Sri Hanuman Ji.
In the Treta Yuga Sri Vayudev came in his expansion as a special kind of Vanara (monkey), and was known to all as Hanuman. Sri Hanuman ji took his birth as the child to Anjana the monkey Queen, and Keshari her husband, according to Madhwa Vijaya (1:10.). There are several stories from different Puranas and parts of the Ramayana that give reference to Hanumanji's appearance in this world. From the Kambha Ramayana Purvakhanda, Hanuman's mother Anjana tells her story of how she was previously a maidservant of Brhaspati called Punjikasthala. Once in the forest picking flowers, she saw some other women engaged in amorous activities with their mates. Being disturbed by this, which invoked lusty feelings in her mind, she returned to Brhaspati and threw herself at him, covering him with amorous kisses. Brhaspati the high priest of the demigods, was so furious that he immediately cursed Punjikasthala to become a monkey, but out of concern he also added that after some time the son of the wind god Vayu, with the vitality of Lord Shiva, would come as her child and release her from this curse. At that time she would return to him as Punjikasthala, his maidservant.
The Lead Up To Hanuman's Birth.
Once Lord Shiva wished to see the most beautiful form of a woman, that being the temporary incarnation of Lord Visnu called Mohini Murti. Lord Shiva knew that he could not be agitated by any so-called beautiful woman. He thought, "The Daityas may have been bewildered but the demigods could not be agitated, what to speak of me who am the best of all the demigods? I will certainly remain unaffected by seeing Her." Because Lord Shiva wanted to see Lord Vishnu's form as a woman, Lord Visnu decided to appear as a woman and show him a form that would immediately put him in an ocean of lusty desires. In effect therefore, Lord Visnu told Lord Shiva, "I will show you my form as a woman, and if you become agitated and lusty, don't blame Me."
The following is taken from Srimad Bhagavatam (8:12:18-34.), and Bhaja Madhwesam (26.).
"Thereafter, in a nice forest nearby, full of trees with reddish-pink leaves and varieties of flowers, Lord Siva saw a beautiful woman playing with a ball. Her hips were covered with a shining 'sari' and ornamented with a belt. Because the ball was falling down and bouncing up, as She played with it Her breasts trembled, and because of the weight of those breasts and Her heavy flower garlands, Her waist appeared to be all but breaking at every step, as Her two soft feet, which were reddish like coral, moved here and there. The woman's face was decorated by broad, beautiful restless eyes, which moved as the ball bounced here and there from Her hand. The two brilliant earrings on Her ears decorated Her shining cheeks like bluish reflections, and the hair scattered on Her face made Her even more beautiful to see. As she played with the ball, the 'sari' covering Her body became loose, and Her hair scattered. She tried to bind Her hair with her right hand. This was so attractive that the Supreme Lord, by His internal potency, in this way captivated everyone.
"While Lord Shiva observed the beautiful woman playing with the ball, She sometimes glanced at him and slightly smiled in bashfulness. As he looked at the beautiful woman and She watched him, he forgot both himself and Uma, his most beautiful wife, as well as his associates nearby. When the ball leaped from Her hand and fell at a distance, the woman began to follow it, but as Lord Shiva observed these activities, a breeze suddenly blew away the fine dress and belt that covered Her. Thus Lord Shiva saw the woman, every part of whose body was beautifully formed, and the beautiful woman also looked at him. Therefore, thinking that She was attracted to him, Lord Shiva became very much attracted to Her. Lord Shiva, his good sense taken away by the woman because of lusty desires to enjoy with Her, became so mad for Her that even in the presence of Bhavani (his wife) he did not hesitate to approach Her. The beautiful woman was already naked, and when She saw Lord Shiva coming toward Her, She became extremely bashful. Thus She kept smiling, but She hid Herself among the trees and did not stand in one place. His senses being agitated, Lord Shiva, victimised by lusty desires, began to follow Her, just as a lusty elephant follows a she-elephant. After following Her with great speed, Lord Shiva caught Her by the braid of Her hair and dragged Her near him. Although She was unwilling, he embraced Her with his arms. Being embraced by Lord Shiva like a female elephant embraced by a male, the woman whose hair was scattered, swirled like a snake. O King, this woman, who had large, high hips, was a woman of Yogamaya presented by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She released Herself somehow or other from the fond embrace of Lord Shiva's arms and ran away. As if harassed by an enemy in the form of lusty desires, Lord Shiva followed the path of Lord Visnu, Who acts very wonderfully and who had taken the form of Mohini. Just as a maddened bull elephant follows a female elephant who is able to conceive pregnancy, Lord Shiva followed the beautiful woman and discharged semen, even though his discharge of semen never goes in vain. O King, wheresoever on the surface of the globe fell the semen of the great personality of Lord Shiva, mines of gold and silver later appeared. Following Mohini, Lord Shiva went everywhere - near the shores of the rivers and lakes, near the mountains, near the forests, near the gardens, and wherever there lived great sages."(Srimad Bhagavatam 8:12:18-34.)
