The Relationship Between Lord Rama And Hanuman In Hanuman’s Own Words!

Add as a preferred source on Google

The relationship between Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman is widely known to the world. However, it is significant to know from the words of Lord Hanuman himself about their sacred bonding.

The bond between Lord Rama and Hanuman

There are numerous anecdotes in the Ramayana about the bond between Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman. Here is the simple and straightforward answer by Lord Hanuman to Lord Rama's direct query.

Once Lord Rama asked Hanuman, "Who am I to you?" It was a simple, but a profound question put forward by Lord Rama to Lord Hanuman. Lord Hanuman promptly replied to the question put forward by Lord Rama directly. He thus humbly stated,

"Dehabuddhyaa tu daasoaham.
Jeevabuddhyaa tavaanshakah.
Aatmabuddhyaa tvamevaahamiti me nishchitaamatih."
"From the standpoint of the physical existence, I am your slave,
From the standpoint of the individual self, I am a fraction of your own self,
From the standpoint of spiritual existence, I am you!"

Lord Hanuman's reply was that when he identifies himself with his body or when bound by body consciousness, he is the servant or the slave of Lord Rama. When his intelligence rises above the material world and when he can thus think spiritually, he is a part of Lord Rama. When he identifies himself with the spirit or the supreme consciousness, he is not separate from Lord Rama, who is in truth the spirit or the supreme consciousness. The spirit or consciousness cannot be subject to division.

Symbolic significance of Lord Hanuman's answer

In truth we are accustomed to identifying ourselves with the body mind complex. We think we are separate individuals or the 'Jeevatma' (individual self) when we associate ourselves with the body and the mind. When we are exposed to spiritual wisdom, we understand that we are beyond our body and the mind and that we are a part of the supreme consciousness or the Universal Self, the 'Paramatma'. When we rise above even this understanding and identify ourselves with the Supreme consciousness, the Universal Self or the 'Paramatma', we become one with it dissolving even the slightest trace of division. This is called liberation or Moksha, which is the aim of devout spiritual aspirants.

Let us thus seek the blessings of Lord Rama to grant us the clarity and wisdom of Lord Hanuman to be one with him and thus attain liberation or Moksha.