HANUMAN-THE MONKEY GOD

THE RAM DARBAR

India's huge,remarkable & compelling cultural heritage spans over thousands of years. A land of innumerable religious stories, myths & legends - that have emanated from myriad religious/cultural influences culminating into literary & oral traditions,India stands unique in  many ways;India is simply beyond compare! The diversity of India impacts upon the geo-strategic & geo-political relationship within her states across the length & breadth of the largest democracy of the world.

The Indian Mythology as diverse as the land itself,the myths & beliefs represent  the 'PHILOSOPHICAL INDIA'. Recently,at Munchen, one of my friends asked me ,Quote," YOU PEOPLE HAVE 33 CRORE GODS / GODDESSES. HOW DO YOU PRAY THEM" ,Unquote. It takes years to understand India, her religious thoughts & beliefs, differing cultural patterns,vibrancy & dynamism.While all this is not easily understood by the Westerners ; to Indians, it makes perfect sense.It was difficult to convince my German friend fully.He told me that in India, he was puzzled & somewhat confused, as he saw that there were more Gods & Goddesses than men.Notwithstanding this,what he told me was extra-ordinary." I am simply spellbound & enamoured", he said, & told me that even if it took ten years for him to understand India,he would keep on visiting India till he gets answers to all his queries.I wished him good luck & God Speed.I offered ,that, in all such visits, I shall be his host.

Be that as it may,India ,no doubt,is a fascinating land.From well over 400 BC till date,the religious myths & legends of India are narrated all over her nooks & corners.Based upon these, there are festivities galore.Out of 365 days in a year, there is some festival or the other or a major religious activity of some significance  in almost 100 days!

What had amazed & fascinated my German Friend was Lord Hanuman-the Monkey God.He had been to Sangam, seen Hanuman lying flat on his back in total grandeur,with thousands of devotees chanting non stop Hanuman-Chalisa.

Ramayana, an epic poem of about 50,000 lines was composed by Valmiki the Muni (A hermit / sage combined) Ramcharitmanas an equally worshiped epic was composed by Tulsi Das. The latter is believed to be a reincarnation of Valmiki who was born in 1497.Both describe Lord Ram  in details - The Maryadapurushottam, the Model of every good man.To an Indian ,especially a Hindu, the word Ram in itself is the Ultimate.The word is so holy that even while a dead body is being taken to  the cremation ground, the carriage party continues to recite  loud & continuous chants of Rama.

I told my German friend that even Ram was  not complete without Hanuman-The Monkey God.There is no photograph of Lord Ram that does not show the Monkey God. Monkey God is always  positioned at HIS feet.

Hanuman first met Rama in a dense forest. It was here that he urged Rama to help Sugriva in restoring his wife & kingdom from the cruel hands of his younger brother Bali. Ram & Lakshman had set out to trace Sita .This meeting with Hanuman is the beginning landmark of the RAM-HANUMAN relationship.It was in the presence of all Monkey Army that Hanuman promised, that he along with all his comrades will trace Sita,come what   may !

Hanuman had not seen Sita. Lord Ram gave him his signet ring to show it to Sita as a sign as & when he located her.He set out along with other monkey soldiers in right earnest but having reached the land's end near Rameshwaram, the Monkey God was dejected with his own performance, as his party could not find any trace of Sita .It was here that Sampati-the great thinker & visionary told Rama  that it was Rawan the Demon King who had abducted Sita & that Sita was confined in Lanka. Hanuman was entrusted with the noble yet  onerous task of retrieving Sita from Lanka.

Hanuman son of Pawan & Anjani flew over the ocean after successfully clearing all impediments put in his way.On reaching the shores of Lanka,he turned himself into a miniature form.Having entered Ravan's palace without any difficulty or any sentry having seen him, he roamed around the palace & its precincts freely.He did not find Sita any where.Though disappointed in his initial maneuver, Hanuman decided to fly to the adjacent green forest.Lo & behold! What he saw was a small beautiful palace guarded by Rakshashis of all sizes & shapes roaming around with all sorts of weapons.Sitting all by herself, Hanuman saw an extremely beautiful & radiant lady engrossed in her thoughts.He jumped around the trees shaking their branches & clusters of leaves to attract her attention.Sita knew that this was no ordinary happening .She now saw Hanuman in his miniature form. Hanuman jumped down to pay his obeisance to Mother Sita & with folded hands presented Rama's signet ring to her.In return, Sita gave Hanuman a jewel from her hair for onward handing it over to Lord Rama.With tears flowing from their eyes,Hanuman assured Sita that Rama would come soon. 

As Hanuman was leaving, Ravana somehow managed to catch Hanuman and ordered the Rakshashas to set his tail on fire.It was here Sita prayed to the Fire God that it should not touch Hanuman & cause any harm to him.With only the tip on his tail on fire-that had by now taken a gigantic form, Hanuman jumped all over the palace of Ravana & the township of Ravana. The entire Lanka was set ablaze. With Lanka on fire, Hanuman jumped into the ocean & the Sea God Varuna  extinguished  fire on Hanuman's tail.

Back home,Rama ,Lakshman & the entire Money Army received Hanuman & gave him a standing ovation .It was a great jubilation.Now,preparations for invasion of Lanka were set into motion. Rama's War Camp was  established near Rameshwaram. SHIVA blessed Lord Rama & wished HIM victory over evil.

How Rama killed Ravana is now history.This event is celebrated every year as VICTORY OF TRUTH OVER EVIL in India in a grand manner on Vijayadashmi Day.The homecoming celebrations of Rama to Ayodhya are a treat to watch.

As I stand in front of Mukut Hanuman at Ayodhya,I can now fully comprehend as to why Rama liked him the most.

To SANKAT MOCHAN- I apologize that I addressed you throughout as 'he ' or 'his'.
It was your Master LORD RAM whom I addressed as 'HIM' everywhere.
I also know that  otherwise you would have been angry upon me & I did not want to take a chance ! 
I also know that you are never angry !