Some of the semen was carried carefully by Vayu, the wind-god and impregnated into the ear of the monkey Queen Anjana, and thus Hanumanji was conceived, by Vayu.(Shiva Purana, Satarudrasamhita).
This story of Shiva becoming lusty and following Lord Visnu in the temporary form of Srimati Mohini Murti is to be found also in the Bhagavata (8:12. adh.), of Sripad Madhwacarya, and the Shiva Purana, Satarudrasamhita.
There is another story from the Ananda Ramayana which is also found in the Bhavishya Purana, Pratisagar parva relates how King Dasaratha, who had at that time no children, performed the 'Putrakamesti Yajna'. From that 'yajna' some 'prasadam' ('payasam'-'caru') was to be given to Dasaratha's wives so that they could be blessed with sons. However, just as King Dasaratha was going to administer the sweet to his wives, a large kite-like bird snatched some of the prasadam in it's beak and flew off into the forest. In the forest was the monkey queen who was sitting performing austerities to return to the service of Brhaspati. As the kite-bird flew over some of the 'payasam' fell from it's beak landing on the fingers of Anjana. When Anjana finished her austerities she put her fingers to her mouth, and thus eating some of the 'payasam' from the 'Putrakamesti Yajna'. Soon after that by the Lord's divine plan Keshari and Anjana tried to conceive a child. At that time an fierce aspect of Lord Shiva entered Keshari, and then Vayu entered the ear of Anjana. Anjana gave birth to a small baby monkey who was so ugly that in disgust, and angry at Shiva and Vayu, Anjana wanted to throw him into the Tungabhadra River from the top of their mountain, but Vayudeva appeared on the scene and pacified her saying. "This monkey son of yours in not ordinary. He is actually my son and is a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Rama."
As soon as Hanuman was born, Anjana was released from the curse of Brhaspati and she wanted to return to her former service.
The monkey child's first questions to his mother after being born were, what was there to eat, what his future was, and how he would maintain himself. Anjana told the boy not to worry, that he would never be destroyed or die, and that fruits were his food, ripened by the sun. She pointed to the sun, and the monkey child jumped up and tried to reach the sun to eat it, thinking it a fruit. Jumping for the sun and caught it in his mouth, then he saw Rahu, so he jumped at him to eat him, for he was bigger than the sun. Then as he flew through the sky he saw Lord Indra's elephant Airavata and tried to eat him too. Indra, seeing this, threw his mighty thunderbolt at the monkey which hit his chin and he fell to the earth wounded.
Sri Vayudeva carried him off and comforted and glorified him. Due to the scar made by Indra's Vajrayudha weapon on his chin ('hanu'), the demigods and Lord Visnu named him Hanuman. Everyone blessed him. Lord Visnu said: "May you live all your life as my greatest devotee." Indra said: "No weapon of any kind will wound or hit your body." Agni said: "Fire will never affect or disturb you." Kala (time personified) said: "May death never come to find you." Vayu blessed him to have more speed than air. Brahma said: "He will have more strength than even Garuda."
Sri Brahmaji said, "Don't worry, I will use my mystic powers." And he read Hanuman's mind. Sri Hanumanji was thinking "Why is there is no fruit in this world, all I wanted was something to eat?" Brhaspati came to know of his desire and he came forward and said, "Hanuman, I will give you all the fruits in this world, and I will give you the knowledge of Ayurveda by which you will know all the fruits, all the plants, and all the trees. Any plant in the creation, you will know it, what is the proper use of it, and how to apply it. You will know all these things, and what is the medicinal effect of it you will also know. This is my benediction to you." Then Lord Dhanvantari spoke, "I will be at your command. Whatever medicine that you put on anyone they will revive from their ailment and again become alive." So then Hanuman opened his mouth, and the Sun-god was there, he came out and the demigods ('devas') were very much satisfied.
