Kesari, an expansion of Lord Shiva was to be born. Rumours were rife in the heavenly realms that this child would be the greatest hero on Earth and his strength would surpass Bali’s by thousand folds. Initially, Bali panicked but later, as he thought deeply, he realised that any danger, if evaded, wasn’t a danger at all. He had to only act intelligently.

Here he was walking into the palace of Kesari in the dead of the night. Using his negotiation skills, he had gained access to the royal kitchen. There, someone was waiting for him. She was the personal cook of the pregnant queen. She had been appointed by Kesari to cater to the diet restrictions of the pregnant royal queen. This lady seemed to be an expert at catering to the diet needs of pregnant ladies. However, now, she was going to be served something else. A special dish that Bali had got.

The next morning, she carefully heated up the liquid Bali had given her the previous night. She could sniff some metal content in it. It had been expertly made, so no one could make out what it really was. All Bali had told her was that this potion would do its job. But, she wasn’t just another person; she knew exactly what the potion had. As she carried a glass containing the piping hot liquid, her hands shook slightly. She knew it was wrong. It was terribly wrong to feed a heavily pregnant woman a drink comprising five metals: gold, copper, iron, tin and zinc. One of these could not just kill the child, but also, the mother.

She closed her eyes as she saw Anjana gulp down what the latter had been told was a health drink that revitalises the mother and the baby in the womb. As she took back the glass from the queen, she keenly observed her face for any reaction. Surprisingly, there was none. She waited for a full minute, just in case it took that long to see the effect. Nothing! Not knowing what to do, she just walked back to the kitchen. That day, she kept walking back and forth between her kitchen duties and attending to the queen, desperately waiting to see some change. Nothing ever happened to the queen.

The next day, Queen Anjana was taken to the labour room. Her contractions had started. Expecting the news of miscarriage, the Bali’s aide stood right outside the delivery room. Instead, she was greeted with the cry of a newborn. While everyone celebrated, she sank to her knees. How could a child be born after the mother had drunk the amalgam of those five deadly metals? Gathering herself after some time, she ran into the room to see the child who had been miraculously saved from death. When she saw the child’s face, she fainted.

The monkey baby was smiling at her and was born with earrings made of an alloy of those five metals. Instead of destroying him, these had ended up adorning him.

A Flying Kick

‘Why are you shivering like this?’ He was surprised to see an absolutely normal person, suddenly, shivering like a dry leaf in the winds.

When no answer came from him, except for two drops of tears, Hanumana turned towards his three friends. Even the friends just looked down and seemed too ashamed to even answer this question.

This was weird. Why would four powerful Vanaras, who were extremely well-built and intelligent, behave like emotional, unconfident children? He kept questioning them and they kept turning away from him. Then suddenly it happened… KRACCCKKK!

Hearing the sound, Hanumana turned to see Sugriva reeling in pain on the ground. All his friends were helping him recover. Hanumana just couldn’t get it. What’s going on here? What was that sound? How did Sugriva fall on the ground? Why was he holding his head in pain? Why were his friends unsurprised about the incident, almost as if, expecting it to happen as part of the daily routine?

By this time, Sugriva had recovered and he sat up. Still holding his head, he spoke, ‘Hanumana, this happens 12 times, daily, at defined intervals.’

‘What happens, Sugriva? Speak clearly.’ Hanumana was intrigued by this untoward episode.

‘My father, Surya, must have surely told you the story of my brother throwing me out of my kingdom and kidnapping my wife. But I don’t think he would have shared another part to this story because it is too embarrassing for him as a father to come to terms with it. My brother, Bali, is cursed by Rishi Matanga that if he sets his feet on Mount Rishimukha, his head will crack open. That is the only reason I am still alive. Though the curse has saved my life, Bali has found his way to continue insulting and torturing me daily without even stepping on this hill.’ Sugriva started shivering once again.

‘It’s time… It’s time…’ Sugriva was stammering in utter fear. Hanumana turned away in disgust for a second. In that split second, something happened. KRACCCKKK!

From the corner of his eyes, Hanumana could see that something had hit Sugriva on his head. Sugriva was on the floor, writhing in agony. Hanumana understood the seriousness of the matter that had to be handled with intelligence. He went and sat next to him to hear the complete story.

‘Every day, Bali offers his oblations in the four oceans, to Surya, my father. With one leap he reaches from the southern ocean to the northern one and in another leap to the east and then to the west. Each time he leaps, he makes sure he passes over Mount Rishimukha and delivers a kick on my head and goes ahead. Three times a day, I receive four flying kicks from my brother. Though I know the exact time of the kick, I can’t do anything to protect myself. Though my friends know that I am tortured like this every day, they are equally helpless in front of Bali’s power. His speed and power are unmatchable. Before we can even see him, he disappears. In fact, the entire Kishkinda quakes in front of the power of Bali.’ And Sugriva started trembling again.

This time, Hanumana was ready. Suddenly, he saw Bali zoom down with great speed, transferring all his energy into his feet to power pack his kick. As soon as Bali’s feet reached just above the Sugriva’s head, Hanumana caught both his feet with a single hand. Sugriva expecting a kick anytime soon had closed his eyes and shrunk. But when nothing happened, he slowly opened his eyes to see Bali’s feet, above his head, dangling in the grip of Hanumana. Bali was stunned by Hanumana’s audacity. No one had ever underestimated his strength. He jerked his feet with a little force to compel Hanumana to let go. He held on. Now, Bali put all his force. Still, he held on. Bali wondered who this monkey was.

That’s when he saw the earrings made of five metals. He panicked. This was the very child he had tried to kill. He had heard of Hanumana’s strength but never experienced it. By this time, Hanumana’s grip on Bali’s legs had intensified and it had begun to hurt Bali. Then Hanumana began pulling him downwards. Bali realised what he was attempting. He began to flutter at the very thought of it. He was somehow trying his best to get away from the grip of Hanumana but all his might was betraying him. Even the boon that he had of acquiring half the strength of his opponent in one glance seemed useless; it had no effect on Hanumana. 

Soon, Sugriva and all the other monkeys realised what Hanumana was trying to do, they got excited and began to encourage Hanumana to throw Bali on the ground and allow his haughty head to crack. Understanding the precariousness of the situation, a helpless Bali began to plead with Hanumana. He promised never to return to Mount Rishimukha and trouble Sugriva. Considering his pitiful appeals, Hanumana let go.

As Bali flew away, Hanumana realised this was not a permanent solution. A more tangible solution had to be found or would the solution find them…

Anjana tells Lord Rama's story to Hanumana

At bedtime in the forest, Mother Anjana tells little Hanumana inspiring stories of gods and heroes of the past. Among these is the story of Rama, the Ramayana. As the days pass, Hanumana becomes absorbed in the story, and when his mother gets to the point at which Rama meets Hanumana, her son asks in surprise that character might be. 

His mother then explains to him that time is like a wheel, encompassing a cycle of four yugas that recur endlessly. The Rama story she is telling him is from a previous cycle, and the Hanumana of the story was once a monkey-child like himself.

Hanumana’s absorption in the story deepens. Hearing of Sita’s kidnaping by Ravana, he weeps, and when Hanumana encounters Ravana in Lanka, he becomes indignant: ‘‘Why didn’t he kill him, right there?’’ When Hanumana returns to Rama with news of Sita and earns his embrace, he sighs and says, ‘‘If only I were that Hanumana!’’

During the day, he begins to spend more and more time thinking about Rama’s story and repeating Rama’s name. At times he becomes lost in meditation and forgets his bodily needs. When his mother admonishes him to take care of himself so that he may serve Rama well, Hanumana asks, ‘‘But where is Rama?’’ Anjana replies that, as it is again the Treta yuga, Rama has taken birth in Ayodhya and begun his earthly mission, which will eventually produce another Ramayana. Hanumana wants to go to Ayodhya at once, but Anjana laughs and pats him to sleep. ‘‘Rama is only a child now, as are you! And how can a monkey-child live among humans? You will go to Rama when the time is right.’’

Story of Diamond Necklace

‘Vali is back!’ A monkey came running at great speed and bumped into  Hanumana. How could Vali return so soon? Hanumana rose up to face the lurking danger. The danger had brought Sugriva and his four close associates together at a short notice. They followed the direction of his fingers to the edge of the cliff. Below Mount Rishimukha were stationed two muscular, broad-chested men, holding bows in their hands and walking together. The other four wondered where Vali was. Trying to decipher their quizzical looks, Sugriva explained these two men had been sent by Vali to annihilate him.

Looking at Hanumana, Sugriva instructed, ‘Go in disguise and ascertain who these two men are. If they are Vali’s men, then let me prepare for my death. With powerful men as enemies, my survival is impossible. However, if  they are not Vali’s allies, then bring them to me, we should propose a pact of friendship and use them as instruments to crush Vali.’

Disguised as a bikshuk sanyasi (mendicant), Hanumana walked down the hill towards the two handsome-looking ascetic warriors. Soon, he was standing in front of them. When he first gazed at them, something began to happen inside him. He felt that his bones were melting. He wasn’t able to speak or even think for a while. He couldn’t understand what was happening to him. Soon, recollecting the purpose of his visit, he began to speak.

