Hanuman

by Vanamali

  Maruti said, “The Lord’s name is the greatest of all mantras and the bridge will be made in an unbroken line of Rama mantras !”

  Work was progressing very satisfactorily, with Hanuman supervising everything and working harder than any of the others. However, their enthusiasm dampened when they found that once again the stones refused to stay together and drifted away in all directions! Hanuman decided to investigate the reason for this. He dived into the ocean and found that the fish were responsible for dismantling the bridge. He shook his tail vigorously and thrashed the waters, thus paralyzing the fish.

  He then confronted Swarna-matsya, the golden mermaid, queen of fishes, and demanded an explanation.

  “I was ordered by Ravana to disperse the stones,” she said. Then looking closely at Hanuman, she said enticingly, “Who are you? You seem to be strong and handsome and intelligent. What have you got to do with this war between Rama and Ravana? Marry me and enjoy life as it is meant to be enjoyed. Together we will rule the sea, unconcerned with the worries of the world above!”

  Hanuman replied, “Of what use is my strength, beauty, and wisdom if they are of no use to others? He who uses his abilities only for his own aggrandisement is a fool. As for me, I live for my master Rama. I have no life apart from him.” So saying, Hanuman declined her offer and rose to the surface. The queen was impressed by Hanuman’s selflessness and ordered all her creatures to help him in building the bridge. The fish, serpents, seals, and sea monsters held the stones together and the bridge to Lanka started to take shape.

  Hanuman continued to work twice as hard as any of the others, constantly repeating the magic mantra of Rama as every stone was placed and the work went on with great speed. The bridge was a hundred leagues long and ten leagues wide. On the very first day one-fifth was completed. In this way, the monkeys, guided by Nala and Nila, managed to span the ocean and complete the bridge in five days! Even now, parts of this amazing bridge can be seen in the ocean off the coast of Dhanushkodi, which is the modern town closest to Sri Lanka.

  Rama was amazed to see the miracle of the floating stones and asked the monkeys how it was done. They replied that it was only due to the power of his own name, which Hanuman was engraving on every stone. Rama was intrigued and thought to himself that if his name could produce such miracles, then surely he himself should be able to do the same. So he quietly moved to another part of the beach and started to throw some stones in the water. Much to his disappointment, none of them floated. When he turned round, he found that Hanuman had been standing at a safe distance and watching the entire proceedings. Rama was a bit abashed and asked Hanuman the reason why he did not have as much power as his name.

  Hanuman’s interpretation was in accordance with his devotion.

  “My Lord!” he said, “anything that you choose to hold in your hands will be saved and anything that you let go will naturally fall. The stone that slips from your grasp will obviously have to sink!”

  Rama now joined Lakshmana near the bridge and watched the work. It is said that a small squirrel that was anxious to help Rama used to jump into the water and roll on the sand and then go and shake off the dust on the bridge, since that was the only effort it was capable of making. Hanuman picked up the little fellow and asked him what he was doing. The little one reared itself up beside the mighty monkey and said, “The causeway is made with a lot of ragged rocks. My Lord’s tender feet will get torn when he walks on it, so I thought I would make a nice soft sandy surface for him to walk on!” Hanuman was amazed at the little creature’s devotion, which seemed to exceed his own. He took it to Rama, who kept it on his lap so that it could nestle close to him. Rama comforted the little one by passing his three fingers over its back. The Indian squirrel (chipmunk) bears the mark of Rama’s fingers on its back to this day. It has three lines on its back. Rama calmed its fears and told it that its tiny efforts were as valuable to him as the gigantic achievements of the monkeys. The sand he had brought was as precious to him as the rocks of the vanaras. Thus the little squirrel also found a place in Rama’s heart.