Sri Hanumanji is known as the best of the monkeys and is surrendered to the lotus feet of Lord Rama. Upon their meeting Lord Ramacandra glorified Hanuman for his having studied all the Vedic literatures, knowing perfect presentation of philosophy and grammar, with never any faulty expression. Lord Rama said that Hanuman had captured the essence of all the Vedic studies yet still he remained humble rendering menial service to Lord Rama.
Hanuman still wasn't sure how he would recognise his worshipful Lord in the pastimes yet to come. So Brahma gave him a diamond necklace, and told him, "This is the highest benediction you can get. You will be always remain the eternal servant of the eternal Lord, and only your Lord will be able to recognise this necklace. That means you will be recognised by him, and he will be recognised by you as the one who recognised the necklace."
Later on when Lord Ramacandra asked the beggar, "What kind of a beggar are you? You have a wonderful necklace on your neck." Then Hanuman immediately recognised, that this is my worshippable Lord. And he immediately surrendered to Him..
Sri Hanumanji had so many other exploits too, some we have included when he was a small boy. After the sun-swallowing pastime there were so many other pastimes. He used to take elephants and tigers and play with them. One day he caught hold of a very wise elephant. He was holding it by the tusk, and he was also holding a tiger by the tail, and swinging them around. They were making some sounds. This was the innocent nature of Hanuman's fun. As he played like this with the animals he saw an ashram. The sage who lived here had never gotten angry in his life. He was known for his sense control. Hanumanji thought to himself, "Now we will test his sense control." So he put the tiger and the elephant tied up together in front of his ashram. This was early in the morning, during the 'brahma-muhurta' time. So the 'rishi' slowly opened the door and took his 'lota' for taking bath. Then to his surprise as he looked out he saw this tiger, so he immediately ran back inside and closed the door. Up to that time he had constipation, but when he saw this tiger suddenly and by the grace of God, he felt nature calling. But what could he do, there was a tiger outside his door? He looked out the door again, and this time he saw the elephant as well, so he quickly shut the door again. He had to pass. But how could he pass inside? He then had some inspiration to climb out of the window, there was a tree outside of the window, and looking up he saw Hanuman at the top of the tree. Seeing him there the rishi said, "Ah! So you are the cause of this mischief. Come here!" Hanuman thought, "He's becoming angry. I must go." So he came down from the tree, and using his mystic siddhis he became very small and entered the window. The 'rishi' then cursed Hanuman that would limited his strength. "Why did you curse me like this?" Hanuman asked. "This is only for you own good. Your strength has been controlled so that you can use it only for the Lord's service, no more of these pranks. And when it is time for you to render service to Lord Rama, the Lord will arrange for someone to remind you." So then Hanuman said, "I will never tie an elephant to a tiger any more. And I will certainly not put it in front of your ashrama." Then he came back to his home, and he didn't go out to play for a whole week. Keshari was asking, "Hanuman, how come there have been no complaints from anyone for a whole week? Have you become a good boy?" Hanuman said, "I don't want to give trouble to anyone." Then they heard a sound, a very nice sound. Keshari said, "What is this? It sounds like the great Narada Muni coming!" Hanuman asked, "Who is this person?" Keshari replied, "He is a very great devotee. He doesn't need any introduction. You just go to him and you will find out his greatness." Immediately Hanuman jumped up just as Narada was on his way past their place, going to see some 'rishis', so Hanuman jumped in his path and paid 'pranams', obeisances unto you great sage. "Narada Muni, I heard that you are a very great person, so you must bless me. Without blessing me, you are not allowed to go." Narada said, "What blessing do you want?" Hanuman said, "Already the demigods have given me so many blessings. I cannot think of anything else, so you