Another post on Hanuman

I wanted to post this on Chaitra Shukla Pournami (five days back) which is widely celebrated as Hanuman's birthday. Anyway, better late than never. I am actually in the middle of a series on Srirama and Sanskrit. However, I am sure Srirama will forgive this detour to talk about his bhakta. In this post as well, I will illustrate the beauty of Sanskrit's multi-layered personality.

This post can be read in continuation with an earlier one. I had written about how Anjaneya personified humility. I want to share a few more details here. 

Let us first come to his name, Hanuman. Many people will be aware of the story where Hanuman as an infant lunges for the sun and is struck down by Indra. The injury on his jaw (hanu in Sanskrit) gives him the name Hanuman. Now this is one meaning. We use the jaw when we speak. Thus Hanuman also means one who speaks well. It in fact goes a step beyond that. To speak well, it is critical for good knowledge to be present. Thus Hanuman also means one with knowledge. When Hanuman first meets Srirama in the Ramayana he asks certain questions. Srirama remarks to Lakshmana how his speech bears Hanuman to be one who is well versed in all the shaastras.

Now in the older post we have discussed how Hanuman personifies humility. Let me share once again what I wrote there. When Hanuman is about to leave for Lanka he magnifies his form and utters a sloka.

यथा राघवनिर्मुक्तः शरः श्वसनविक्रमः
गच्चेत्तद्वद्गमिष्यामि लङ्कां रावणपालिताम् 

 

యథా రాఘవనిర్ముక్తశ్శరః శ్వసనవిక్రమః 

గచ్ఛేత్ తద్వద్ గమిష్యామి లంకాం రావణపాలితామ్  

 

yathaa raaghavanirmuktah sharah shvasanavikramah

gachchhet tadvad gamiShyaami lankaam raavana paalitaam

 

Srirama is described by Vishwamitra as Satyaparakrama, one whose valour is unchallenged. Srirama's arrow that way is unstoppable. It also has the quality of coming back to him once it hit the target. Hanuman says he is like that. He does not give any credit to himself.

 

Later, in Lanka he proclaims who he is. This is popularly called jayaghosha. In the Ramayana, the Sundarakaanda holds a very special place. One reason for it is that it encapsulates the entire Ramayana, till that time, and afterwards. Hanuman narrates what has happened till that time to Sita and promises her Ravana's end which is what happens next. This jayaghosha is said to carry the essence of the Sundarakaanda itself. Even here, he initially proclaims to be Srirama's daasa. Then, since he is in enemy territory, he proclaims his strength.

जयत्यतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः
राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः
 

दासोऽहम् कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्म्णः
हनुमान् शत्रुसैन्यानाम् निहन्ता मारुतात्मजः

 

न रावणसहस्रम् मे युद्धे प्रतिबलम् भवेत्
शिलाभिस्तु प्रहरतः पदपैश्च सहस्रसः

अर्दयित्वा पुरीम् लङ्काम् अभिवाद्य च मैथिलीम्
समृद्धार्थो गमिष्यामि मिषताम् सर्वरक्षसाम्

 

 

జయత్యతిబలో రామో లక్ష్మణశ్చ మహాబలః 

రాజా జయతి సుగ్రీవో రాఘవేణాభిపాలితః 

 

దాసోహం కోసలేంద్రస్య రామస్యాక్లిష్టకర్మణః 

హనుమాన్ శత్రుసైన్యానాం నిహంతా మారుతాత్మజః 

 

న రావణసహస్రం మే యుద్ధే ప్రతిబలం భవేత్ 

శిలాభిస్తు ప్రహరతః పాదపైశ్చ సహస్రసః 

 

అర్దయిత్వా పురీం లంకాం అభివాద్య చ మైథిలీం

సమృద్ధార్థో గమిష్యామి మిషతాం సర్వరాక్షసామ్

 

jayatyati balo rAmo lakShmaNasca maHabalah

rAjA jayati sugreevo rAghaveNAbhipAlitah

 

dAsoham kosalendrasya rAmasyAkliShta karmaNah

hanumAn shatrusainyAnAm nihantA mArutAtmajah

 

na rAvaNa sahasram me yuddhe pratibalam bhavet

shilAbhistu praharatah pAdapaisca sahasrasah 

ardayitvA pureem lankAm abhivAdya ca maithileem

samruddhArtho gamiShyAmi miShatAm sarvarakShasAm

 

Broadly: Victory to Rama the almighty, victory to Lakshmana the strong. Victory to King Sugreeva, who is ruled over by Rama. I am the servant of the ruler of Kosala, Rama, he who removes difficulties. I am Hanuman, destroyer of enemy armies, born of the Wind. Even thousands of Ravanas cannot face me in battle. I will torment this city of Lanka with

 

Further, if one observes the Ramayana closely, those who served Srirama benefit in one way or the other. Sugreeva befriends Srirama to win back his wife and kingdom. Vibheeshana, though he reaches Srirama out of devotion, also benefits from the kingship of Lanka after Ravana's demise. It is only Hanuman who does not materially benefit in the Ramayana. He is the only one who truly serves Srirama without asking for anything in return. He exists to serve Srirama.

