Ramaya Tubhyam Namah-Part II

Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 14:15

Continued From The First Part
Monkeys represent thoughts, the similarity being that both are restless (chanchala) and unsteady (asthira). Of all thoughts, the very minister of Sugreeva (sushtu greevam- well reined), now in exile, was Hanuman, extremely erudite and scholarly. Yet, this thought personality cannot bring out its potential might and beauty, albeit serving as the minister to 'self-control'.

Knowledge and erudition, with moral restraint and physical control, is the highest from the stand point of material education, and according to the systems of worldly education. Yet, Valmiki demonstrates that the inherent potentialities can blossom forth only when that knowledge bows down to Rama , the Spiritual Essence.

From the moment Anjaneya meets Rama, the Ramayana distinctly reveals a mysterious unfoldment of great powers, an explosion of inconceivable merits and beauties in that apparently ridiculous and seemingly insignificant form of a monkey. Such an explosion we watch all down history, demonstrated in a carpenter's son becoming Jesus, or an equally empty Prince Siddhartha rising to the status of a Buddha, or an insignificant student of Calcutta University, Narendra, hatching out to become the gracious and dynamic Vivekananada.

However wise and intelligent we may be, even when we have character and self-control, it is not enough. Only when these thoughts move in utter devotion and total loyalty towards 'that which revels in everything' (Rama), that all the inherent divine potentialities get a chance to blossom forth.

Thereafter, as the loyal servant of Sri Rama, the personality of Hanuman unfolds its infinite strength and endless beauty, for all generations to watch, and yet in himself he remains outwardly a vanara and inwardly a steady and total devotee. Centred in Rama, he acted.

For Rama, he achieved. Rama's glory was his only glory. There stands now the puny monkey, larger than life, greater than the greatest, the eternal devotee, his strength, his wisdom, his love, and his all, totally dedicated to Rama. Thereafter we detect the Supreme expressing through this insignificant-looking monkey, making us all wonder,"Is it a man(va-narah)? or "Is it a God (Va-devah)?

Even though Hindus have, down the centuries, been appreciating the glories of Hanuman, nowhere do we find a separate compilation of the glories and achievements of this brilliant character. Modern youngsters, though fed upon the Superman of comic literature, still wonder at this wise and dynamic devotee of Rama, represented as a monkey. They rarely come to understand the significance in this poetic masterpiece.

About the author

Swami Chinmayananda

Swami Chinmayananda, the great master's lectures were an outpour of wisdom. He introduced the Gita Gnana Yagna. He wrote a lot of books on spirituality, commentaries to Vedantic texts, children books etc. He then started spreading his teachings globally.