think of a blessing, and you give it to me." Narada thought, "What blessing does Hanuman not have?" And so Narad said, "You will become expert in music." That was the only benediction left to give. So then Hanuman duly received that benediction, and Narada Muni said, "So I have given you the benediction as you requested, and now I am going." Hanuman said, "One minute, one minute." "What do you want now?" Narada asked. "How will I know that I am the most expert in music?" Hanuman inquired. "My father told me that you are the most expert in music, so you must do me a favour today. Give me the benediction that I will be more expert than you." So Narada said, "All right, I will sit somewhere and listen to you." "Shall I start singing?" Hanuman asked. "Yes." Narada Muni put his 'vina' on a rock, and he sat down on the ground. So Hanuman selected a tune, simply by his singing all wondrous things began to happen. His singing changed the nature of things like the rock on which Narad Muni had rested his 'vina'. The rock melted in ecstacy, and then the 'vina' was there sitting in the liquid. He was singing and singing, and the 'vina' was floating in the liquid rock. Narada was closing his eyes and enjoying, and he said, "All right Hanuman, you are the best musician you even surpass me. You can stop singing now." Hanuman said, "You open your eyes and tell me if I should I stop singing." Narada said, "What, how do you mean?" Hanuman replied, "You open your eyes." So Narada opened his eyes and looked around. He didn't notice the vina floating in the 'rock pool'. "Yes, you can stop singing." So then Hanuman stopped singing, and the liquid stone became again rock, and the 'vina' became stuck. Narada said, "I am going," and he went to take his vina, but it wouldn't move. "What did you do, Hanuman?" Hanuman said, "I only sung a song. You told me to sing a song, and you also gave me the ability. Now why are you complaining. I have been a good boy for a whole week.?" Narada said, "One week of doing nothing means that before that week you did too much." And then Hanuman told him all about what he had done, swallowing the sun etc, and Narada became very pleased. Then he said, "Now whatever it was, you please sing the tune again, so I can get my vina out." Hanuman said, "Well, I don't know...." Narada Muni said, "Please do it!" "No I won't", Hanuman said, and he jumped up and ran inside the palace. Narada Muni came in there and called out, "Hanuman, come and get my 'vina' out of the rock! I have to go." Just then Keshari came out, and when he saw Narada Muni he touched his feet. "What is my son doing, he is giving you some trouble?" Narada said, "Oh no, no trouble, just that he got my vina stuck in the rock." Sriman Keshari said, "Oh no, he has started his mischief again. Hanuman, get Narada's 'vina' out of the rock!" Then Hanuman said, "I want Narada Muni's feet to touch every room in this palace, that is why I was doing this. Now he has touched all the rooms, I will release his 'vina'. The dust from his lotus feet is so rare that what is the use of just having it in one part of our kingdom? We should have it all over." Narada said, "You are already blessed, because you are Lord Rama's eternal servant."
Sri Hanuman went and sung for Narada, who quickly took his 'vina' and left. In this way, Hanuman had so many wonderful pastimes. Then he told Keshari, "I want to begin my education. I have so many benedictions, but I need some education too, I need 'vidya'. I am very much hankering for 'vidya'." Keshari thought out loud and said, "But who could give you 'vidya'? You have so many benedictions, but you also have this uncontrollable behaviour. I can't find a 'guru' for you, because you are so strong, and so naughty also." Hanuman said, "This means that you are not going to perform the duty of the father. You're not giving me the necessary education." Keshari said, "I have to give you education, but I would like you to do one thing. You go to the Sun-god. He is the most powerful. Some time ago he was suppressed by you, but I can't think of anyone else He is most learned. So you go and approach him." Hanuman went to see the Sun-god, and when the Sun-god saw Hanuman coming, he thought, "It's Hanuman again. What is he here for? He's grown up now, so hopefully he would have stopped playing his mischievous deeds."
