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mat-karma-krn mat-paramo
mad-bhaktah sanga-varjitah
nirvairah sarva-bhutesu
yah sa mam eti pandava Bhagvad Geeta 11-55
My dear Arjuna, he who engages in My pure devotional
service, free from the contaminations of fruitive activities and mental
speculation, he who works for Me, who makes Me the supreme goal of his
life, and who is friendly to every living being—he certainly comes
to Me.
Hanuma is a true example of these lives Bhakta Hanuma.
‘Hanuma is totally devoted to Rama. It is praise worthy no doubt,
but he is so much involved in his services to his Lord that there is hardly
any scope for us brothers to serve him. Name any job, he lands on the
spot and seizes the work. However much we like him, we are unable to bear
this competition. You must do something to stop it. You are like our mother
and you are the right person to set things right.’ These are the
complaints of Bharath, Lakshman and Shatrugn to Seetha a few days after
Rama Pattabhishekham.
Seetha was not surprised at their complaint since she was sailing in the
same boat. Rama bhakta Hanuman had no other thought except the welfare
of Rama. He was so much involved in it that he was unmindful of the courtesies
to be followed. He did not hesitate to get into their Ekantamandir. He
was even pressing the legs of Rama which was a previledge of the wife
in their privacy. He was thus overpowering everyone but Seetha forgave
him since he was not aware of human life. She explained the same to her
brothers-in-law.
Bharat took it as a favourable sign from Seetha and pleaded once again
to do something.
Seetha wondered what she could do ! Then the brothers came out with a
wonderful suggestion. ‘We will sort out all the services to be rendered
to Sri Rama and we will name the person who is entitled to do so’.
Lakshman added ‘If we get it signed by Rama, it becomes king’s
order and nobody can ever dare to oppose it.
Seetha agreed. ‘O.K. fine, but see that I too have some place in
it. I will get it signed by Rama.’
Satrugn added ‘When his own relatives are so eager to serve him,
where is the place for a stranger ?’
Seetha could not relish the idea, but she had no other go. The brothers
meticulously prepared a fool proof list of services to Rama from dawn
to dusk and sorted them out among themselves. They did not leave out a
single possibility.
Seetha conveyed the brothers greviences and their course of action to
Rama. Rama read through the list and observed that Hanuma had no place
in it. He learnt that Seetha did not object to it. Without batting an
eyelid, without a word of protest, but with a smile on his face Rama signed
over it.
The next minute Satrugn attacked Hanuma with full powers in his hand.
‘You cannot enter his palace without my permission. Here I am on
duty !. Hanuma wanted to know what his duties were ! Surprisingly his
name was nowhere to be seen in such a big list. As he was searching for
his name, the brothers were smiling to themselves.
Hanuma pleaded to Rama in the court to give him permission to serve him
for a requirement not mentioned in their Service Memorandum. Since the
brothers gloated over their all pervading list, had no objection to it.
Before Rama could grant it, Bharat had generously accepted it. Hanuma
saw to it that his grant too was added in the G.O.
His wish was strange and surprising. Whenever Rama yawned, Hanuma would
rap his fingers. What a clever innovation ! This desire of Hanuman gave
him a right royal entry ! He placed himself at Rama’s feet. Nobody
could object to it! Wherever Rama moved, Hanuma followed since you could
never predict when Rama would yawn.
The whole day, Hanuma sat very close to Rama, staring at his face all
the time. This farce continued at whatever course of action Rama was in
while at dinner, at rest, at court etc. It was embarrassing but it could
not be avoided. He had king’s permission to do so!. Moreover he
was not causing hindrance to any other person. Then how could they object
?
But finally Seetha objected to his right of entry into their private room.
How could anybody get in the way of husband and wife ? But Hanuma was
a stranger to these courtesies! All that he knew was he should serve his
master ! He did not mind where he was ! So he innocently asked. ‘What
if my master yawns in your palace?’ Seetha laughed it away and said,
‘But you have no right of entry’.
Hanuma mildly left the place, but she was shocked to see Rama lying on
the bed with his mouth agape. Seetha was surprised to see him thus.
Rama gave no answer to her question. He pointed his finger upwards but
there was nothing special except the usual decoration. She poured water
into his mouth but he did not gulp it. He neither closed his mouth nor
spoke a word.
Seetha hurriedly sent word to the three mothers and three brothers of
Rama. The news spread like wild fire, everybody rushed there. Rama greeted
his mothers with folded hands but his mouth was still wide open. The royal
doctor was sent for, but he could not decipher anything. Rama made gestures
that he was alright. Then his guru Vasista Maharshi came to the spot but
still there was no change in his posture. The doctor was trying to explain
the situation but Vasista’s first question was ‘Where is Hanuma
?’ Everybody was there except Hanuma. ‘Go fetch him here at
once.’ Then it struck somebody that Rama was time and again pointing
to the roof. Putting two and two together, Hanuma was located at the roof.
Hanuma was chanting the names of Rama and Seetha in ecstacy rapping his
fingers all the while. He was lost in this action, tears rolling down
the cheeks, though he was feeling sleepy.
It took five minutes for the servant to bring him back to reality and
to bring him down from the roof. He came down still rapping his fingers.
Vasista ordered him to stop it at once. The next minute Rama’s mouth
was closed. Vasista enquired why he was sitting there.
Hanuma innocently explained, ‘My duty is to rap my fingers whenever
my lord yawns. But I had no right of entry into this room. How will I
know when my lord yawns. So as a precautionary measure, I have been doing
it all the while.’
Vasista explained ‘Did you understand now the reason behind Rama’s
problem. In fact it was not any ailment. He was only trying to please
his staunch devotee.’ This is an example of strong bhakti of a devotee
to his Lord and the blessing showered upon him by his Lord !
Seetha and Rama’s brothers felt ashamed of themselves. Their love
for Rama stands no comparison to the dedication of Hanuma towards the
same person. Seetha tore off the memorandum and apologised wholeheartedly
to Hanuma. She gave him permission to continue his services to the Lord
as of yore. Rama’s brothers too gave him full freedom. Rama blessed
Hanuma and added ‘Dear Hanuma. I henceforth give you full freedom
to allocate whatsoever duties to whomsoever you like. For that matter
even I have no freedom to appoint any one to serve me without your permission.’
Hanuma prostrated before Rama as a sign of gratefulness. The mothers,
brothers and all others left the place relieved of their tension. They
all appreciated the bhakti of Hanuma.
The Lord knows the intensity of the love and dedication of his devotees
to him but the people around him do not know it. They are bound by petty
jealousies, ego clashes and prejudices. They will not listen to the reasoning.
They should learn it practically. That’s why Rama didn’t bother
to explain anything to Seetha even Seetha loved Hanuma but her possessiveness
dominated her love for Hanuma. Hanuma did not have the cunning nature
of human beings but he proved himself cleverer than the superior animal.
The brothers treated themselves superior to Hanuma and thought they fooled
him. But Hanuma outwitted them twice. He befooled them initially in attaining
the boon. He proved his superiority in his total surrender to God. Thus
he ranks number one among other devotees of Rama. He is second to none.
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