Aug 18, 2007

Chapter 84: Hanuman meets Rama

Rama asks trees for Sita’s coordinates. Lakshman is angry against all trees for being mute spectators while Sita was being kidnapped. But he sees a mountain (Kishkinda?) and believes someone there would have surely seen the kidnap. So, the two set off towards that mountain.

Some human monkeys come to Sugreev and inform about 2 rishivars coming towards their mountain. Sugreev goes to Hanuman (who is chanting ‘Jai Sri Ram’) and asks him to investigate the two. Hanuman goes in the guise of a Brahmin and approaches Rama. Even before speaking, he finds a kinship towards Rama.

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Story of Hanuman

Meanwhile, Parvathi asks Shiva who this Brahmin is. Shiva says it is himself in disguise. The very purpose was that he (Shiva) would visit Rama (Vishnu) during Vishnu’s tour as manav. After Vishnu had asked Shiva to incarnate himself as a monkey, Shiva had chosen the son of Anjani to be his next incarnation which happens to be Shiva's 11th incarnation on Chaitra Shukla day.

But he was wondering how to transfer his powers to the baby. At that time, God of Wind came to Shiva and asked what he was worried about. Shiva mentions his issue. God of Wind (Pawan) says that he can take the powers and deposit. Shiva is very happy. So Shiva grants him a boon. Pawan rejects but Shiva insists. Pawan says since he is Wind, he has no form or family. He would be honored if this baby can be named as his son too (Wind God's son). "Thathasthu", says Shiva. So, it would be called as Pawanputra.

Pawan then takes the power (given by Shiva's Third Eye) and delivers it to the newly born baby of Anjani. Since the baby's mother is Anjani, baby is also called Anjaneya. Anjani's hubby is Kesari - King of Monkey. So he is also called Kesariputra. Anjani also names him as Bajrangbali.

Just after the baby is born, Pawan tells Anjani and Kesari about the powers of the baby and parents are happy. Pawan also grants him the power of flying. Just then some demons try to attack them but the little baby fights them all off easily and demons run away.

Kiddo then calls Pawan his dad too. But from the moment he is born, he asks who is Ram. This question has come along with the Divine powers transferred by Shiva. Even his own mother doesnt know who is Rama. But Kesari is very glad that he got a child. This was only possible after a huge penance that he carried out to Lord Shiva. Hence Lord Shiva had chosen this family to take birth as 11th incarnation. Kesari right now is deprived of wealth because he has been defeated by demons.

Some other time, Bajrang is hungry. He looks at the Sun and thinks it is a nice fruit. He flies towards it. Wind God listens to his son's naughtiness and laughs. Soon, kiddo consumes entire Sun in his mouth! Whole Universe gets dark. Indra and Co all get tensed. Indra attacks the kiddo. Kiddo fights bravely but cannot hold on for long. Indra's weapon disfigures his face and Bajrang becomes unconsciousness. Sun pops out. Universe is bright again. Indra heads back.

Falling Bajrang is carried by Wind God back to his mom who cries at her loss. But Wind God says that only Indra can give back the consciousness. "But how will Indra come here to monkeys" asks Anjani. Wind God stops wind, air-flow, etc across Universe. Everyone starts choking including Gods like Indra. Indra gets full news of all that happened. He then heads direct to Bajrang and gives his consciousness back. All happy. Wind God releases air flow and all is well. In addition, Indra also tells that from now on, he will be called Hanuman. The disfiguring of the face would add beauty to his face. Indra also grants him the power of Indra's weapon and also the boon of dying at his own will.

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Meanwhile, introductions done between H and Rama, and Brahmin transforms into H after coming to know that it is, after all Rama. He is overjoyed. He asks for forgiveness for his disguise, but Rama says it is alright, because, an enemy has to be attacked only after knowing the enemy’s true intentions.

H remembers his chat with God of Sun:
H: “What is the purpose of life?”
Sun: “Service.”
H: “Whose?”
Sun: “For you, it is Lord Rama.”

So, H is much pleased that the opportunity has atlast arrived for him to serve Rama. When Rama says he has to go to top of the mountain, Hanuman grows into a Mammoth Hulk and takes R&L each in the palm of his hand and places the miniscule-now-ant-like creatures into each of this shoulders. Finally, they all arrive at top of the mountain. Again, introductions. All are at top of mind, seeing it is after all, Rama and not any enemy.

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