Hanuman: The Messenger of God

The following is extract from the book "Hanuman: The Messenger of God" by Sri Anantanand Rambachan. We are grateful to him for granting permission to publish this extract. You can find a link to the book and more books by Sri Anantanand Rambachan in Buy Spiritual Products Section. 

Chapter 1: The Meeting of Hanuman and Rama

Our first encounter with Hanuman occurs in the Kishkindakanda of Tulsidas' Ramayana. While travelling in a southerly direction, in search of sita, Rama approached the Rishyamuka hill. This hill received its name from the fact that it was, in ancient times, a location for the practice of spiritual disciplines by the rishis. Upon this hill dwelt the exiled king, Sugriva, with his ministers and counsellors. 

Sugriva and his minsters were extremely terrified when they saw Rama and Lakshmana approaching. In the Valmiki version of the Ramayana, we learn that Sugriva moved restlessly from place to place and felt that he was about to faint. His counsellors sought shelter behind Sugriva, since they were certain that the brothers were emissaries of Bali. Bali was the brother of Sugriva, and he had usurped Sugriva's legitimate position as ruler of his people. Hanuman alone spoke out and called upon all to be fearless.

Let us all banish fear of Bali! There is nothing to inspire terror on this, the highest of mountains. I do not see any sign here of that cruel Bali of evil aspect, who has filled you with apprehension and caused your flight... You are intelligent, experienced, able to read the expression of others and fully prepared for any eventuality, but a prince who gives way to agitation is not able to forestall any. (Kishkindakanda)

We see here the characteristic fearlessness of Hanuman. When his leader and advisors are completely paralyzed with fear and helplessness, he assumes control of the situation. His wisdom is also evident in the advice which he offers. He is not reluctant to speak candidly with Sugriva and to caution him about the way in which fear could distort his decision-making capacity. Sugriva, as the leader of his tribe, should have gone out to meet Rama and Lakshmana and ascertain their purpose and intention. Fear, however, had rendered him useless for the task and so the responsibility fell to Hanuman. He does not shirk his responsibilities. 

Sugriva instructed Hanuman to disguise himself as a celibate student in order to ascertain the identity and the purpose of the two brothers. Sugriva feared that they are allies of his brother, Bali, sent to wage war with him. Disguised as a brahmachari, Hanuman approached the brothers, bowed respectfully and proceeded to question them:

Who are you heroes, one dark, the other fair of hue, who roam the woods disguised as ksatriyas? Treading the hard ground with your soft feet, why are you wandering in the forest, my masters?

Though possessed of delicate, charming and beautiful limbs, how is it that you have exposed yourself to the intolerable sun and stormy wind of these wild regions? Are you some two of the three gods (viz. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) or are you the two divine sages, Nara and Narayana?

Or are you the first causes of the world and lords of all spheres, manifested in human form to carry souls across the ocean of existence and relieve the earth of its burdens? (Kishkindakanda)

This is the very first occasion in the Ramayana of Tulsidas where Hnauman speaks and where we meet him. We need to pause, therefore, to note what we learn about him in this introduction.

Hanuman's tremendous powers of observation become apparent immediately. He notices the tenderness of their feet and senses that they do not belong in the forest (Kathina bhumi pada gami). They do not possess the physical features and attributes of people who have made their homes in the forests, continuously exposed to the intolerable sun and wild winds. His discerning nature immediately tells him that there is something far more profound here than meets the eye. In fact, as his words reveal, he intuits a divine presence in the brothers, but is not yet certain of their identity. 

(to be continued)