Book Extract: Hanuman An Introduction

Chapter XIV: Relevance of Hanuman Today

Every Tuesday in Delhi and every Saturday in Mumbai, a long queue of men and women is seen outside Hanuman temples. They pour oil over the monkey-god's image, offer him a garland of leaves and salute him. Some sit around the shrine and chant the Hanuman Chalisa . Ask them why they do it, and you will get many answers: "Hanuman gives me strength to face my problems." "Hanuman will destroy those negative astrological influences that are making my life miserable." "I believe that by invoking Hanuman I will get what my heart desires." "Hanuman helped Lord Rama; he will also help me."

Image worshipping a monkey! Some may call this practice primitive superstition. Others, pagan practices with no modern-day relevance. Yet, for millions of Hindus, Hanuman embodies some of the most sublime values and philosophical ideas.

Let us try and understand what makes Hanuman such a popular and revered divinity.

Monkey and the Mind

In Hindu symbolism, the monkey represents the mind. Like a doneky, the mind is never still. If there is no work to be done, both are up to some mischief.

This monkey-mind happens to be the only thing over which man has absolute control. We cannot control the world around us, but we can control our mind. We cannot choose our life, but we can choose the way we respond to it.

According to ancient Hindu seers, there is no objective world 'out there'. The whole world is a subjective phenomenon, created by us. Our five senses (ears, eyes, nose, tongue and skin) capture data from the outside world. Our mind processes this data to create a bank of observations and opinions. This processing of data depends on the way the mind has been programmed.

We - as humans - have the unique ability to programmed and reprogrammed our mind. IN other words, we have the power to change the way we perceive life. And by changing our perceptions of life, we have the power of changing our world.

When Hanuman enters Rama's life, he changes Rama's world. He transforms a crisis (the loss of Sita) into an opportunity (rid the world of Ravana). He transforms a victim into a hero.

Thus, Hanuman is no ordinary monkey. He is the perfect mind. He embodies the highest potential that our mind can reach.