Anjaneya
சக்தி விகடன் –
Sakti Vikatan
28 Mar, 2017
திருக்கதைகள்
சொல்லின் செல்வன் பி.என்.பரசுராமன்
Word-meister P.N.Parasuraman
1Hanuman loves the Vermilion powder (from flora) He had the holy vision of Sita Devi (Rama’s Consort) and asked her to explain the significance of red streak in the midline parting of the hair in the forehead. Sita said that wearing Centuram would bring good things and auspiciousness to Rama. You might have heard of the story of Anjaneya smearing himself with the red powder all over his body. Likewise, there is another story.
2Ravana the abductor of Sita, Rama’s wife died in the hands of Rama.
Instead of being the minister of intelligence, Hanuman’s wish was always
to be close to Rama in his service. In that jubilant spirit, he
continued to render service to Rama. On the first day, when the night
fell, the day shift workers left and the night shift employees came and
performed their duties since arrival.
3Rama called on Anjaneya (Hanuman) and said, “Anjaneya, night is
imminent. It is time to retire to and rest in your mansion and report
back to your work in the morning.”
4Anjaneya trembled in shock.
5Anjaneya: “Swamy, What justice is there in your order? I see you want
to expel me. My place is where you are. I was so happy as the night
fell. I thought for Rama
service, there will be less interference during night than during day
time. I thought I would massage your feet and stay the night holding
them. You are driving me from my ordained service. What justice is this?
Am I to take rest leaving you here? Therefore, I will not leave you.”
So, he said firmly and resolutely.
6Hearing this, Rama’s mind moved. He thought in his mind, “What love and
devotion to me.” Rama said to him,” You may stay in the bedroom for a
while.”
7Anjaneya was joyous. ‘That time, though short, is some time. It appears
he won’t confer on me the blessing of remaining with him all night.
M, hum!’ So saying, he anguished inside his mind.
8Rama sporting a knowing smile entered the bedroom and reclined on the
couch. That was midnight. Sita was not present in the bedroom, but was
doing service to her mother-in-law, Kausalya Devi. After completing it,
she would then enter the bedroom.
9In old age, some go to sleep in the evening; some go to sleep late in
the night. Kausalya Devi belonged to the latter group. She goes to sleep
late in the night. Sita massages her feet and waits until Kausalya goes
to sleep and later she returns to Rama. Rama allowed Anjaneya to massage
his feet in the bedroom for the duration Sita spent her time serving her
mother-in-law. Rama said to Anjaneya he can spend some time in the
bedroom, who did his service to the Lord as he reclined on the couch.
A period of 48 minutes (One
naaLikai = 24 minutes) passed and the tinkling of anklets sounded,
announcing the imminent arrival of Sita. Rama turned his head ever so
slightly and spoke to Anjaneya with his eyes, (it was time for him to
leave).
10Anjaneya shook his head and defied Rama and spoke, “Why should I
leave?”
11As Rama spoke, “What? Your asking was correct,” Sita appeared at the
doorstep with a vessel of drinking water. Rama saw Sita; ever so fast,
he turned his face to Anjaneya. “Anjaneya, did you understand? It is
time you leave.” That was the unspoken words of Rama’s visage
(expressive eyes).
12Will Anjaneya give up that easy? “When Amma shows up, why should I
leave? What is so special about Amma?”
13Rama gave him an appropriate reply. Look at the parted hair of Amma.
Does she not wear Vermilion there?
That Vermilion streak and kumkum are the special reasons.
14Anjaneya saw them. If Centrum is the special reason, I could smear
myself with Vermilion, I could also stay with Ramachandra Murthy for
the whole night…; I could render service to him. Thus, he thought and
uttered, “Jai Sitaram!” with
majestic air and roared as he ran outside.
15He ran far and wide in the dead of night and located a shop. The shop
was closed. He did not worry about it. He entered the shop after
breaking the lock and the door. Inside, it was a thick night; what is
what was not apparent. As his eyes accommodated to the darkness, he
discovered the box of Vermilion. He opened the box, took some of the
red powder and got ready to apply it on his parted hair. Out popped a
problem.
16‘Where is my hair partition? How am I to locate it?’ That doubt reared
its head. That lasted a few minutes. A thought dawned in his head.
‘Hah-ha Hah-ha.’ Crowing, he
jumped for joy.