  Another interesting legend connects Hanuman with the baleful planet Saturn (Shani). It is believed that Saturn visits each individual at least once in his lifetime for a period of seven and a half years. Just as the bridge was being built, it was time for Saturn to come into Hanuman’s horoscope. He requested Shani to postpone his visit until he had successfully assisted Rama in regaining Sita. But despite the fact that Hanuman had freed him from Ravana’s dungeon, Saturn, true to his nature, was adamant and Hanuman had to comply with the law of nature. He allowed Saturn to sit on his head as his hands were busy carrying stones and uprooting trees and his legs were too humble to seat such an exalted personage.

  For a few minutes Saturn happily settled on Hanuman’s head and watched the proceedings with glee. The mighty monkey continued with his work, piling heavy boulders and stones on his head in an apparently casual manner and carrying them to the construction site. After a while Saturn found it impossible to bear the load of the heaped boulders on top of him and wanted to climb down. Hanuman insisted that he complete his mandatory seven and a half years. Saturn pleaded for release, saying that the seven and a half minutes that he had spent on Hanuman’s head felt like seven and a half years. Hanuman smiled and allowed him to go. Since then it is believed by all worshippers of the monkey god that those who are suffering from the ill effects of the seven and a half year stay of the malefic planet will definitely get a remand from their sentence if they worship Hanuman.

  By the fourth day of construction, the monkeys had uprooted all the mountains and stones in South India and started to fly north to uproot the peaks there. Hanuman also flew to the Himalayas, where he was struck by the sight of a lofty mountain called Dronachala. However, he found it impossible to uproot and realized that it was made of a black stone called saligrama, which is used in the worship of Vishnu. Hanuman told the mountain that he wanted to use it to help the avatara of Vishnu called Rama and he would be touched by Rama’s feet. At this, the mountain allowed itself to be uprooted but en route Maruti was met by Nala and Nila, who told him that the causeway was complete and that Rama had ordered all monkeys to drop the mountains they were carrying and return immediately to camp. Many monkeys were on their way at that time, carrying mountain peaks. On hearing Rama’s order, they dropped the peaks over the whole of South India and thus created the present day topography of the land. Hanuman, however, was still far to the north and when he heard Rama’s order, he set the mountain down in the forest of Vrindavana near the Yamuna River. The mountain was crestfallen at being denied the chance to worship Rama and reminded Hanuman of his promise to take him to Rama.

  Maruti was in a dilemma. Was he to break his promise to the mountain or disobey Rama’s orders? He flew back to Rama and told him the whole story. Rama comforted him by saying, “Return to the mountain and tell him that the time for us to meet has not yet come. I will return to the earth in the next age of Dwapara as Krishna and will play with my friends on top of this mountain. I will even lift it up with my little finger and hold it aloft. It will be known as Govardhana and will be worshipped as an embodiment of myself.”

  Hanuman delivered this message and the mountain was satisfied and waited for the advent of the Lord as Krishna in the yuga (epoch) known as Dwapara.

  Rama was anxious to install a lingam (stone symbol of Shiva) and pray to him for success in his endeavor before crossing the bridge. In one day, the two brothers Nala and Nila made the small dais on which the lingam was to be installed. Rama entrusted Hanuman with the work of bringing a really auspicious lingam. Hanuman immediately set off for Kailasa from where he hoped to get a lingam from Shiva himself. However, he was unable to return at the appointed time. The priests warned Rama that the auspicious time was about to pass. So Rama himself made a beautiful lingam of Lord Shiva with sand, and it was installed at the correct time. All the monkeys were thrilled to see this. Anjaneya arrived soon after with a beautiful
stone lingam given by Shiva and was most disappointed to see that the function had taken place without him. Seeing his despondent look, Rama comforted him and told him to remove the lingam that he had kept and to install his own instead. Anjaneya did his best to remove the lingam but was unable to do so. He even tried to wrap his tail around it and pull it up but his tail broke instead. Rama lovingly moved his hand over his tail and restored it to its original beauty and size.

