Sunrays: Hanuman, the perfect diplomat
Hanumana had the darshan (sight), sparshan (touch) and sambhashan (conversation) of Rama. These gave him ultimate bliss and removed all his doubts
When Bhagwan Rama shed his mortal coil, he told Hanuman to stay on the Earth till the glory of Rama is sung. Mountain dwellers often talk of seeing traces of his presence in the higher hills.
King Dashratha had given the prasadam received from the deity who had emerged from the sacred fire of the Putrakameshti Yajna, to his three queens. His third wife Sumitra, left the prasadam on her windowsill and went to bathe. A bird flew away with it and dropped it in the lap of Anjana who was praying for a son. The son born to the couple Anjana and Kesari was called Anjaneya and Kesarinandan. The prasadam being delivered by a gust of wind, he was also named Maruti (from air) or Vayuputra (son of air).
The child Maruti once mistook the Sun for an apple and tried to eat it. An angry Indra struck his jaw causing it to get disfigured. And Maruti became Hanuman (disfigured jaw)! The Hanuman Chalisa, Sankat Mochan and Sundar Kaanda are the “go to” for many in trying times. The simple heartedness of Hanuman is showcased in the story of mother Sita applying sindoor in her hair-parting. When questioned by Hanuman, she said that this makes Rama happy and gives him a long life. Hanuman smeared his entire body with sindoor, for the Lord’s happiness!
As Rama-doota (messenger of Rama), Hanuman did an unparalleled job. He vanquished many demons who waylaid him, enroute Lanka. Despite innumerable accomplishments, he was completely devoid of ego because his surrender was complete. Hanuman understood the essence of what the Lord wanted. He was confident that Rama Himself would grant the strength and intelligence to do the job, because He had chosen him for it. So, he never doubted his own capability to deliver. That is self-confidence!
Hanumana had the darshan (sight), sparshan (touch) and sambhashan (conversation) of Rama. These gave him ultimate bliss and removed all his doubts. This is the experience of anyone who is fortunate enough to experience divinity. We too are some of the blessed ones who experienced the Divinity of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba while He walked the Earth.Baba often stressed upon the importance of coordinating one’s thought, word and deed. He cited the example of Hanumana for succeeding in coordinating the three. Recognising the AtmaRama illumining every being, Hanuman revered it. This is practical spirituality!
A few years ago we went to the Hanuman temple in Salasar, Rajasthan. The night before, we stayed in Jaipur. I dreamt that I was in a temple complex where the walls were covered with silver plates with carvings of Gods and Goddesses on them. When we reached Salasar, we saw the same carvings on the inner walls of the temple! God has his ways of telling you that he too looks out for you… I was overwhelmed!
We have been going to the mandir on Tuesday for as long as I can remember. With the grace of Hanuman, we have been doing langar on Tuesday at Sector 18 mandir since 2005 and holding blood donation camps on Hanuman Janamutsav since 2010.
Hanumana is an icon for all body-builders. As a diplomat sent to a foreign country, he conveyed his king’s message, gave them a taste of his might, scared the wits out of them, collected information galore about the enemy territory, reassured Sita and flew back with aplomb! What an envoy!
There are invaluable lessons to be learnt from him not only in devotion but in leadership, strategy, focus, problem-solving, understanding the larger picture, being a part of the solution, effective communication, mind reading, reacting in real life situations, dependability, diplomacy etc. Perhaps someone will make a course for the study of Hanumana to benefit our youth!
With role models like Hanumana, why idolise those in the business of glitter and glamour.
Recommended Topics