‘Who are you, mighty heroes? Where are you heading? Though dressed as ascetics, your beauty and power would put the gods to shame. Seeing your mighty bows which resemble rainbows, who wouldn’t be mesmerised? Confidence oozes out of your lion-like gait. You are destined to rule kingdoms, and not take on the role of ascetics. The combination of sweetness and power convinces me that you are extraordinary people here, on an extraordinary mission. Could I have the honour of knowing more about you?’

Smiling at him, one of them spoke, ‘We will answer your questions soon; first tell us, how can a beggar with tattered clothes wear such a rare and precious diamond necklace?’

As soon as Hanumana heard that question, he almost fainted with joy. He instantly recalled Lord Brahma’s words he had heard in his childhood.

When after swallowing the sun, Indra had attacked Hanumana, Lord Brahma urged all the demigods to accompany him in reviving the child and making the Wind God happy, as Hanuman was the son of Lord Vayu. Lord Brahma implored all the demigods to bestow their choicest blessings on this wonder child. Each one came forward and blessed the child.

Once all the demigods had offered their boons, Lord Brahma came forward and placed a diamond necklace around Hanumana’s neck. He said, ‘Now, I will give you the highest benediction you can get, my child. You will be the eternal servant of the Lord. This diamond necklace that I placed around your neck will remain invisible to the eyes of the world. The one who recognises this necklace will be your eternal Lord and master. The moment you meet your master, every bone in your body will melt.’ 

This was his Lord and Master for whom he had waited all his life. As soon as this realisation dawned on him, he shed his disguise and appeared in his original form. When asked for his introduction, Hanumana immediately announced, ‘I am Sugriva’s minister.’

Upon uttering these words, he immediately realised he had committed a grave mistake. He noticed a slight movement; his Lord had taken one step back and allowed his brother to step forward to introduce them. The brother spoke, ‘This is Rama, the son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. The world knows me as his brother, Lakshmana. But I consider myself to be his worthy servant. We have been exiled from our kingdom for 14 years and have spent our last 13 years in the forest of Dandakaranya. Unfortunately, Sita, Lord Rama’s wife has been kidnapped by a demon named Ravana and we are here in search of her.’

Hanumana cursed himself for having declared himself to be Sugriva’s minister. After hearing Lakshmana’s humble introduction, he felt even worse. He decided to amend his mistake with time. Hanumana invited them to make an alliance with Sugriva, who was also in a similar situation, after having lost his wife and kingdom to Vali.

When Hanumana stepped away for a moment to inform Sugriva of their arrival, Lord Rama analysed the speech of Hanumana and shared his observations with Lakshmana. He said, ‘Did you hear Hanumana’s speech? The charm of his voice was amazing. He used the right words at the right time. He was pleasing, gentle and had gravitas. The content of his speech comforted the heart.

‘In order to speak like this, he must be well-versed with the Rg, Yajur and Sama Vedas. He couldn’t have been this gentle had he not studied these Vedas. He must have learnt from able teachers. Knowledge of the Rg Veda makes one humble and also gives one the power to recall and reproduce that knowledge. Knowledge of the Yajur Veda sharpens memory. Knowledge of the Sama Veda assures musical perfection and every word becomes like a song. Surely, he has perfected Vyakarana or grammar; there was absolutely no mistake in his joining of sentences.

‘He spoke so much, yet, he did not use even one wrong word. His speech was so perfect that he began at a certain speed and volume and ended at the same speed and volume. He knew which words should be spoken from the stomach or pronounced from the palate and where to use the nose in his speech. While speaking, not for once there was a shift in his focus. Without a controlled mind, one cannot stop misusing words. His speech has the ability to win over an enemy armed with an upraised sword. If I get such a person as an associate, I can achieve success.’

Mounting on Hanumana’s broad shoulders, Lord Rama and Lakshmana began their ascent to the peak of Mount Rishimukha.

How Lord Rama punished Sugriva for insulting Lakshmana?

As the three reached up the cliff, they were face-to-face with Sugriva who stood with his hands on his hips, carefully observing the new entrants. Hanumana bent on his knees and allowed the brothers to unmount. The two parties were introduced to each other.

Understanding Lord Rama’s situation and clearly identifying with it, Sugriva extended his hand and welcomed Lord Rama as his newly found friend. Lord Rama gracefully accepted his reception and returned the gesture by extending his own hands. As they shook hands like long-standing friends, Hanumana shook his head in disgust. He was thinking, how could Sugriva not understand that Rama is their worshipable Lord and shouldn’t be treated as a mere friend?

After giving them a tour of the scenic Mount Rishimukha, Sugriva brought them to the centre of the mountaintop and pulled out a huge branch from a Sal tree. Placing it down, he offered it as a seat for Lord Rama. Lord Rama obliged and sat on one side of the branch. Sugriva took his place on the other side, turning a blind eye to Lakshmana. Hanumana struck his head in disgust seeing this act of insensitivity. Even Lord Rama noticed this grave mistake and felt bad.

Hanumana quickly jumped and pulled down the branch of a much better tree, a sandalwood tree. Placing it next to Lord Rama’s side, he offered the seat to Lakshmana. As soon as Lakshmana seated himself, Hanumana sat on the floor next to Lakshmana. He didn’t feel eligible to acquire a place beside Lakshmana, let alone occupy a place next to Lord Rama. Lord Rama was mighty impressed by Hanumana’s sensitivity.

To teach Sugriva a lesson in humility and also as punishment for disrespecting Lakshmana, Lord Rama sent Sugriva to fight Vali. The timid brother was brutally beaten up in the duel. Later, the excuse he gave for not being able to kill Vali was that the siblings looked similar. Lord Rama requested Lakshmana to garland Sugriva so that it could serve as a differentiator between the two brothers. When Sugriva bent to receive the garland from Lakshmana, Lord Rama considered that to be his act of forgiveness.

Three obstacles in Hanumana's way to Lanka

A monkey’s ambitious flight was an incredible sight for all. A host of demigods joyfully observed the determined Hanumana  flying across the ocean. Some of them felt they should help him while others wanted to test him. The two parties left in different directions.

A little ahead, Hanumana could see something glittering in the ocean. However, due to the distance, it was difficult to make out what it was. As he edged closer, the unidentified object seemed to grow rapidly in size. Soon, Hanumana saw a golden mountain rising from inside the ocean. The colossal golden mountain almost touched the skies and blocked Hanumana’s path. He couldn’t see a thing beyond the massive mountain.

Hovering, he inspected the freshly arisen mountain. Scenic lakes, succulent fruit-bearing trees, healing herbs, beautiful gardens, comfortable seating arrangements, birds and animals meandered around. The mountain looked like paradise. Right at the centre of the mountain, almost at par with Hanumana’s height, appeared a brilliantly effulgent personality who stood with folded hands, looking intently towards him.

He spoke in a voice that had the power of thunder and, yet, the sweetness of a flowing river. ‘My dear hero, I am here on the orders of the great demigods who are impressed with your prowess and determination to serve Lord Rama. I am Mount Mainaka. Long back, Indra, the King of the Heavens went on a rampage destroying the mountains of the world. During that era, all the mountains had wings. We could freely fly from one place to another. Unfortunately, a few proud mountains took advantage of this faculty and landed themselves on human civilisations, causing mass destruction. That’s when Indra decided to clip the wings of all mountains, making them immobile.

‘When I saw Indra coming after me with thunderbolt in his hands, I panicked and began to shiver. The demigod in-charge of the oceans, Varuna, showered his kindness upon me and blew me far away from Indra’s tyranny. He arranged for my safety within the depths of his vast oceans. Today, on seeing your heroic efforts, Varuna has asked me to receive you on my mountains and be hospitable to you so that you feel rejuvenated before proceeding on your challenging journey. I personally feel that by serving you, I will get a chance to reciprocate the kindness Varuna had bestowed upon me ages ago. Kindly come and purify my mountains by your saintly visit.’

Hanumana smiled at the tempting request. Thanking him, he said, ‘The word “rest” does not feature in my dictionary when I am on a mission. Though, I must confess it’s an irresistible offer. Unfortunately, I can’t wait for a second longer. I cannot think of my own comforts till the mission is complete. The only concern that governs my thoughts is Lord Rama’s well-being. Perhaps, on my return, once my mission is accomplished, I may consider your invitation. For now, I must move on.’

Not to appear insensitive and rude, Hanumana touched the mountain with his hands accepting his service and flew away. Mount Mainaka was rendered speechless at Hanumana’s dedication.

As Hanumana continued flying way above the ocean, he admired the serene  waters. Suddenly, a little further ahead, he could see the ocean develop suction current. Something inside the water was creating it. The next instant, a fountain of water was thrown skywards and the ocean surface became agitated. Hanumana slowed down to determine the cause of the disturbance. With a huge splash, from within the waters emerged a gigantic demoness who had the face of a human but the trunk of a python. This was Surasa, the mother of the Nagas, in her most terrifying form.

