JATAYU
Page Two

HANUMAN

Hanuman is one of the most colourful characters in the Ramayana. He has the appearance of a monkey. Some scholars claim that he is symbolic of the mind.

A monkey’s predominant character is never to be still, but to jump from branch to branch. Compare it to our mind. Isn’t that what the mind does always moving from one desire unto another.

Hanuman reminds us that even though he is a monkey yet he is close to Sri Rama (the Lord God himself); and if a monkey can make it to that proximity, can’t we?

Some claim that Hanuman in this life took up the body of a monkey on purpose because as an animal he would be able to serve better.

Hanuman has a colourful parentage. The mind is as fickle as air. So popularly Hanuman is knows as the son of the wind (Pavana Putra). His presence is therefore felt everywhere which shall remain to be present as long as the world exists.

‘Charo yug partap tumhara
Hai parsidh jagat ujiyara’

This couplet is from the famous prayer of Sri Hanuman (Hanuman Chalisa) and it means that the Influence of Sri Hanuman is present everywhere, every time and everyone is aware of this fact.

Hanuman is symbolic of mind and air. To his devotees, he is like a cool breeze, but to eradicate evil he is like a tornado capable of uprooting mighty trees.

It is believed that Hanuman is among the ll Rudras, Avatars of Shiva. 

He was born through a greater miracle. 

While the kheer or payas of Dasharath's yagna was being distributed to his three wives Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi, it is said that a hard breeze blew, and Kaikeyis share was blown away. The breeze or Vayu or Pavan took it and dropped it in the open hands of Anjani, the monkey queen who ate it. 

Anjani  is the mother of Hanuman who, upon birth, was so powerful that he jumped to grab the sun. The sun, frightened by this assault, negotiated with Hanuman that he would give him golden garments which would be seen only by his Lord master and that Hanuman would meet his Lord because of the gifted garments. 

So Hanuman let go of the Sun. Later during Sri Ram's Vanvaas, (sojourn in the forest) Ram saw the Monkey Hanuman and when he exclaimed about his golden garments, Hanuman recognized his Lord and never left Ram's side. Hanuman is one of the seven 'immortals' of Hindu mythology
and is worshipped for his strength and single minded devotion to Rama. Also,
Hanuman is powerful because he alone is borne of the full portion of the
Kheer or payas. 

Kaushalya, Sumitra shared half their kheer with Kaikeyi and therefore, the four princes Ram, Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna were born of half a share each!

Because of the above narration, some believe that Hanuman is a half-brother of Rama.

Some scholars claim that Hanuman is the Reincar­nation of Lord Shiva who wanted to be part of the Leela (Drama) enacted by the Reincarnation of Lord Vishnu - Sri Rama.

Hanuman has great qualities. He is a great soldier instrumental in reuniting Rama with Sita.

Hence a lot of young ladies who want to get married earnestly recite the Hanuman Chalisa hoping that they would soon be united with husbands.

It is said that a prayer to Hanuman never goes unheeded because Hanuman’s selfless and devoted service has kept the Lord of Lords indebted to him forever.

Hanuman is the sevak or devotee and Ram is his lord. His single minded bhakti made him see Ram everywhere. 

Hanuman's loyalty and purpose of life is to serve Ram. This quality of
total surrender to the Lord which is seen in Hanuman's life is worthy of
emulation. 

BALI

Bali, the King of the Monkeys, was the elder brother of Sugreeva. Bali was so powerful that he tied up the mighty Ravana in his tail and kept him prisoner in his kingdom Kishkinda for many years.

Bali had unjustly banished Sugreeva from the kingdom and had taken Uma, Sugreeva’s wife, for himself. Once a powerful demon, Dundubhi, challeng­ed Bali for a fight. Bali drove the demon into a dark cave where they continued the fight for years. Sug­reeva, who had been keeping a watch at the mouth of the cave, saw blood gushing out of the cave, and thought Bali had been killed and closed the mouth of the cave with a huge boulder. When he reported this to the ministers and elders on his return to Kishkinda they insisted on his being crowned the king. Bali after killing Dundubhi called out to Sugreeva, but there was no answer. He found the mouth of the cave closed but using his superhuman strength, removed the boulder and rushed back to Kishkinda where he found Sugreeva crowned as the King. This infuriated him so much that he drove out Sugreeva from Kish­kinda, though Sugreeva pleaded his innocence.

Rama promised to help Sugreeva get his kingdom and wife back. There was a fight. While Sugreeva and Bali fought, Rama shot an arrow from behind a tree and Bali was killed.

Shooting from behind a tree is symbolic. We may think that we fight and win all the battles of life but it is actually God’s unseen hand that is behind our victories.

ANGADA

While Bali lay wounded he asked Rama to take custody or care of his son Angada. Rama wanted to bring Bali back to life since Bali felt repentant of his previous deeds. But Bali being a good soul, who had been deluded for a while, feared that he may not have the opportunity of dying in the Lord’s arms if he chose to recuperate from his wounds this time.

Bali died with a smile on his lips.

Sugreeva, Bali’s Son Angada and Hanuman with their monkeys promised to help Rama 1find Sita . Rama gave a ring to Hanuman to be given to Sita as a token that Rama would soon be on the way to rescue her.

PRABHA

During their search for Sita the monkeys arrived at a cave inhabited by a lady saint by the name of Prabha. Prabha informed the monkeys that they would find Sita if they closed their eyes.

This statement is symbolic.

An aspirant on the spiritual path must open his eyes and see the form of God in everyone. If, how­ever, he is unable to do so then he must close his eyes to outside influences, distractions and look within.

The monkeys opened their eyes prematurely. So they realised that they had not got to Sita but had stopped short and reached the sea.

Now they realised that they would have to cross the ocean to get to Lanka where Sita was held