 

In fact Hanuman actually helps the main characters in the Ramayana. He brings the mountain of herbs to resuscitate Lakshmana. When Hanuman finds Sita she is about to commit suicide by hanging herself with her long hair. He gives her hope. He aids Srirama in his quest and helps him in multiple ways. In fact, Srirama admits in the Ramayana that he cannot offer anything to Hanuman in return for his help. Tulasidas says in his Hanuman Chalisa that Hanuman resides in the heart of Srirama, Sita and Lakshmana. Is it surprising in any way?

 

The Ramayana is unique in an (among many) aspect. There are words spoken by (at least initially) negative characters that have become famous in a positive manner. There is a famous statement, rAmo virahavAn dharmah (रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः, రామో విగ్రహవాన్ ధర్మః). It means Srirama is Dharma personified. Do you know who utters these words? Maareecha, the rakshasa Ravana employs to play the role of the golden deer! 

There is one similar thing for Hanuman. There is a part in the Sundarakaanda where Hanuman comes across Lankini the guardian deity of Lanka. When he defeats her, she asks him to be pleased with and protect her. This has become a mantra. The second line of the sloka below is taken verabtim from Lankinis' words in the Ramayana (not the first part mind you). This can be chanted especially by those who have mental/psychological problems they wish to be rid of.

सन्जीवपर्वतोद्धार मनोदुःखम् निवारय​
प्रसीद सुमहाबाहो त्रायस्व हरिसत्तम​

సంజీవపర్వతోద్ధార మనోదుఃఖం నివారయ 

ప్రసీద సుమహాబాహో త్రాయస్వ హరిసత్తమ

sanjeevaparvatoddhAra manoduhkham nivAraya

praseeda sumahAbAho trAyasva harisattama

 

In Sanskrit, the word Hari can mean Vishnu, a lion or a monkey. Thus the broad meaning of this sloka is, "Oh one who bore the Sanjeevani mountain, please prevent/remove the sorrow of my mind. Be pleased with me, one with great arms, protect me, the strongest among the vanaras."

 

Those who wish to overcome certain difficulties or are looking to achieve a certain objective are also asked to chant the following mantra four times - sree hanumAn jaya hanumAn jaya jaya hanumAn (श्रीहनुमान् जय हनुमान् जय जय हनुमान्, శ్రీహనుమాన్ జయ హనుమాన్ జయ జయ హనుమాన్). The total works out to chanting his name 12 twelve times.

 

Hanuman is a chiranjeevi. Technically, unless I am mistaken this does not mean actual immortality but an extremely long life. We find Hanuman in the Mahabharata. He first comes up when Bhima roams in the Himalayas during the Pandavas' exile. He cautions him against disturbing the peace and sanctity of a certain place. He later manifests in the flag (dhwaja) of Arjuna's chariot.

Tulasidas is said to have come upon Hanuman. He was able to recognize and catch hold of Hanuman after a recitation of the Ramayana. Even today whenever Ramayana is recited or spoken about anywhere there is one seat reserved for Hanuman. Imagine how many times the Ramayana would have been  spoken about over hundreds and thousands of years. He is still said to hear every Ramayana recital with tears of joy in his eyes. Let me end this post on this note.

यत्र यत्र रघुनाथकीर्तनम् तत्र तत्र कृत मस्तकान्जलिम्
बाष्पवारिपरिपूर्णलोचनम् मारुतिम् नमत राक्षसान्तकम्

యత్ర యత్ర రఘునాథకీర్తనం తత్ర తత్ర కృత మస్తకాంజలిమ్ 

బాష్పవారిపరిపూర్ణలోచనం మారుతిం నమత రాక్షసాంతకమ్

yatra yatra raghunAthakeertanam tatra tatra kruta mastakAnjalim

bAshpavAri paripoorNa lochanam mArutim namata rAkShasAntakam

Broad meaning: I salute Maruti, who is to be found with his head bowed and eyes full of tears (of joy, on hearing his Lord's praise) wherever there is praise of Srirama.