She spoke, hissing like a snake, ‘Hssss… No one can bypassssssss me. I have Brahmasssssss’ boon that anyone who passes over me will become my natural food and enter my belly. Today, you are my meal. No one can sssssstop that now…’

Surasa opened her mouth wide enough, to devour Hanumana in one gulp. As soon as her mouth became as big as Hanumana, suction began to pull the monkey towards it. Hanumana resisted the pull and expanded himself a bit. When Surasa saw what Hanumana was trying to do, she also began to expand her mouth to beat Hanumana . Soon, Hanumana was 10 yojana in height. Surasa expanded her mouth to become 20 yojana. Hanumana stretched more and became 30 yojana, while, she turned 40 yojana. The tussle continued till Hanumana stopped at 80 and Surasa at 100 yojana.

In a flash, Hanumana shrunk himself to the size of a fly while her mouth remained 100 yojana wide. He dashed into her mouth and slid through her tongue. He glided all the way into her throat and entered her belly. On reaching her belly, he flew up and came out from her mouth again and assumed his regular size. Surasa could feel something enter her mouth, reach her belly and exit. But, it all happened so fast that she hardly had any time to react. By the time she realised it was Hanumana who had tricked her, he had already made his exit.

With folded hands, Hanumana stood in front of her and spoke in a heart- melting voice. ‘My dear mother, I have honoured the words of Lord Brahma. I have entered your belly and come out. You shouldn’t have any complaint against me now. Kindly bless me and permit me to proceed on my journey to find Mother Sita.’

Hanumana’s intelligence brought great joy to Surasa. She was, in fact, thrilled with the experience of interacting with Hanumana. Blessing him profusely, she disappeared happily.

A free Hanumana began to soar into the sky, yet again. This time, he hoped there would be no new obstacles. Time was running out and the pressure was mounting. Surasa had wasted sufficient time in competing with him unnecessarily. Of course, he was happy he did not disrespect her. Blessings were important in any venture, especially, in unpredictable missions of life, like the one he was on.

Suddenly, something went wrong… Terribly wrong. Though his mind raced, his body had stalled. He wasn’t able to move forward. He was suspended in thin air. This was strange. It felt as if someone had caught him, though, no one was visible. Suddenly, he was being dragged downwards. A free fall ensued. He had no idea what was happening and who was controlling his movements. He was desperately looking around for the cause. Unless he knew what the cause was, what was he supposed to do?

Observing the ocean water, he discovered something interesting. His own shadow. Someone was holding down his shadow. He could clearly see a huge hand encircling his shadow, pulling it downwards into the ocean. Instantly, it struck him there was some evil force that was directing his movements by controlling his shadow. He was aware of such powers but actually saw it in action for the first time. He was fast approaching the ocean surface. He knew that as soon as he would hit the surface, the shadow puller would do the needful. He didn’t have much time to plan his next course of action.

Without any warning, the calm surface of the water split and a huge monster emerged with her mouth wide open. With her entry, a thunderous voice from the sky proclaimed, ‘Simhika!’ Hanumana recognised the name immediately. She was the demoness Sugriva had warned him about. She was the greatest fear for anyone who tried reaching Lanka. Ravana had purposefully kept her hungry, so she wouldn’t spare anyone trying to gain access to Lanka. Her wide mouth was filled with countless razor-sharp teeth.

Instantly, Hanumana shrunk himself to the size of a fly and entered her mouth. Next, he extended both his hands and held them far out. As he slid into her throat, the ten fingers of his hands, which had sharp nails, began to slice through her organs. He, systematically, entered every corner of her body and ripped apart all the essential organs. Initially, Simhika was happy that Hanumana turned out to be such an easy prey. She began to focus on digesting him. Suddenly, she started feeling intense pain in different parts of her body. She realised something was wrong inside her. She was in agony now.

Hanumana completed his job in a few minutes and decided to make his exit plan. Tearing open her stomach, he rushed out. As soon as he flew out of her body, Simhika collapsed with blood pouring out from her mouth and her ruptured stomach. As Hanumana hovered above, looking at Simhika sink into the ocean bed, hundreds of sharks attacked her body, devouring her flesh. The ocean turned red in no time.

After overcoming the last obstacle, Hanumana valiantly moved towards his destination. Lanka was now only minutes away.

Hanumana's humility when Sita asked about his real size

‘Flying across the ocean is not an easy task. If you have managed it, you surely must be as powerful as Garuda or Vayu.’ Sita was appreciating Hanumana for his monumental achievement. Having herself travelled on that path in the Pushpaka Vimana of Ravana and having seen the vastness of the ocean, she knew it was a formidable mission.

Immediately, Hanumana became uncomfortable. The last thing he expected his venerable Mother Sita to do was glorify him. Shifting the focus from himself, Hanumana began speaking, ‘Let me assure you, O Divine Mother, in the entire monkey army there is not even one monkey who is less than me in abilities. All are either equal to me or better than me. Their wisdom is deep, their proficiency in wielding any sort of weapon is marvellous and their loyalty towards Lord Rama is impeccable.

‘Lord Rama has picked me for this errand of delivering a message to you because he considers me the lowest in the cadre and fit as a messenger. Naturally, no King would want to risk their most competent men for such duties.’

Sita was impressed with Hanumana’s humility. She said, ‘Son, I have a doubt. Will you help me understand?’ When Hanumana heard the word Son from Mother Sita’s mouth, he melted with joy. In fact, Hanumana had adopted a miniscule form only to inspire motherly affection in her, towards him. He nodded his head in excitement, eager to render his mother some service. She asked, ‘I have seen you change sizes, so, I am confused; what is your real size?’

Hanumana became very happy with Mother Sita’s enquiry. He humbly explained, ‘I am always small. But, by God’s grace, I can turn bigger in size when needed. God’s power is great, therefore, I can grow big by taking shelter in Him. Otherwise, I am always small.’

Sita smiled with appreciation at the deeper meaning of Hanumana’s innocent words. He continued speaking in the same humble tone of a messenger. He did not say he would protect Sita. He only declared emphatically, ‘When I go back to Lord Rama and Lakshmana and tell them you are in Lanka, they along with Sugriva and his warriors are sure to rush to Lanka without wasting a moment. Please be patient and be assured that Lord Rama will come and take you back. I only request you to give me something that assures Lord Rama that I actually met the right person in Lanka.’

Sita removed a chudamani (headgear worn by married women) which she used to wear on her head. While handing it over to Hanumana, she told him to present it to her Lord Rama. ‘Seeing this, he will remember three persons, since the jewel was given to me by my mother in the presence of Lord Rama and his father,’ said Sita. 

She also narrated the story of the crow named Kakasura which had attacked her in Chitrakoot and how Lord Rama had saved her using a blade of grass, transforming it into a brahmastra (divine missile). This story wasn’t known to anyone in the world except Lord Rama and her. Armed with these two gifts, Hanumana was ready to give her message to his eternal master.

The Holy Name Story

Once sage Narada met with Hanumana and confronted him by saying, “You are not a devotee!” (Of course Narada told this in jest and being a pure devotee himself, wanted to reveal the true devotion of Hanumana from his own mouth).

Hanumana was surprised and asked him, how he came to that conclusion.

Narada then replied, “According to Vedic injunctions there are six kinds of aggressors and one of them is a person who sets fire to other’s house. There are no sins incurred when such aggressors are killed. Such is the gravity of the sins accrued by one who sets fire to other’s house. And when you went to find Mother Sita in Lanka, you set fire to the houses of the Rakshasas on your return. How then can I call you a devotee of the Lord?”

Understanding the real import of Narada’s charges upon him, Hanumana smiled and said, “My dear sage Narada, one of the important duties of a Rama bhakta is to take charge of unclaimed dead bodies and perform final rites for those bodies so that they will attain a better life in their next birth. When I went to Lanka I found that in those big palaces nobody was chanting the names of the Lord. And it is said in the shastras that those who do not chant the holy names and fame of the Lord are considered dead bodies. Since they are already dead, in order to release them from their most miserable existence, I burnt all of them along with their palaces. There was only one palace which is that of Vibhishana from where I could hear the name of Lord Rama being chanted and hence I left that house alone unburnt.”

Infact Hanumana went one step further and made a loud roar which frightened all the resident rakshasas of Lanka. Hearing that fierce roar, many pregnant rakshasi’s womb were aborted. This way Hanumana made sure that in the future also these rakshasa clan does not appear in Lanka and create disturbance.

Narada was very pleased to hear this answer from Hanumana and hugged and praised him for his unsurpassable devotion unto Lord Rama.

This beautiful conversation between Sage Narada and Hanumana brings out a very important point , without chanting the names of the Lord, we are all living dead.

Two prisoners freed

Although Hanumana uses his burning tail to set fire to rooftops all over Lanka, the golden city refuses to burn and continues to look beautiful. Hanumana realizes that it is protected by Ravana’s magic power, which he acquired through vanquishing the celestials. 

