| Hanuman:
Simian Symbol of Strength! |
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Part
1: The Mighty Monkey!
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| "Praying to rocks,
mountains etc is a bit way beyond comprehension. Hindus need to be
educated..." ~ GTMNN
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In
May, 2001, an obscure village in India's southern state of Karnataka was in
news for suddenly turning into a Hindu pilgrimage — by accident! Thousands
of people are still thronging to this hamlet called Theranya in Hassan district
to worship a 40-feet green granite block weighing around 100 tonne that slipped
off a truck while being transported to a temple in Tamil Nadu for carving out
a statue of Hanuman — the monkey god. Even an unsculpted piece of rock
can become a deity when it comes to the reverence shown by Hindus towards this
simian icon.
Embodiment
of Strength & Tenacity
Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Lord Rama in
his expedition against evil forces, is one of the most popular idols in the
Hindu pantheon. Believed to be an avatar of Lord Shiva,
Hanuman is worshipped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance and devotion.
Hanuman's tale
in the epic Ramayana — wherein
he is assigned the responsibility to locate Rama's wife Sita abducted by Ravana,
the demon king of Lanka — is known for its astounding ability to inspire
and equip a reader with all the ingredients needed to face ordeals and conquer
obstructions in the way of the world.
Worshipping
the Monkey God
On Saturdays and Tuesdays many people keep fast in honour of Hanuman and give
special offerings to him. In times of trouble, it is a common faith among Hindus
to chant the name of Hanuman or sing his hymn ("Hanuman
Chalisa") and proclaim "Bajrangbali Ki Jai" — "victory
to thy thunderbolt strength". Once every year — on the full-moon day
of Chaitra (April) at sunrise — "Hanuman Jayanti" is celebrated
to commemorate the birth of Hanuman. Hanuman temples are among the most common
public shrines found in India.
The
Power of Devotion
The character of Hanuman teaches us of the unlimited power that lies unused
within each one of us. Hanuman directed all his energies towards the worship
of Lord Rama, and his undying devotion made him such that he became free from
all physical fatigue. And Hanuman's only desire was to go on serving Rama. Hanuman
perfectly exemplifies "Dasyabhava" devotion — one of the nine
types of devotions — that bonds the master and the servant. His greatness
lies in his complete merger with his Lord, which also formed the base of his
genial qualities.
Next page > The
Life of Hanuman > Page 1, 2, 3
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