Sri Hanuman had changed, he came up and paid his obeisances very respectfully. The Sun-god said, "What are you here for now? Whom are you going to swallow?" Hanuman objected, "No, no, all that was because I was a small child in ignorance. I still have so much ignorance, but I want to get some knowledge. I've heard that you are a great 'pandit', so please teach me. I've come to join your 'gurukula'." So then the Sun-god looked down. He has a big sitting place in the front of his chariot. There, we can understand from 'shastra' that there are six million 'rishis' sitting, and they are constantly reciting Yajur-veda, Rg-veda, Sama-veda and Atharva-veda to the Sun-god. So he looked to see if there was any vacant seat, but the whole place was filled up, so he said, "Sorry, there is no room for admission.." Hanuman said, "If there is no seat then I will stand and learn from you." The Sun-god said, "But I have to keep moving. If you stand in front of me then I won't be able to move and then the various seasons won't be there on time. I will be in trouble, I have my service too." Hanuman said, "Then I will move and learn." The Sun-god said, "All right. But you have to face me and move backwards. In this way you have to listen to me, and whatever I say you have to learn. I won't repeat it." So Hanuman was there in front of the Sun-god, and he was walking backwards. He was so sense-controlled that he could join the orbit of the sun. In 60 orbits he learnt everything, Rg, Sama, Yajur and Atharva, the Upanisads, Puranas everything. As the Sun-god spoke it, Hanuman heard it and immediately he remembered and realised it. The Sun-god said, "Very good, but you have to give me some dakshina." Hanuman said, "Well what do you want? Do you want Indra's crown? You tell me anything that you want and I will get it for you in a second." The Sun-god said, "No, I don't want anything of that nature. Only one 'guru-dakshina' I need from you. I have a monkey friend. You must become his minister. You must always protect his life." Hanuman said, "Oh? This is only glory for me. I will do it, I will protect him as I would my own life."
The Sun-god told him who that monkey is. It was Sugriva, and actually he is the son of the Sun-god. How Sugriva became the Sun-god's son in relation to this is in itself a wonderful story. There was one lady who was known as Narayani, and her husband was called Ugra-tapas. That means one who performs "ferocious austerities," but in actuality he never did any austerities. He was only engaged in sense gratification. Due to living a life like that he became so diseased and paralysed that he had to be carried in a basket. Narayani would carry him in a basket so that he could go to different places and get sense gratification. Ugra-tapas told Narayani, "You must take me to such and such prostitute today." So she was carrying him. While Ugra-tapas was in the basket and Narayani was carrying him, there was one 'rishi' whose name was Bishmanda Rishi, and he had been put on a trident by a king because of some misunderstanding, and was suffering in that condition. He had 'tri-kala-jnan', knowledge of past, present and future, and when he saw Ugra-tapas he knew he was going to a prostitute's place, and even despite the fact that he was crippled and being carried by his wife. So naturally the 'Rishi' got so upset, amazed at this mans stupidity and forgot about his pain. He called out, "Hey Ugra-tapas, what are you doing? Your name is Ugra-tapas, and what is your life like? And now you are asking your wife to carry you to a prostitute's when you are paralysed. What kind of a person are you? You should die immediately. In fact let me assist. When the sun rises tomorrow you will die." When Narayani heard this she said, "When the sun rises tomorrow my husband will die? Then I curse by my austerity of chastity that the sun will not rise." The sun then became motionless. The Sun-god's charioteer Aruna was getting ready, packing the horses etc., for a normal daily journey of the sun. But then he looked back and saw the sun had become static. "Oh? Is this a vacation for me? I never got any holiday before, because there was never any chance. Let me have some fun." So he went and asked the sages that sit on the Sun-god's chariot, "How come the sun is not moving any more?" "This is the curse of a chaste lady," they replied. "How long will this curse last?" Aruna asked. "At least one day." "That's good," Aruna said. "One day is good enough. I can enjoy nicely in that time." So Aruna got one day's holiday. He was thinking, "How can I enjoy this day? It never happened in the creation before, and it will probably never happen again. The sun never goes on holiday. I only have one day, so I must make the most of this and get the highest enjoyment." So he took a book, like a tourist guide for the heavenly planets, and he found out that Indra was having a special feast banquet and dinner in respect of some great personality, and Menaka the heavenly society girl was dancing at that festival. "Oh I must go and see that," he said. But in this party, only the invited guests were allowed. You had to bring an invitation, and you had to be dressed in a special way. It was known that only Indra's close personal friends were invited. So he was wondering, "How will I go? I know, I will also become a dancer." So he turned himself temporarily into a woman, Aruna became Aruni. This Aruni was so beautiful, because he always sat with the sun and he was shining so brightly. He came in front of Indra's palace. The gateman asked, "Who are you?" "I am Menaka's make-up assistant," she said. Menaka