He then goes to Ravana’s prison. There he finds a grotesque black figure chained to the rock. It is Death himself, Kala, who has been placed there at Ravana’s command, and the chain-belt that holds him is secured with a Rudra mantra. Thanks to the boon he has received from Yama, Hanumana has no fear of Kala, and when he touches the magic belt, it instantly opens, releasing the prisoner. Kala is overjoyed, and gives his rescuer the boon that anyone who remembers Hanumana need have no fear of him or his emissaries. Hanumana then tells Yama to go and perch atop Ravana’s ten heads, broadcasting his imminent demise.

While he is still on the mountain, Hanumana hears a pathetic voice crying for help and follows it to a nearby cave. There he discovers Shani—the inauspicious planet Saturn—who has also been imprisoned by Ravana. The king of Lanka is a great astrologer and knows the evil effects of Shani’s baleful gaze. The deity is hanging upside down like a bat, his feet chained to the ceiling of the cave and his face turned to the wall so his glance cannot fall on anyone.

Hanumana breaks the chain and frees him, and Shani then turns his evil eye on the city, which is instantly reduced to ashes. They then converse, Shani tells Hanumana that the blue sapphire is believed to protect people against Saturn’s influence, but since the blue-skinned Lord Vishnu is the ‘‘sapphire of sapphires,’’ Rama’s devotees are automatically safe. He adds that, in future, those who remember Hanumana will not be troubled by Shani, and he gives his rescuer the title Sankat Mochan, ‘‘the liberator from distress.’’

Hanumana's pride is humbled

The Gods are delighted by Hanumana’s mighty deeds in Lanka and Brahma gives him a letter to take to Rama, describing them in full. Receiving this commendation from the Grandfather himself, Hanumana feels a trace of selfpride. He then takes leave of Sita, who presents him with her hair ornament as a token of having seen her, and also gives back Lord Rama’s ring to return to the Lord. 

Bearing these three precious objects, Hanumana flies across the sea but becomes thirsty in the process. Reaching the mainland, he spies an ashram with a lake nearby. He descends to find a venerable sage seated in meditation. Hanumana requests permission to drink from the lake, and the sage nods. Hanumana places his three treasures next to the sage and proceeds to the lake. While he is there, an ordinary monkey bounds out of the bushes, picks up Lord Rama’s ring and drops it into the sage’s water pot; the sage makes no effort to stop him. When Hanumana returns, he finds the ring missing and inquires of the sage, who wordlessly points to his pot. But when Hanumana looks into the vessel, he finds it filled with rings exactly like the one he carried. Hanumana inquires which ring is Lord Rama’s, and the sage finally breaks his silence: ‘‘They all are. You see, whenever it is Treta yuga, and Rama takes birth, his messenger Hanumana comes this way, puts down the ring, and a monkey drops it into my water pot.’’

Hanumana is stunned and asks the sage how many rings there are. ‘‘Why don’t you count them?’’ he replies. Hanumana begins to do so, but loses count; there are thousands. The sage smiles and says, ‘‘You see, I don’t count the days and years. The monkey puts the rings in the water pot, and so I keep track of the eons, that’s all.’’ Hanumana is crestfallen, but the sage blesses him and says, ‘‘Don’t bother about the ring. No Hanumana ever brings it back to Lord Rama.’’ 

Much later, when Hanumana is again with Rama, the Lord tells him that he himself took the form of that sage and played a joke in order to relieve Hanumana of the trace of pride he had acquired. Hanumana then sees the ring on Lord Rama’s finger and throws himself on the ground, asking to be protected from the sin of self-pride in future. Lord Rama smilingly grants this boon.

Sita feeds Hanumana

Throughout her long residence in Ayodhya following Lord Rama’s return, Sita has no children of her own, hence she showers her maternal affection on her ‘‘son’’ Hanumana. Seeing him devotedly eating the leftovers from Lord Rama’s meals, she decides one day to prepare food for him with her own hands. She plans a great feast of the choicest savory dishes and lovingly prepares them. Then she summons Hanumana.

He is thrilled, and as he takes his seat he feels immense hunger. Sita begins serving him; she has prepared food of many varieties and in abundance, for in truth she is Goddess Annapurna, who nourishes the whole world. Yet the more Hanumana eats, the more his hunger grows. Sita keeps filling his plate and he keeps emptying it again, till in time even she becomes alarmed. When all the food is nearly finished—even additional food that she has hastily prepared—and Hanumana still appears as ravenous as ever, Sita inwardly realizes that her ‘‘son’’ is none other than the Great Lord who will consume the entire universe at the time of cosmic dissolution. 

She quietly moves behind him and with her right index finger traces a five-syllable mantra on the back of Hanumana’s head—"Om Namah Sivaya", saluting his true identity. At that moment, Hanumana stops eating, takes a sip of water to rinse his mouth, and belches. He is sated at last. 

Lord Shiva becomes Madari

Knowing that Lord Vishnu has taken birth as Lord Rama, Shiva longs to have his darshan. Assuming various disguises—a sadhu begging for alms, an astrologer, a singer of tales—he goes to the palace in Ayodhya to get a glimpse of his Lord in child form, but never succeeds in seeing him for long.

Finally he takes the guise of a Madari street entertainer. Lord Shiva comes to Anjana’s cave in the forest disguised as a Madari. He sounds his drum at the door and Anjana asks Hanumana to see who it is, but Hanumana is engaged in Ramlila—play-acting the Rama story—and refuses to go. Anjana greets the stranger and immediately recognizes him, bowing reverently. Lord Shiva explains to her that he has come on a special mission: he desires admission to the palace in Ayodhya, but it will be difficult for him to get in unless he has Hanumana with him. Anjana summons her son, to whom the Madari seems oddly familiar, ‘‘as if he and I were one.’’ The Madari puts a leash around Hanumana’s neck, apologizing to him for any discomfort.

Arriving in Ayodhya, they attract crowds as they make their way through the streets and markets, and Hanumana holds everyone spellbound with his dancing. People say, ‘‘The little princes must see this!’’ But when the pair reach the palace gate, the doorkeeper scornfully refuses to admit them, asking, ‘‘How are royal children going to be entertained by the likes of you?’’ The Madari just stands there playing his drum, and inside, Rama, who is four years old, hears it and begins to cry. Dasharatha gives orders to summon the street entertainer, but the guard still refuses to admit the monkey, fearing it may bite the princes. But Rama keeps wailing to see the show, so the doorkeeper finally relents.

In the palace courtyard, the Madari and his monkey perform for Lord Rama and his brothers. This is no ordinary monkey show, for the drummer is the Lord who beats out the rhythm of creation and destruction, and he is also Nataraja, Lord of Dancers, now dancing in the form of a monkey. And Lord Vishnu, who makes the entire universe dance to his tune, is now clapping his hands with delight, oblivious to all but a monkey’s dance. No one at court guesses the secret except the royal guru Vasishtha, who inclines his head discreetly out of reverence for Lord Shiva.

When the dance is over, the entertainers are given rich gifts and prepare to leave, whereupon Rama again begins to cry. His mothers ask what the matter is, and he demands to keep the monkey. Everyone is embarrassed; how can they ask the poor Madari to give up his source of livelihood? Still, there is the problem of the crown prince, who is wailing obstinately. All at once, the Madari vanishes, and the monkey leaps into Lord Rama’s arms. The matter is settled and Hanumana becomes the royal pet. He remains with Lord Rama until sage Vishvamitra comes, whereupon he returns to his parents. His mother tells him that now the Ramayana has begun in earnest and sends him to serve Sugriva on Rishyamuka Hill. 

Hanumana gets initiation from Lord Rama and Sita

One day Lord Rama tells Sita that Hanumana is now a perfect spiritual aspirant, worthy to learn the truth about their real nature. Accordingly, Sita delivers a discourse to Hanumana in which she reveals that Lord Rama is the transcendent absolute and she his manifest power and the material principle that performs all apparent acts of creation, preservation, and destruction of the worlds—only ignorant beings mistakenly superimpose these functions on Lord Rama himself. She further reveals that all the events of the Ramayana are divine play (Lila)— performed by herself; they too should not be confused with Lord Rama’s absolute state, which lies beyond all transformation.

Lord Rama then adds his own instruction concerning the nature of the self and of consciousness in relation to the absolute, concluding that consciousness is ultimately one and indivisible, as reflected in the great Upanishadic dictum ‘‘thou art that’’ (tat tvam asi). Hanumana listens attentively to all this. 

The next day, when Hanumana presents himself in court, Lord Rama abruptly asks him, ‘‘Who are you?’’ Hanumana realizes that this is not a conventional question and replies in a couplet: 

'From the bodily perspective, I am your servant, from that of the soul, a portion of you, from that of essential reality, I am but yourself; this is my firm conviction.'

He then expounds this to reveal his full grasp of the mysteries that were imparted to him. Lord Rama and Sita are pleased and give him their blessing.

