Lord Hanuman Shows us the Way! By Manish Mehrotra

 

             Lord Hanuman Shows us the Way!

                                                 By Manish Mehrotra

 

 

Epic Ramayana, which is also the repository of our Country’s Cultural Heritage has its messages to the mankind intact. 

 

Lord Hanuman guides us towards various characteristic qualities which one must follow. 

 

Chapter Sunderkand in the Epic Ramayana shows us the way, I read and re-read the Sunderkand, every time I read it, I find something new about the strength of character of Lord Hanuman.

 

Some inferences of his qualities, as I see them, I have jotted down below for the benefit of the readers, though not exhaustively, as I am aware that one always keeps learning and so do I, it is purely the Lords blessing that I was inspired to do this. 

 

On his Journey in quest for Sita Mata, Lord Hanuman takes a firm resolve to achieve the mission. 

 

“He pressed hard on the mountain to gather the momentum to take the big leap. He shook himself and roared but with poise to take a flight into the Air”: -

 

Message: There has to be clear Focus and full resolve. 

 

“I will go to Lanka, if I don’t find Sita ji , I will go to the heavens, if I don’t find Sita ji over there, I will go back to Lanka, tie up Ravana and bring him to Lord Rama. Some how I have to succeed “  

 

Message: Lord Hanuman has a clear plan to achieve success. 

 

“Flowers rained on him from heavens, Sun did not hurt him, vaayu caressed him”

Message: When a person has a noble mission with utmost dedication, then Nature cooperates fully with you. 

 

While crossing the Sea, Mountain Mainaka rose up from the Sea to Give him a resting place. Lord Hanuman thanks him and says “I have taken an oath that I will not rest until I accomplish what I have resolved.

 

Message: A Firm resolve is a must to accomplish the works undertaken. 

 

When Rakshasi Sursa insists of gulping up Hanuman ji, he uses great tact in first expanding his person and then contracting it to pass through her mouth quickly.”

 

Message: Therefore, on several occasions one must use tact more than valour. (There is a famous proverb that my father use to often quote to me; “Discretion is the better part of valour”) 

 

However, when Lord Hanuman confronted dreadful Rakshasi Simihika, he contracted himself and entered her mouth and killed her instantly like a vajra and came out of it.

 

Message: This incident shows that when the occasion demands, and the time is right one must not hesitate to strike the obstruction. 

 

When Bajrang Bali reached Lanka and before he took the smallest form to enter Lanka and reach Sita ji, his dialogue with himself speaks volumes about his wisdom and deep thinking before taking any action”

 

Message:(Nothing should be destroyed by my own actions) when the task is nearing completion. This is the teaching from this incident. 

 

“Rama's aim should not be futile. How can I find  Sitaji ? Will it be possible for me to see her alone and give Prabhu Ram’s message? It has been said that even great tasks are destroyed because of one’s own foolishness!! Nothing should be destroyed because of my own actions”. 

 

“When rakashasi Lankini attacks Lord Hanuman on his entry to Lanka, first he makes a request and then strikes her. It is stated in the Sunderkand that since Bajrangbali was attacking a woman he showed very controlled aggression. But rakshasi Lankini was actually waiting for Lord Hanuman to grant her Moksha as she had this boon from Lord Brahma”.

 

Message: Hence there may be moments in one’s life that one may have to show aggression; but one must have the quality and capability of controlling aggression. 

 

In Sunderkand, Lord Hanumans self-pondering and auto suggestions are a lesson to mankind themselves. Once he reaches Lanka, he starts searching for Sita ji, he wanders from pillar to post but does not find Sita ji. He is despondent and depressed. He gives himself the following suggestion: - “The only way to fight weakness is to stand firm and refuse to be oppressed by depression. It is this firmness which will make a man to keep on trying until he succeeds.”

 

Note: - This incident is in Valmiki Ramayan but not elaborated in Tulsi Ramayan. 

 

After Lord Hanuman discovers Sita ji in the Ashok Vatika, he sees Ravana come there and coaxing Sita ji to be his wife. This leads Sita ji into great mental anguish and turmoil. Hanuman ji feels desperately sad at the hands of Fate of Sita ji. He wants to immediately jump of the tree and tell everything to Sita ji and console her, but then he speaks to himself “My task has to be accomplished. I should use my power of thinking to the utmost” and plan how to approach Sita ji: -

 

Message: Thus, even in most distressing times one must never lose the power of thinking. One must ponder before taking any step in a haste. 

 

In Valmiki Ramayan it is stated that when Sita ji met Lord Hanuman and she considerably spoke to Lord Hanuman about Lord Rama, she was most relieved and happy and says: - “There is a proverb which says: ‘If a man lives in hope, happiness will come his way sooner or later.”

 

Message: Hence the message of always keeping hope is also shared by Sunderkand. 

 

When Lord Hanuman is taken captive in Ravanas Court he tries to persuade Ravana to leave all misdeed and surrender before Lord Rama and gives him the advise “सुमति - कूमती सब के उर राहिही”:- That good sense and mal- thinking rests in everyone’s own heart and conscience. One must therefore listen to Good sense, so do I advise you. But instead Ravana ignores the advice and punishes Lord Hanuman by lighting up his tail. He then burns the Lanka and returns to Lord Rama to tell the entire narrative of his having found Sita ji.

 

ओम् हनुमते नमाह 🙏🏻

पवन तनय संकट हरण मंगल मूर्ति रूप ।

राम लखन सीता सहित हृदय बसहु सुरभूप।