forgot to put one line on her face, so I have to do it. I am the only one who is expert enough." "All right, you may enter." So then Aruni entered the assembly. Menaka was dancing on one side and Aruni was hiding on the other watching. Indra was looking through the crowd, and suddenly he saw Aruni. "She is more beautiful than Menaka," he said. Indra thought that it has been a wonderful party everyone has had a great time, so now we can say that its all over, and he immediately wound up the party, and started showing everyone out. Aruni was also going to leave, but Indra caught hold of her affectionately and said, "Wait a minute! Who are you, beautiful celestial maiden?" Aruni said, "I am Menaka's make-up assistant. Please leave me alone! I am going now the party is over." "No you are not going fair maiden, you are staying here with me," Indra said. "I'm staying where?" The beauty recoiled. "With me, I want to enjoy your beauty." Indra said. "No, I am not staying with you. I know your history, you have done this so many times." Aruni said. Indra said, "No, no, I will keep you next to Indrani." Aruni objected, "Even if you keep me more than Indrani, I cannot be here because actually I am a man." Indra said, "Don't play these games with me, I know you are a woman, I can see the alluring shape of your form." Aruni said again, but with much emphasis, "No I am not a woman! I am a man! I just turned myself into this form to come to the party." Indra said, "Even if that is the case, still you are the most beautiful woman that I have seen and I want to enjoy you anyway." Aruni said, "If you were to make me conceive, then who would bring up the child? I am the charioteer of the Sun-god." Indra said, "Whatever or whoever you are, and whatever will come out of it, I don't care, I'm going to enjoy you." Aruni was then overpowered by the lusty desires of Indra, 'she' had little choice but to agree, immediately there was a conception, and a demigod was born. Aruni then ran and shed that illusory feminine beauty, and assumed his normal form, because it was getting late already, and the Sun-god was slowly getting his movement back.. At the last possible moment Aruna jumped on the chariot and grabbed the reins. The Sun-god said, "Where did you go?" "Oh, nowhere," Aruna answered. "Tell me!" "Oh, I went to Indra's planet." "Did you meet him. What did he say to you?" the Sun-god asked. "More than say. He seduced me and gave me a child." "How did he give you a child, Arun?" Aruna said, "It's getting late now, we only have a few moments." The Sun-god said, "A few moments is all right. It needs only one moment. Tell me how this came about and what beautiful form captivated the mind of Indra. Show it to me. Let me see that beautiful form." Aruna objected, "No, no. This will only cause more trouble, I don't want to go through all that again." "No, I must see," said the Sun-god. "You are my servant." "All right," said Aruna, and he became Aruni again. In the next moment Surya was also over come by lust, and there was another conception. It is mentioned in the Visnu Purana that anyone who hears this story loses the attraction for going to the heavenly planets. Anyway. So now two babies were crying. This was not usually the way that birth happened in the heavenly planets, normally they didn't have to undergo this screaming stage as they are usually born full grown, so this time all the demigods were disturbed in their sense gratification. They all went to Brahma, and Brahma approached Indra, saying, "You are the cause of this problem. It is up to you settle this problem down." "I can't have babies crying in the heavenly planets, its just not conducive for either meditation or sense gratification" Indra said. "We'll have to give them to someone." Then he remembered the king of Vanaras, Riksharaja, who had no children. Moreover he was performing austerities to please Indra so he could get a son. Its not unusual to find through history that these kinds of "benedictions" from the demigods are usually something that demigods don't want disturbing them in the heavenly planets, so they give it away. So Riksharaja was standing on one leg to get some children, and Indra came and said, "Your rigid austerities are now fruitful? Here are two babies you can have." So Riksharaja and his queen had two sons, Vali and Sugriva. Vali was the son of Indra, and Sugriva was the son of the Sun-god. And the Sun-god got the benediction of 'guru-dakshina' from Hanuman that he would always protect Sugriva. In this way, when Vali was anointed the king after Riksharaja, Sugriva became his minister, and Hanuman became the minister of Sugriva.
Sri Hanumanji, without haughty thoughts, simply serving his Lord, he jumped across the sea to Lanka to reclaim Sita Devi (Lord Rama's consort) from the wicked King of the Raksasas, who, like a dog, steals food from his master's house, stole away Srimati Sitadevi by deceit after tricking the loyal Laksmana away from Her. In the form of a mendicant, the unscrupulous Ravana approached and took the most chaste lady to Lanka, his island of gold. The faithful Hanuman searched the city of Lanka and found Sita in the Ashoka grove. Pure, chaste and in separation from Sri Rama, she waited like a beautiful white lotus surrounded by cruel thorny Raksasas. Hanumanji gave Sita Rama's finger-ring to win her confidence, then allowing his own capture by the Nagastra, snake-rope weapon of Indrajit, then caused havoc to the demons in Lanka by jumping from roof top to roof top, his tail acting as a giant fire lighter. When the whole of Lanka was ablaze he sped back to his Lord.