Goddess Parvati and Hanumana

Ravana’s devotion to Lord Shiva and Parvati is so great that they have come to live in Lanka, and their presence renders it invulnerable to assault. When the celestial Gods complain of Ravana’s tyranny, Brahma goes to Lanka and asks the divine pair to withdraw their protection. Lord Shiva agrees to take birth as a monkey who will oppose Ravana, and Parvati agrees to leave the island when requested by him.

In due course, Hanumana enters Lanka in cat-size form. He sees a temple in which is enshrined a lovely three-eyed goddess, holding divine weapons and flanked by eight yoginis. Laughing loudly, she challenges him, identifying herself as Chandika, Kali, and other terrible manifestations of the divine Mother. Hanumana responds by manifesting his cosmic form, containing the energies of all the Gods. The goddess is awed and responds, ‘‘I recognize you! You are the great Lord, Shiva himself. Tell me what I have to do for the slaying of Ravana.’’ Hanumana says that Lord Rama will not be able to conquer the island as long as she protects it, and he requests her to leave.

Before doing so, the goddess asks the boon that the nine nights of her worship occur in the autumn as well as in the spring, and Hanumana agrees to this.

Was Hanumana really a Celibate?

The faithful ally we all wish for who goes to the extent of gambling his life for the noble cause, who would carry a hill for your kin, such was the Character of Anjanai Putra Hanumana. He was well known for being an aide of Lord Rama, and a Celibate. But was he really a celibate?

According to Parasara Maharishi, Hanumana had worshipped Surya Bhagwan (the Sun god) as his Guru and studied the Vedas and mastered the Nine Vyakarnas. Being an Aajanma Brahmachari, Lord Hanumana was not eligible to study the Nava Vyakarnas (nine grammars) for which the status of being a Gruhasth was essential.

But Hanumana said: “O Lord! I have decided to follow Brahmacharya throughout my life. How can I marry?”

Upon which Lord Surya said: “O Hanumana, you are the incarnation of Lord Siva who bore the poisonous HALAHALA to save the universe when the ocean was churned. You are also a son of Agni, the fire god. Viswakarma separated a part of my luminescence and the world is unable to bear it. You are the only one who can bear it. So, I want to offer you my daughter Suvarchala formed from my 'VARCHAS’ (luminescence), in marriage. Marry my daughter. Since the husband is the one who is to bear; you also bear my ‘Suvarchas’ by marrying Suvarchala. Your marrying her shall also be my Guru Dakshina’.

Hanumana was not convinced though.

Surya replied: “0 Hanumana, this Suvarchala is a divine one, Ayonija. She would be a devoted wife. | am giving you the boon that you would still be a Brahmachari even after marriage. You would continue to be a Prajapatya Brahmachari. Your marriage is only for the welfare of the Universe and it would not affect your chosen course of celibacy. You were a born Brahmachari with a Yajnopavita (Sacred thread). Brahmacharya will be your eternal pursuit.

Hanumana obeyed his teacher’s advice. Surya presented Survachala to Hanumana. It is stated in Parasara Samhita, that Surya offered his daughter Suvarchala in marriage on Jyestha Suddha Dashami. It was a Wednesday under the star Uttara. Those who respect tradition, even to this day, observe "HANUMAN KALYANAM" (Hanuman's Marriage) on that day.

This is depicted in a shloka called as Hanuman Mangalashtakam in Parashara Samhita. 

Hanumana and Arjuna

While the Pandavas were living in exile, Arjuna was on a pilgrimage covering various shrines all over India. He, as a part of his pilgrimage visited Rameshwaram.

He visited the temple where the Shivlinga that was made by Lord Rama before starting for Sri Lanka in the Ramayan Era was kept. After seeking blessings from Lord Shiva, Arjuna went near the ocean and saw the remains of the Ram Setu Bridge built by monkeys and squirrels and other animals.

Wondering at the looks of the bridge, Arjuna thought, “Lord Rama is God. He is a great archer than anyone. Why did he rely on monkeys and other animals, even tiny squirrels to build a bridge across the vast ocean? That too a bridge made out of stones! He, being the greatest archer, could have instead built the bridge with arrows in a blink of the eye. Why didn’t he do that?”

Pondering with his queries, Arjuna was looking at the bridge for a long time trying to find the answer on his own. At that time, a monkey came near him and spoke, “Why are you staring at the bridge for a long time?”

Unsuccessful in acquiring the answer on his own, Arjuna placed his question in front of the monkey. Listening to Arjuna’s words, the monkey laughed and replied, “A bridge made out of arrows!? You are a prince! You are an archer and yet you don’t know what will happen to a bridge made out of arrows when mighty monkeys like Sugriva, Neela and Angadha step on it?!? And, not to forget the entire army of monkeys. They are the loyalists of Lord Rama! Greatest devotees of Lord Rama. Do you think an arrow bridge could hold them? The bridge will collapse. Even if the bridge is made by Lord Rama, it wouldn’t be able to hold us. Why them? Even a bridge made out of arrows won’t be able to hold my weight. No arrow bridge can hold this puny weak monkey. Then how can it hold them?”

Arjuna looked up at the monkey with an amaze and spoke, “You are a tiny monkey! A weaker one, in fact. You look old! Don’t you know who I am? Do you even know what my talent is? I, Arjuna, the disciple of Dronacharya, challenge you. Let us have a wager. I will build an arrow bridge that will have the strength to hold you. And, if I fail in it, if the bridge collapses, I will fall into pyre and kill myself.”

The monkey agreed to Arjuna’s trial. Arjuna, with the help of his Gandiva laid down an arrow bridge across the ocean while the monkey was sitting beside and chanting ‘Rama Rama…’. After completing the bridge Arjuna asked the monkey to cross it. The monkey still chanting Lord Rama’s name, just placed its tail on the edge of the bridge and the bridge collapsed.

Arjuna was startled. He looked at the monkey and asked for one final attempt. The monkey too agreed and sat beside, chanting Lord Rama’s name. Arjuna, this time built a bridge with the arrows closer to each other.  He asked the monkey to cross again anticipating that the bridge won’t plunge this time. Chanting Lord Rama’s name the monkey started walking on the bridge. Not even ten paces the monkey had walked, the bridge collapsed.  The monkey laughed at Arjuna-“See…Just as I told you!

Arjuna was speechless and felt ashamed for losing to a monkey. He felt awful to fail to a monkey and also felt that his knowledge in archery was of no use to him as he was not even able to build a bridge that can hold a monkey. As per the challenge, he prepared a pyre and was about to step on it when a young Brahmin who was passing by stopped him.

The Brahmin enquired what the reason was for Arjuna to step on a pyre and Arjuna explained the challenge between him and the monkey. Hearing to Arjuna’s words on the challenge and the humiliating loss of Arjuna, the Brahmin looked around and spoke, “You people are having a trial. If there’s a trial then there should be someone to judge, right? Someone neutral has to be there to judge and to see whether both of you are playing fair, right? It’s meaningless and not valid when there’s no common judge. Construct another bridge and ask the monkey to walk on it. This time I will be the judge.”

Arjuna and the monkey accepted the Brahmin’s argument and got prepared for one more round. Arjuna took his Gandiva and with a fear in him as a result of losing twice to the monkey, before building the bridge, he prayed to Krishna for hope and confidence. With a confidence that he got because of chanting Krishna’s name, he built the bridge using every ounce of his experience and skill. After constructing the bridge, he prayed to Krishna and looked at the monkey and spoke, “It’s done! Cross the bridge now!”

Monkey was fully confident that anyways the bridge will collapse. After winning twice, it was more confident that the monkey didn’t even chant Lord Rama’s name. Happily the monkey stepped on the bridge. To Arjuna’s and the monkey’s surprise, the bridge didn’t collapse. Anxious, the monkey started walking and jumping on the bridge but yet the bridge stood firm and strong. The monkey was surprised to see the bridge holding him strongly.

“Let me take my form and see whether the bridge can still hold me.”- Thinking so the monkey transformed into a huge and giant monkey. He, the great Hanumana was looking like a huge rock of mountain now. Arjuna was amazed and astounded to see the great Hanumana as his challenger. Humbled to see Hanumana, Arjuna kneeled on the ground and bowed his head in respect. He realized his imprudence in assuming that a bridge made out of arrow can hold warriors like Hanumana. He anticipated that the bridge would collapse in a matter of minutes succumbing to the strength of Lord Hanumana. But, to his surprise, the bridge was still holding Hanumana. 

Baffled and furious, Hanumana started jumping on the bridge. It was looking like a huge mountain is falling on a piece of wood. He started stamping and hopping furiously. The bridge stood without even a scratch on it. Arjuna was puzzled to see what was happening in front of his eyes. He was unable to believe his eyes. Unable to grasp on what is happening and unable to find out an explication, Hanumana stood nonplussed and stumped, eyeing Arjuna and the young brahmin.

While Hanumana was looking at the brahmin, he observed that the brahmin was smiling at him while Arjuna was full of surprise. There was no surprise or baffle or fear in the eyes of the brahmin. ‘Something is wrong. Only after his arrival, the bridge is strong. After seeing all those that I was doing on the bridge, no normal brahmin could stand like this. This kid is different. He is not a normal kid.’- Thinking so, Hanumana came down towards the brahmin.