17Swamy keeps Sita close to him because of Vermilion on her parted
hair. Anyway, looking from a different angle, Sita remained away from
Rama for 10 months in desperation. After death of Ravana, it came to
pass that Rama told her, ‘You may go anywhere.’
18‘The reason boils down to Sita wearing Vermilion on her parted hair.
I should not be doing it. Let me smear the Vermilion all over the body.
If I do it, then only separation from Rama will not happen.’
Following this thought process, Anjaneya scooped up the Vermilion
powder (Centūram)
and smear it from his crown to toes. In the stance of
Centūra-Anjaneya,
he stood before Rama in his bedroom.
19The
Vermilion sky and the dawn burst forth as if to witness the beauty of
the sacred body of Anjaneya smeared with
Centūram
(செந்தூரம்)..
20Ramamurthy, coming out into the open for morning religious rites, saw
Anjaneya perceived his inner feelings and embraced him that very moment.
21We also apply Vermilion powder on Anjaneya and worship him. In his
shrine, we will receive the Vermilion powder with reverent devotion,
chant Rama Namam and apply it on our forehead. Thereafter, fear of the
enemy, disease, poverty…will leave; because of his grace and blessings,
only happiness will remain with us.
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Is Hanuman only Great?
Devotion of Servitor (Dāśya
Bhakti) is one among Bhaktis (devotion).
Servitor Bhakti is acceptance of God or Guru as the
Master, and conducting oneself as a humble slave or servant in
all his services to them. The exemplar of this Dāśya Bhakti is
Hanuman. When Sri Rama returned to Ayodya after completing the
exile into the forest to resume his rein, Hanuman stayed with
him in his eternal service.
Hanuman rendered all needed services to Rama during the waking
hours, knowing well his needs by intuition. Sita, Bharata,
Lakshmana and Śatrughna always close to Rama were astonished at
Hanuman’s service to Rama.
One day, Rama praised Hanuman’s dedicated services. Taking hint
from Rama’s words, Sita and Rama’s brothers decided to render
service likewise to Rama (in Hanuman’s way) at least for one
day. They expressed their desire to Rama and added, “Hanuman
only performs all needed services to you; we need your
permission to do service to you at least for tomorrow.” Rama
gave them permission for such service.
The Eager Beavers divided the task among themselves and got
ready for service to Rama from the time he opened eyes in the
morning to shut eyes in the night. They took the worksheet of
their intended team effort. With a sense of disappointment, Rama
said, “You have not enlisted Hanuman in your dream team.”
They chanted in chorus, “We by ourselves service your needs.”
Rama asked, “Do you have your worksheet with you?”
They all chorused, “Yes.”
Rama sporting a faint smile asked, “If there is some work
missing in this worksheet, can Hanuman do it?”
The Eager Beavers said, “No such thing will come to pass.”
Hanuman came to know of Rama’s order. Next day, Sita and Rama’s
brothers plunged headlong into their work from the time of his
awakening. Their twin happiness in life was to remain physically
close to him and to render services.
According to the order of Rama, Hanuman sat near the entrance
and meditated, “Rama…Rama…” He had his attention directed also
on the proper conduct of Rama services. The service proceeded with no hitch during daylight hours. Come night, Rama went to bed. Sita came with a plate of Thāmbūlam. (Betel-leaf and arecanut). Rama opened the mouth. That is it: he never closed the open mouth again. No movement, no speech. Sita was afraid that something serious happened to Rama. She called Bharata, Lakshmana, and Śatrughna. They came running, calling “Aṇṇā, Aṇṇā.” – older brother. The royal physician was called into the bedroom. He declared, “No diseases.” He left the premises. They thought of calling Hanuman but deferred. Instead they called the family Guru Vasiṣṭha. He performed what he knew he should do. He whispered some Mantras in his ear. He meditated for a short time. None of the remedial measures worked.
At last, Vasiṣṭha said only Hanuman could explain this. Hanuman
jumped up, rushed to the bedroom, and snapped his fingers, which
resulted in Rama closing the mouth spontaneously.
The relief was palpable among the gathered people. Rama spoke,
“When I yawn (resulting in locked jaw), Hanuman performed
snapping of his fingers before my mouth. You all do not know
this.” All were
crestfallen from shame.
Knowing that in Bhakti service, 'Hanuman’s equal is Hanuman
himself," they all praised him sincerely.
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