The Vanaras and bears celebrated Hanuman's return by visiting the honey grove and became intoxicated from the honey. When Sri Rama heard about this, he understood that Hanuman had been successful in finding Sita Devi.
The war that followed is described as a big 'yajna', or fire sacrifice - Hanuman as the 'adhvaryu' (the runner who sets things up), and Laksmana as the 'pratiprasthatri' or first assistant to the 'adhvaryu' (Hanuman). One of the 'pratiprasthatris' special functions is to lead the wife of the sacrificer and to guide her. Knowing the events of the story that took place, we can see that the celebate Laksmana the 'brahmacari', carried out his particular sacrificial duties without saying very much. Sri Rama was the form of fire, Sugriva, the King of the monkeys, was the 'yajuman' (the beneficiary), and Angada and the other monkeys were the 'Ritviks' (assistants).
A Setu, bridge of floating stones was placed on the sea and the army advanced quickly towards Lanka. Sri Hanumanji carried Rama on his shoulders and Angada carried Laksmana. Hanuman was the pride of all creatures who came to help Sri Rama retrieve Sita from the demon Ravana. After Laksmana killed Ravana's son Indrajit, Ravana became extremely angry and personally came to attack Sri Rama and the Vanara army. At the sight of this ferocious demon, many of the Vanaras ran, but not Hanuman. Ravana first tried to kill Vibhisana, his pious brother and friend of Sri Rama, but Laksmana saved his life.
Ravana turned on Laksmana and knocked him unconscious. Sushena, the great physician, was sent for, to restore Laksmana's life, the sun had not many more hours in the sky, the Vanaras had to act fast. According to the pastime, if the sun rose the next day without the Vishalya Karani herb brought from the Gandhamadana Mountain in the Himalayas, Laksmana would die. Sri Hanuman, being blessed by Vayu to move faster than the wind, leaped into the sky and headed north to look for the golden creeper with blue flowers. Ravana saw Hanumanji cross the sky and sent for the magician Kalanemi to trick him. Taking the form of a hermit in the Himalayas, Kalanemi tried to have Hanuman eaten by a crocodile, but Hanuman killed the crocodile, freeing an Apsara who had been cursed to remain in that form until Hanuman came. Hanuman then killed Kalanemi and threw him back to Lanka with a flick of his tail. The powerful Ravana, mad with anger summoned the sun god. He ordered him to appear in the sky, even though it was not yet his scheduled time for him to rise. When the sun god mounted his chariot to rise early, Hanuman expanded himself larger than the largest and captured the sun god, chariot, horses and all, and placed them under his arm pit.
As he still hadn't found the herb 'sanjivani', and out of deep attachment, affectionate desperation to save Laksman he lifted the whole of Gandhamadana Mountain effortlessly with one hand whilst keeping the sun still locked safely under his other arm, and with a single jump flew through the sky and returned to his Lord Rama. Sushena quickly climbed the mountain found the herb and revived Laksmana by holding it under his nose. Sri Hanumanji then flew with the mountain back to the Himalayas and replaced it where he had found it. The sun still had not risen and everyone was confused. Then Hanuman returned, and resuming his normal size, freed the sun god from under his arm to rise into the sky to start the final day for Ravana. Lord Sri Rama killed Ravana that day, and Ravana's pious brother Vibhisana brought Sita from the Ashoka Grove. She was thin and weak, but in her usual natural elegant beauty, and was now free to join her Rama. Everyone was in ecstasy.
Lord Rama told Hanuman, his greatest devotee, that They Sita and Rama would always stay in his heart, and Hanuman will remain as long as the Ramayana is told.
yavad ramakatham vira srosye 'ham prthivitale
tavat sarire vatsyantu mama prana na samsayah
Hanuman vowed, "O My Lord Rama, O Valiant King, as long as I hear Your story told, I will remain in this body for you."
As stated in the Puranas, Hanuman perfected his life in servitude to his Lord and to this day constantly worships Sri Ramacandra in Kimpurusha varsha, Hanumans' 'eternal' abode.
Source:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/parishad137.html