  He told him, “O son of Vayu! Do not be distressed. Our endeavor would have been unsuccessful had I not worshipped the lingam at the appointed time. Hence I was unable to wait for you. A lingam once installed by me cannot be moved; however, I give you permission to install this lingam that you have brought to the east of this dais. The main entrance will be kept there so that anyone who comes to worship at this place will have to offer worship at your lingam first. Hanuman was very happy to hear this. This place where Rama installed the lin - gam is known as Rameswaram (Rama’s Lord Shiva) and is a famous place of pilgrimage to this very day.

  There is another strange story about the installation of the lingam, which shows the Indian ability to give credit even to an enemy if it’s called for. It is said that at the time when Rama wanted to install a lingam, there was no priest to officiate. He asked Hanuman to fly to Lanka and request Ravana, who was a great devotee of Shiva, to come with a Brahmin and do this service. Ravana agreed but said that Sita would also have to be present since the sponsor of the ritual should have his wife beside him. So Sita was fetched from the garden and Hanuman, accompanied by Ravana and Sita, went in the Pushpaka Vimana, Ravana’s flying chariot, to the mainland. Rama asked Ravana to suggest a source for the lingam and Ravana suggested Kailasa. Hanuman was sent to procure the required lingam but was unable to return in time. Ravana insisted that the ceremony had to be conducted at the auspicious hour and Sita moulded a lingam out of the sand. Ravana observed all the rites punctiliously and even intoned Rama’s sankalpa, or intention for which the ceremony was being conducted—the slaying of Ravana and the rescue of Sita!! The rest of the story is the same as above.

  The causeway was complete and the installation over. Even the gods came to survey it, and from above it looked like the central parting of the hair of a woman, so elegant and beautiful was it! Now it was time to cross. Rama and Lakshmana blew their conches and saluted Durga, the goddess of war. Hanuman let out a war cry, filling the hearts of the monkeys with confidence. Sugriva now invited Rama to climb on Hanuman’s back and cross the bridge while Lakshmana rode on Angada’s back. They led the way followed by rest of the vanara hordes who followed, dancing and bounding with joy. They leaped into the air and jumped into the sea and swam for a while. They made such a clamor that the noise of the sea was successfully shut out. It was if the sea held its breath while the army crossed.

  As they approached their destination, Ravana hurled two missiles and destroyed the two ends of the bridge. Rama and his troops were stranded in the middle, unable to cross to Lanka or return to Jambudwipa. Hanuman immediately came up with a brilliant solution. He increased his size and stretched himself over the gap, placing his hands on the shore of Lanka and his feet on the edge of the bridge. The monkeys scrambled over his back and jumped onto Ravana’s stronghold. As Rama walked over Maruti’s back he said, “I’m indeed blessed today for my Lord’s feet have stepped on my back.”

  At last they set foot on enemy territory. Rama was touched by the enthusiasm and devotion of the monkeys and their innocent love. Sugriva was all set to put up camp on the other side in a place that abounded with fruits and roots and clear water. However, Rama saw many evil portents bidding dire consequences for the whole earth and told Sugriva that they should immediately march toward Lanka instead of dallying there at that pleasant spot. Thus the monkey hordes continued to advance until they came in sight of the ramparts of Lanka. They drew up in military formation even though it was night. The full moon slowly rose up to display the huge army of monkeys who were camped on the mountainside.

  Rama looked up at the city of Ravana with its turrets of gold and silver and thought of his beloved Janaki (Sita) who was a prisoner of love in that city of hate. He was lost in thought for a long time. At last he roused himself and talked to Sugriva and the commanders about their plan of action for the next day.

  You are the ever vigilant guard at the door of Sri Rama.

  No one can enter without your consent.

  SRI HANUMAN CHALISA BY TULSIDAS

  Aum Sri Hanumathe Namaha!

  Aum Mahatejase Namaha!

  19

  Mahatejasvin

  The Siege of Lanka

  Dehadrishtya tu daasoham,

  Jeevadrishtya twadamshakam.