 

References:

1. Ramayana discourse by Sri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma

2. https://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/sundara/sarga1/sundara_1_frame.htm 

3. https://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/sanskrit_devanagari.htm

4. http://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/sundara/sarga43/sundara_43_frame.htm

The Depth of Sanatana Dharma - Srirama - Part 1

I have been thinking about writing on this topic for some time. Today seemed to be an especially good day to start this. 

Due to various reasons, many Indians, especially Hindus today have no idea about Sanatana Dharma, today known as Hinduism. Our education system is completely "secular". We have "educated", "modern" Indians who think it is wrong/are scared to be publicly religious or proud. I remember a relative telling me a story in an airport, possibly outside India. The guy was asked by the immigration officer whether he was a Hindu. He adamantly kept responding he was an Indian. 

We have people like Devdutt Pattnaik who write literally what they want in the name of Hinduism. We have the leftists who actively hate anything Hindu. I do not even want to get started about evangelicals and fundamentalists.

Hinduism is VAST in the scope of its literature. It is not dependent on one book or one prophet. The Vedas take precedence as the central texts. Everything else is ultimately based on what is said in the Vedas. Abrahamic religions do have underlying themes for which the outer words are allegorical. However, I am not sure how many followers are left who get these meanings. For example, there are certain sections of the Bible which mirror concepts in saamkhya (साम्ख्य​, సాంఖ్య) philosophy of Hinduism. This was revealed by a Hindu Guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. He was the guru of Paramahamsa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Islam has Sufism which mirrors some advaitic concepts. The song bulla ki jaana for example is an expression of the advaitic na iti (न इति, న ఇతి) concept. Hinduism says that every soul is divine. It states that every soul has the potential to reach the state of a Jesus or a Mohammed. Even (today's popular versions of) Christianity and Islam do not say so.

After at least 10 centuries of invasions, Hinduism still retains the knowledge of these hidden concepts. It is not for nothing that the actual name of Hinduism is sanaatana dharma (सनातन धर्म​, సనాతన ధర్మము). The first word means eternal. These are concepts that are timeless. Hence, Hindu texts cannot and should not be translated using just a dictionary. In some cases this can give wrong interpretations. This is the problem created by Devdutt Pattanaik, western Indologists etc. There are people like the Americans Dr David Frawley and Dr Robert Svoboda who understand this.

What is being given here is just a sample of the treasure trove that Hinduism has.Imagine how big a library on Hinduism would need to be.

1. Central texts are vedas, also called shrutis (श्रुति, శృతి). They were and are passed down by hearing. Also, these were heard by people called rishis in a state of consciousness you and I cannot even understand. They convey some ideas in a very brief format.
2. These concepts are elaborated upon by the puraanaas (पुराण​, పురాణము) so that the general public can understand concepts discovered by the rishis.
3. They are further simplified by the itihaasaas (इतिहास​, ఇతిహాసము). The term literally means, it so happened.
4. There are the vedaangaas which are needed to be learnt to translate the Vedas. These are shikSHa (शिक्षा, శిక్ష), vyaakaraNa (व्याकरण, వ్యాకరణము), chhandas (छन्दस्, ఛందస్సు), nirukta (निरुक्त, నిరుక్తము), jyotiSHa (ज्योतिष, జ్యోతిషము) and kalpa (कल्प, కల్పము).
5. We have the concept of yoga. Concepts in this have been elaborated upon by the sage Patanjali in his yoga sootraas.
6. The mantra shaastra (मन्त्र शास्त्र​, మంత్ర శాస్త్రము) explains the concepts and applications of mantraas which are basically dependent upon the power of sound and repetition.
7. Well know aayurveda is related to health
8. Concepts of scultpure, architecture, buildings etc. are covered in shilpashaastra, aagamashaastra and vaastushaastra.
9. Even the names of Hindu gods and goddesses have multiple layers of meanings to them.
10. There are explanations on why Hindu gods and goddesses are portrayed in specific ways.
11. There are specific meanings even to the items that they hold in their hands.

One word Hinduism uses to describe these underlying concepts and essence is tattva (तत्त्व​, తత్త్వము).

I started this post wanting to write about meanings of the name of Srirama. However, the introduction itself has taken up so much space that I will take this up in the next post.

References: Discourses by Sri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma
Sanskrit transliteration: https://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/sanskrit_devanagari.htm