Hanumana spoke in an intrigued voice, “I accept my defeat. But, who are you? How is it you are able to do this?” Still smiling, the brahmin revealed himself. Arjuna and Hanumana were both startled to see Lord Vishnu. They both fell at Lord Vishnu’s feet. Smiling at his devotees, Lord Vishnu spoke, “I am Rama and I am Krishna. I believe now you both have got your answers. Arjuna, there is a thin line of difference between ego and over confidence. You should always know where you are standing. And the knowledge to know where you are can be acquired only by understanding the truth and reality. In your first two attempts to build the bridge, you were full of pride. You thought that as a great archer you can achieve anything. There was more “I”. Pride and ego will bring no good to men. Hanumana was chanting my name those times and so there was no ego in him. With Rama’s power on his side, he won. This is a lesson for humble and modesty, Arjuna.”

He turned towards Hanumana and spoke, “Beloved Hanumana, with winning twice, egoism went inside your head. Chastened by his loss twice, Arjuna was thinking of Krishna right from the moment he started building the bridge for the third time and he never stopped chanting Krishna’s name in his heart. So Krishna made him win. You were so sure that you will bring the bridge down by yourself and you even failed to chant Lord Rama’s name and so you failed. Neither of you failed. It’s only god’s power that won.”

Both Arjuna and Hanumana realized the truth and asked for forgiveness from Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu smiled at both and blessed them. “Lord, forgive me for what I have done. I should not have driven Arjuna to the extent of giving up his life. As an act of remorse, I will be present in the flag on Arjuna’s chariot and will protect him.”

Lord Vishnu too accepted Hanumana’s wish and thus made sure Arjuna’s chariot remains indestructible in the Kurukshetra war that was about to come. 

Hanumana and Mount Govardhan

The earth-moving monkeys level many mountains to provide building material for the causeway. By the end of the fourth day of construction, they have reduced all of southern India to a level plateau and they leap northward in search of additional peaks. Hanumana flies to the Himalayas where he spies an especially lofty mountain, Dronacala. 

He decides to transport it to the construction site, but when he attempts to do so, he finds that he cannot. He then realizes that the mountain is made of salagrama, the sacred black stone of Vishnu. It is in fact a heavenly mountain that has taken earthly avatara at the same time as Lord Rama himself. Hanumana worships it and tells it that he will bring it to the Lord, who will touch it with his feet. At this, the mountain permits itself to be lifted and carried through the skies. 

However, while Hanumana is en route, Nala and Nila informs Lord Rama that the causeway is complete and no further stones are needed. Lord Rama orders construction halted and tells the monkeys to set down any remaining boulders and return to camp. Many monkeys are en route at the time, bearing mountain peaks, and they drop them on receiving Lord Rama’s order, creating the present-day topography of southern India with its many solitary hills and outcroppings.

Hanumana, however, is still far to the north, and when he learns of the completion of the causeway, he sets the Drona mountain down in the Braj region, near the river Yamuna. The holy mountain is, literally, crestfallen, and reminds Hanumana of his promise to bring it to Lord Rama’s feet; Hanumana now faces the dilemma of breaking either his own promise or Lord Rama’s order.

He quickly flies south and reports to Lord Rama, who tells him to inform the mountain that it is not yet time for them to meet and that it should remain in Braj. In the next age, when Lord Rama takes birth as Lord Krishna, he will roam the mountain with his companions and will even lift it into the air on his finger. The Drona peak will become famous throughout the world as Mount Govardhan and be worshiped as an embodiment of the Lord himself. Hanumana delivers this message, and the resettled mountain is satisfied.

Hanumana and the Veena of Sage Narada

Once Sage Narada asked Lord Rama, that many devotees sing your praises, but who is your favourite among them? Lord Rama says it’s Hanumana. The way Hanumana sings my praises, no one else can do it.

Sage Narada was proud of his talent in music and used to play his Veena to impress others. He used to claim that he is the greatest musician in the world. So he thought of testing Hanumana and his talent of music.

He went to Hanumana and requested him to sing the praises of Lord Rama. Hanumana at once agreed because he liked to be submerged in devotion of Lord Rama. As Hanumana started singing, Sage Narada got so engrossed in his divine singing that he kept his veena aside on a rock and kept listening.

As Hanumana sang, all the nearby rocks started melting. Sage Narada’s veena was also floating in that liquid form of rocks. Sage Narada closed his eyes and was enjoying the ecstacy. As soon as Hanumana finished his song, the rocks again took the solid form.

Sage Narada opened his eyes, and to his surprise saw his veena got stucked inside the rock. Sage Narada requested Hanumana to remove it from the rock. But Hanumana refused to do it. Sage Narada pleaded that please remove it for me because I use it often and have service to do.

Hanumana refused to do it and started running from one corner of the earth to other. He took many rounds of the earth and Sage Narada was chasing him and requesting him to return his veena.

Finally Hanumana came back to the same place where the veena was stuck, sang praises and the rocks melted again and Sage Narada was able to take his veena back which was stuck inside the rock.

Sage Narada thanked Hanumana but asked him that why he kept running across the globe and made Narada to chase him?

Hanumana humbly replied, “It’s because I wanted the dust of your holy feet to touch each and every corner of the earth. Now that you have touched your feet, these places can become holy places for pilgrimage.

After this incident, Sage Narada never claimed that he is the world’s greatest musician – He could never melt a stone with his music.

A Favour for Lord Krishna

It is the close of the dvapara yuga and the beginning of the Kaliyuga. Lord Vishnu is again incarnated on earth. In the form of Lord Krishna, he reigns as king of the city of Dwarka on the western coast, surrounded by sixteen thousand beautiful queens, among whom Satyabhama is a special favorite, and assisted by his discus, Sudarshan, and his eagle, Garuda.

Yet in time, all three—the queen, the discus, and the bird—begin to betray self-pride. Garuda is proud of his grand exploits (such as stealing soma from the celestials) and of the fact that his image adorns Lord Krishna’s banner. The razor-sharp Sudarshan has slain such enemies of Lord Krishna as Shishupala and considers himself deadlier than Indra’s thunderbolt. Lord Krishna dotes on Satyabhama and has even brought a fragrant creeper from heaven for her garden, and so one day the queen, viewing herself in a mirror, asks Lord Krishna pointedly if she isn’t more beautiful than ‘‘that Sita, for whom you once roamed from forest to forest.’’

Lord Krishna makes no reply. Instead, he mentally summons Hanumana, who resides in an enchanted grove in the Himalayas. Hanumana comes to Dwarka in the form of a large monkey with fiery yellow eyes and enters the royal orchard, terrifying the guards. Sampling choice fruits and breaking branches, he wreaks havoc throughout the grove. Lord Krishna is informed and orders Garuda to go with an army to catch the monkey. Garuda is surprised, ‘‘An army ... for a monkey? I’ll get him myself!’’ ‘‘Whatever...,’’ says Lord Krishna with a faint smile.

Garuda enters the garden and sees Hanumana sitting with his back to him, munching fruit. ‘‘Vile one!’’ the eagle screeches, ‘‘Who are you and why have you destroyed the garden?’’ Without even giving him a glance, Hanumana casually replies, ‘‘As you may have noticed, I’m a monkey, and I’m doing the usual thing monkeys do.’’ Garuda then announces that he is going to bring him to the king, and when the monkey ignores this, informs him that he is none other than Garuda. Hanumana glances at him, then reaches for another fruit, ‘‘Oh, go away! I’ve seen plenty of birdies like you. If you’ve got some strength, show it.’’ Enraged, Garuda attacks, but Hanuman quickly wraps him in his tail and begins to choke him.

Garuda gasps that Lord Krishna has sent him. ‘‘I only know Lord Rama,’’ Hanumana replies, loosening his grip slightly. ‘‘They’re the same, you fool!’’ Garuda says. Hanumana tightens the tail again, ‘‘No doubt, but I only answer Lord Rama’s call, no one else’s.’’ Not wanting to hurt Lord Vishnu’s vehicle, Hanumana gently tosses Garuda head first into the sea, then bounds off toward the southern mountains. Garuda faints and swallows seawater, then revives and makes his way back to court, where, downcast and with dripping plumage, he presents himself before Lord Krishna.

‘‘Been sea-bathing?’’ Lord Krishna inquires innocently. Garuda falls at his feet, ‘‘That’s no ordinary monkey! He threw me into the ocean with his tail.’’ Lord Krishna informs him that, in fact, the monkey is Hanumana, and orders him to go to the Malaya Mountain and summon him again, only this time he should say, ‘‘Lord Rama calls you.’’ Still proud of his speed, Garuda streaks southward.