  When I identify myself with my body, I am your servant,

  When I identify myself with my ego, I am a part of you.

  VALMIKI RAMYANA

  In the meantime, the spies sent by Ravana had returned and told him all the details about the enemies and how Hanuman had made it possible for them to pass over the bridge that had been broken by his missiles. He felt a bit dejected and decided to survey the enemy camp for himself, so he climbed up the turret of his palace, which was as tall as ten coconut trees kept one on top of the other. He leaned over the wall and saw to his amazement that the whole land beyond his citadel was filled with monkeys of all shapes and sizes. He brought the spies with him and asked them to point out the leaders of the army.

  Pointing at one of the monkeys, they said, “That huge monkey with the thick neck and golden hair, who is boisterous and facing us, is Sugriva, son of Surya. The yellow-haired one, who is roaring like a lion and lashing his tail again and again, is the crown prince Angada. The one who stands surrounded by a valiant army is Nila, the one who built the bridge. The white monkey in the forefront is Hanuman, son of Kesari, who is also known as the son of the wind god Vayu. As you know, he is the one who crossed the sea and set fire to Lanka. This prince among monkeys is able to change his form at will and is richly endowed with might and physical charm, and he cannot be swayed from his course even as the powerful wind cannot be forced to change its route. As a baby he saw the rising sun and, thinking it to be a fruit, he jumped three thousand leagues toward it. He is totally devoted to Rama and is the scourge of his enemies, as you well know.”

  One of the spies then went on to point out the various other commanders of the vanara army so that Ravana could have an idea of whom they were.

  “Now, O King! Observe those black, ferocious bears that live on mountains. Their leader is that old, shaggy bear, Jambavan, who once helped Indra in his war with the demons. His troops are extremely ferocious, can scale huge mountains, and are totally unafraid. All of them are valiant, powerful, and daring and all are ready to lay down their lives for Rama!”

  “Observe this valiant prince, O King, with matted hair and dark blue in color, with lotuslike eyes, the scion of the race of Ikshvaku, foremost among those who know the Veda, expert in the use of the mystic missile of Brahma (brahmastra), whose wrath is like the wrath of Death and whose consort Sita, was abducted by you from Janasthana. His arrows can slice the earth and pierce the sky. Observe him closely, for he is Rama, your archenemy, who is advancing toward you, determined to kill you at all costs!”

  “The one who stands on his right, fair in color, with broad chest, coppery eyes, and dark curly locks is Lakshmana, Rama’s younger brother, who is totally devoted to him. He is foremost in the wielder of weapons and unforgiving toward the enemies of Rama. He is ever prepared to lay down his life for his brother’s sake. Observe closely, O King, your brother Vibhishana, who stands on Rama’s right side and who has already been installed as King of Lanka by Rama! He is furious with you and is longing to come to grips with your army.”

  Ravana was furious with his servitors who spoke so highly of the enemy army.

  “How dare you speak to me like this? You are my dependents, and I can kill you for singing the praises of my enemies like this. Leave my presence
immediately and never let me see you again!” So saying, Ravana dismissed them and sent some other spies to find out Rama’s plans for the day. However, they were also spotted by Vibhishana and would have been tortured by the monkeys had not Rama intervened and allowed them to go free. They returned singing Rama’s praises.

  Ravana decided to try a final trick to make Sita succumb to his charms! He called the court magician and asked him to make a replica of Rama’s head as well as a replica of Rama’s famous bow, the Kodanda. The magician carried these two objects and accompanied the king to the ashoka grove where Sita was sitting, the very picture of dejection.

  Brandishing Rama’s head before her, he said, “That good-for-nothing husband of yours was killed by my general while he was camping outside the gates of Lanka. Evidently your stock of spiritual merits was not enough to save him. Lakshmana as well as the foremost of the generals of their army have all been killed.”