Meanwhile Lord Krishna summons Satyabhama and tells her, ‘‘I have a small lila to perform. Hanumana is coming, and I must appear to him as Lord Rama. Kindly array yourself as Sita.’’ Then he calls his favorite weapon, the discus Sudarshan. ‘‘I’m busy,’’ Lord Krishna says. ‘‘Remain outside the throne room and don’t let anyone in.’’ Glinting with importance, Sudarshan stations himself before the door. Garuda is a little afraid as he approaches Hanumana, and he delivers Lord Krishna’s message respectfully this time.

Hanumana is now delighted and tells him to go back, he will come presently. Garuda thinks to himself, ‘‘This branch-beast may be strong, but he can’t match my speed. God knows when he’ll reach Dwarka!’’ But he says nothing and turns northward, flying at full tilt. Hanumana reaches Dwarka in a trice and is about to enter the throne room when Sudarshan challenges him. Eager for his Lord’s darshan, Hanumana considers conversation pointless and simply grabs the discus and pops it into his mouth.

Entering, he sees Lord Krishna as Lord Rama, with bow and arrows, and prostrates at his feet. Rising, he glances at the woman seated to Lord Krishna’s left, and then addresses him, ‘‘Lord, where is my revered Mother? It seems you are honoring some slave-girl today.’’ Satyabhama is properly mortified.

At that moment Garuda flies in, huffing and puffing. Seeing Hanumana before the throne, he, too, becomes downcast. Lord Krishna smiles broadly and asks Hanumana, ‘‘By the way, did anyone stop you on your way in?’’ Hanumana looks thoughtful, ‘‘Well, there was a sort of metal toy, but I was in a hurry to see you.’’ He reaches into his mouth and removes Sudarshan, who is understandably chagrined. All three of Lord Krishna’s companions hang their heads in shame. The Lord blesses Hanumana, who bounds off cheerfully to the mountains. 

Substituting a Syllable

On the very eve of his death, the desperate Ravana attempts one final measure to secure victory. He assembles a large number of Brahmans learned in tantric ritual and commands them to invoke the most violent form of the goddess, Chamunda. If she can be made to fight on his side, victory will yet be his. The Brahmans are to perform 1,000 recitations of a long poem in her honor, bracketing each recitation with a fire offering and the chanting of a wish formula that expresses their patron’s request:

 'Jaya tvam devi Camunde jaya bhutarti harini' (Victory to thee, Goddess Chamunda, remover of the pain of all beings! )

Vibhishana learns of this scheme and informs Hanuman, who promptly flies to Ravana’s city and, transforming himself into a Brahman, mingles unobtrusively with the priests as they prepare for their all-night ritual. He begins serving them energetically, washing their feet, preparing their seating area, laying out their ritual supplies, and so forth. The Brahmans are impressed because they generally don’t get this kind of service from the arrogant inhabitants of Lanka. Pleased, they offer the helpful Brahman a boon. 

He looks dismayed and protests that he wants nothing; it is his privilege to serve them as they prepare for their important work. But the Brahmans are insistent— their pleasure must find expression in a boon. ‘‘Ask! Ask! We need to get started.’’ Shyly, the helpful Brahman says that, since they insist, he will ask one small favor: the alteration of one letter in the final word of the formula they are to recite. ‘‘If it isn’t too much trouble, would you kindly change the h in 'harini' to k?’’ Realizing the implications, the senior most Brahman throws a glance at his comrades, but they are bound by their promise and all say ‘‘so be it!’’ The thousand fold ritual commences and the formula that echoes with each round is now: 

'Jaya tvam devi Camunde jaya bhutarti karini' (Victory to thee, Goddess Chamunda, cause of the pain of all beings!)

This, of course, is insulting, and the goddess turns a deaf ear to it. Just before dawn, when the thousandth recitation ceases and the goddess is expected to manifest amid blinding flames and murderous supernatural minions ... nothing happens. The priests look around and the helpful young Brahman has vanished. Abashed, they gather up their things and shuffle out. 

Naturally they expect the worst from Ravana, but when the whole matter is reported to him, he only sighs and strokes his ten beards thoughtfully, remarking: ‘‘That monkey is so awfully clever!’’

Panchamukhi Hanumana

The story of Ahiravan Vadh in Ramayana is one of the many untold stories of the Ramayana. The incident is quite an important one as well as interesting. It shows a different side of Hanumana, and tells us about what lengths he was willing to go for his beloved Lord Rama.

Ahiravan was the ruler of Patal Loka, or the netherworld. He was the brother of Ravana, and was immensely powerful and cruel. He was a master of magic and illusion, often confusing his enemies by showing them illusions and making them hallucinate.

According to legend, when Indrajeet, the valiant and extremely talented but vile son of Ravana was killed by Lakshmana, Ravana was crestfallen and had slowly started to realize that he was losing the battle. He wanted to get back at Rama and Lakshmana for taking away the apple of his eyes from him. With odds against his favour, he summoned his brother from the netherworld, Ahiravan. Ahiravan had initially decided not to be a part of the war against Lord Rama.

Ahiravan was a devotee of Goddess Mahamaya. He often sacrificed humans to her, and gained more power in the process. Ravana convinces him that if he is able to capture Rama and Lakshmana and sacrifice them to the goddess, she would be very happy. This gives Ahiravan a reason to kidnap the brothers, and he formulates a plan with Ravana to capture them.

Vibhishana acquainted with the ways of Ahiravan, comes to know about their plan. He warns Rama and Lakshmana about Ahiravan. He also requests Hanumana to keep an eye on Rama and Lakshmana and guard over them. Vibhishana informs them all about the mastery of Ahiravan over magic and illusion, and tells them to be careful of him.

Hanumana creates a shield around the cottage where Lord Rama and Lakshmana were sleeping with his tail, to ensure that no one is able to breach the barricade to reach the brothers.

Once when everyone is asleep, Ahiravan tries to breach the shield in various disguises, in order to kidnap Rama and Lakshmana, but Hanumana foils his every attempt. Finally after a lot of planning, Ahiravan disguises himself as Vibhishana and asks Hanumana to enter the cottage and check on Rama and Lakshmana. Hanumana allows him to enter the shield, and is fooled by Ahiravan in the process. He successfully manages to kidnap both Rama and Lakshman and carry them to his realm, deep underground.

In the morning, everyone wakes up to realize that Ahiravan, disguised as Vibhishana, has successfully taken away Rama and Lakshmana. Seething with anger, Hanumana promises Vibhishana that he would find both the brothers and also kill Ahiravan, to get revenge for even thinking of harming his beloved Lord Rama.

Hanumana, with a lot of grit and determination to free his masters and save them from the evil Ahiravan, travels all the way to Patal Loka. He finds Ahiravan’s city in Patal Loka, a hauntingly beautiful place with forts and fortresses and guards everywhere. He fights off against everyone and finally reaches Ahiravan’s palace, where he meets a half monkey half reptile, Makardhwaja, the guardian of the palace.

When Hanumana tries to enter the palace, Makardhwaja tries to stop him. Hanumana asks for his introduction, and Makardhwaja introduces himself as the guardian of Patal Loka, and the mighty son of Hanumana. Amused, Hanumana thinks that Makardhwaja is lying, as Hanumana had been a celibate all his life.  Then, Hanumana goes into dhyan and tries to know about the origin of Makardhwaja, and comes to know the truth.

The story goes, that when Hanumana had taken a dip in the ocean after burning the whole of Lanka with the fire on his tail, a drop of his sweat falls in the mouth of a huge crocodile. This fish gets caught by the people of Patal Loka, and they find Makardhwaja when they cut open the crocodile’s stomach. Ahiravan, seeing Makardhwaja’s intelligence and strength, makes him the guard of his palace.

Makardhwaja tells Hanumana that he would have to fight him first, before entering the palace. He tells him that he cannot betray his mentor, Ahiravan, and is ready to face even his father to obey his master. Seeing his devotion and commitment, Hanumana is pleased, and he blesses him. They fight after that, and Hanumana wins the battle. After that, he ties up Makardhwaja and enters the palace, looking for Lord Rama and Lakshmana.

Over there, he meets Chandrasena, who tells him that the only way to kill Ahiravan was to extinguish five lamps facing five different directions at the same time. For doing this, Hanumana assumes the form of 'Panchmukhi Hanumana'. The five faces of Hanumana, Varaha, Garuda, Narasimha and Hayagriva appear to extinguish the lamps. Hanuman faces the east, Varaha faces the south, Garuda faces the west, and Narasimha faces the north and Hayagriva faces upwards.

In this form, he is able to extinguish all the five lamps at the same time. He then goes on to kill Ahiravan with one swift blow of his knife. He ultimately manages to kill Ahiravan and keep the promise he made to Vibhishana, and rescues Lord Rama and Lakshmana.

The story does not end here. It is said that Ahiravan’s wife was pregnant at the time. When she comes to know about the death of her husband, she tries to fight against Hanumana. The fight gets very intense as Ahiravan’s wife is very powerful as well.

During the fight, Hanumana kicks her stomach, and in the process her child comes out. The child, covered with blood and mucous, was tough to catch hold of, and was extremely powerful, fighting toe to toe against Hanumana. Finally, Hanumana throws some mud on the child, and is able to get a grasp on him. He then smashes the head of the demon child on the ground and kills him.

On the way back from Patal Loka, Lord Rama sees Makardhwaja all tied up at the entrance of the palace. He asks Hanumana about him, and he tells him that Makardhwaja is his son, who fought valiantly to prevent Hanumana from entering the palace. Lord Rama asks him to untie Makardhwaja, and makes him the king of Patal Loka, and blesses him.

Finally, Hanumana is able to save Lord Rama and Lakshmana from the clutches of Ahiravan, the ruler of Patal Loka. They go on to defeat the army of Raavan, and Lord Rama kills Ravana in the end, fulfilling his destiny.

Hanumad Ramayana

When Valmiki completed his Ramayana, Narada wasn't impressed. He said:

'It's good, but Hanumana's Ramayana is better'.

Valmiki said:

'That monkey has written the Ramayana too!'

Valmiki didn't like this at all, and wondered whose Ramayana was better. So he set out to find Hanumana. His curiosity was aroused and he traveled to the Himalayas where Hanumana was residing in order to see his version. Hanumana had penned the adventures of Lord Rama, engraving the story with his nails on rocks of Himalayas.

Valmiki thought, the monkey warrior was no doubt an eyewitness to many of the incidents, but was he a poet? He questioned Hanumana about the rumour that he had composed his own Ramayana. Hanumana carried him and placed him on a ledge from which he could read the narration.

Valmiki kept reading and reading, scanning the cliffs from top to bottom, climbing and descending now and again in order to see well. Sometimes he laughed loudly and at times his eyes brimmed with tears.

Valmiki was overwhelmed by the sheer power and depth of devotion of the amazing narrative. It was truly a lofty work, inspired by great love.

After finishing the story, Valmiki gazed for a long time into the distance. Joy and sorrow flitted over his face. He was joyous at having had the chance to read such an exquisite work of art and sad because it obviously overshadowed his own work.

Hanuman politely asked him the reason for his sorrow.

'O best of Sages! Is something wrong? Does the poetry have many faults?'

Valmiki turned to him and said:

'It is indeed a marvelous bit of work. Every image, every word is alive and pregnant with devotion. There is not and never can be an equal to it. My version, which I created with such pains over a period of twelve years, is no match for the magnificence of your work and will therefore be despised. After reading your Ramayana no one will read my version of Ramayana.'

And Valmiki bursts crying. For a moment Hanumana was dumbstruck. Then he said:

'Is that all that is bothering you?'

He promptly tore the slabs on which he had scribbled the poem on the mountain and piled them on one shoulder. He placed the aged saint on another shoulder and flew to the ocean. When they reached the middle, Hanumana called loudly,

'May these be an offering to my Lord.'

With these words, he threw his own version into the sea, where they raised huge waves before disappearing into the depths of the sea and said:

'Now no one will ever read Hanuman's Ramayana.'

Valmiki watched speechless, overcome with shame and guilt. “It would have been better,” he thought, “if he had thrown me into the sea and saved that wonderful story.”

But Hanumana seemed unperturbed and cheerful. He said:

'You need your Ramayana more than I need mine. You wrote your Ramayana so that the world remembers Valmiki; I wrote my Ramayana so that I remember Lord Rama.'

At that moment, Valmiki realized how he had been consumed by the desire for validation through his work. He had not used the work to liberate himself from the fear of invalidation. He had not appreciated the essence of Lord Rama's tale to unknot his mind. 

His Ramayana was a product of ambition; whereas Hanumana's Ramayana was a product of affection. That's why Hanumana's Ramayana sounded so much better. Valmiki realized that greater than Lord Rama is the idea of Lord Rama.

Hanumana bowed to Valmiki, who blessed him and said prophetically:

'O Son of Vayu, in another age I will take birth again and devote myself to your service. I will sing your praises and teach others to do so. I will retell the story you have told, using the language of the common man so that everyone may understand it.'

Thus Valmiki was reborn as Tulsidas and writes 'Ramcharitmanas'.

Hanuman smiled and said, “Victory to Lord Rama!”

This was the first and greatest Ramayana, called the Hanumad Ramayana. This story tell us that there are people like Hanumana who are selflessly devoted and yet don't want to be famous.

Why Lord Rama gave death sentence to Hanumana?

After returning to Ayodhya after the exile, Lord Rama was seated on his royal throne. Narada, Rishi Vishwamitra, Guru Vashishta and many other sages were also present in the court and were discussing some religious issue.

Right then Narada said, ‘O revered Sages and scholars, please let me know Who is more powerful, The God himself or His Name?’

After a long debate the questions remained unanswered. Then Narada himself declared that “His Name” is higher than the God Himself. But none of them agreed to it. Hence Narada thought of proving the fact before the dispersal of the royal court.

Then Narada called Hanumana and asked Hanumana to greet all the sages present in the court of Lord Rama except for Vishwamitra.  He further explained to Hanumana that Vishwamitra was not a sage by birth and was a King by profession once.  Hanumana did as advised but the result was not to Narada’s liking as Vishwamitra did not bother.

Narada then set about instigating Vishwamitra by telling him it was an insult to the meritorious Sage, that Hanumana did not pay respect to him.  

As Sage Vishwamitra was trying to compose himself Narada said: ‘Did you notice the arrogance of Hanumana? He knew that you were Lord Rama's teacher and have imparted him the knowledge. It was because of you, he could marry Devi Sita, still Hanumana ignored you and paid obeisance to all other Saints and Sages. He has insulted you intentionally.’

Provoked by Narada, Sage Vishwamitra became very angry. He went to Lord Rama and said: ‘Your devotee Hanumana has insulted me publically, so he should get the death penalty before sunset tomorrow for his arrogance.’

Sage Vishwamitra was Lord Rama’s Guru and Lord Rama could not disobey his Guru at any cost, so he had to punish Hanumana for his disrespect shown to the Guru.  Lord Rama was shocked for a moment because Hanumana was his most beloved devotee.  The news of the death penalty of Hanumana by Shri Rama became the talk of the town and it spread like a wildfire.

Hanumana repented for his misdeed and went to Narada and requested him to protect him from Vishwamitra’s wrath and from the arrows of Lord Rama.

Narada replied very calmly: ‘Don’t worry Hanumana. Don’t be dismayed, only do what you have been advised to do. Get up early in the morning and take a bath in the Sarayu River. Then stand on the banks of the river and start chanting 'Shri Rama, Jai Rama, Jai Jai Rama. I will guarantee you that nothing will happen to you.’

But Lord Rama is called 'Maryada Purushottam', so against his will he started shooting arrows at Hanumana who was fully engrossed in chanting his name Shri Rama, Jai Rama, Jai Jai Rama. None of his arrows could touch Hanumana. Lord Rama was exhausted but Hanumana was only looking at his Lord with total surrender, love and devotion. 

Lord Rama used the most powerful weapons he had never used before but nothing could harm Hanumana. Then Lord Rama aimed his Brahmastra on him. Hanumana kept chanting 'Shri Rama, Jai Rama, Jai Jai Rama' and did not move at all. But even the most dangerous weapon Brahmastra failed to cause any harm to Hanumana.

Then Narada went to Rishi Vishwamitra and requested him to stop the unique battle. Narada said, "Oh great Sage, Hanumana was very ignorant about your grace but does that make a difference in your greatness in anyway?

However this was a play that I directed to show the significance of “Ram Naam”. Do you agree now that Naam is more powerful than Shri Rama Himself”.

Vishwamitra was convinced and ordered Lord Rama to stop the ordeal.

Hanumana came and prostrated himself on the feet of Lord Rama. He expressed his gratitude and apologized to Maharishi Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra not only forgave him but blessed him too, that his devotion towards Lord Rama will be the loftiest example in time to come.

And thus the Greatness of “Ram Naam” was established.

Hanumana and Kalanemi

Kalanemi was the uncle of the demon-king Ravana of Lanka. When Hanuman proceeded towards Himalayas in search of the medicinal herb for reviving Lakshmana, Ravana wanted him to be killed. For this purpose, he deputed Kalanemi with the promise of giving him half of his kingdom.

Kalanemi advices Ravana to return Sita and become a devotee of Lord Rama. However Ravana was enraged with anger and he drew up his sword to kill Kalanemi, he somehow stopped Ravana and thought that instead of getting killed by thie evil Ravana, it would be better to die at the hands of Lord Rama’s true devotee Hanuman. Hence Kalanemi assumed the form of a sage and went to Himalayas where Hanuman was on the way to search the medicinal herb.

He invited Hanumana to his hermitage and offered him food. Hanumana refused the food and drink and went to take a bath in the nearby pond, where a crocodile seized him; he dragged the animal out of water and killed him. But from the dead body there arose a love Apsara, who had become a crocodile because of the curse of Daksha. The Apsara told Hanumana to be cautious of Kalanemi. Thereby Hanumana came to know the identity of the disguised demon.

He went straight to Kalanemi and seizing him by his feet, he whirled him round and threw him with such a force that he fell before the throne of Ravana.