“How can I ensure that the purpose of my task does not get destroyed? How shall I avoid mental disparity, and how do I ensure that my crossing of the ocean does not go for naught?” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.41)

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न विनश्येत्कथं कार्यं वैक्लब्यं न कथं भवेत्
लङ्घनं च समुद्रस्य कथं नु न वृथा भवेत्

na vinaśyetkathaṃ kāryaṃ vaiklabyaṃ na kathaṃ bhavet
laṅghanaṃ ca samudrasya kathaṃ nu na vṛthā bhavet

“Alright, so we all know how popular Shri Hanuman is. Known to people even outside of the tradition of sanatana-dharma, they can find images of him everywhere. They may casually refer to him as the monkey-god. If they hear stories about Hanuman, they are intrigued. They want to know more. Though they mistakenly consider Hanuman and his encounters to be mythology or folklore, there is still a healthy level of respect.

“What to speak, then, of the people within the tradition. There is so much worship. Wherever you turn. It is like the son of the wind-god wins the popularity contest. His poll numbers are the highest. It appears that he has the most followers. I use that term loosely. I understand that most people are after something; they are worshiping in a business sense. Payment for some return; in-kind benefits. There is some reciprocation expected.

“Let’s say that I respect Hanuman, that I appreciate his example, that I take joy in hearing stories about him. That is fine, but what does any of that really do for me? Why is such worship beneficial? What is the purpose? Can’t we just pick any random person, then, and offer the same level of allegiance? Will that not bring the same benefit?”

There are certainly traits to admire. Perseverance. Dedication. Strength. Heroism. Ingenuity. Resourcefulness. Gratefulness. Memory of past favors done by others. Strict focus and attention on the mission at hand. Protecting friends and facing enemies directly.

Nevertheless, these are not reasons, by themselves, for staying close to Hanuman, who is known as the greatest devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His avatara of Shri Rama. The ultimate objective of the human birth is to know God in truth. It could be many lifetimes until someone finally reaches the proper understanding. It is a rare achievement.

बहूनां जन्मनाम् अन्ते
ज्ञानवान् मां प्रपद्यते
वासुदेवः सर्वम् इति
स महात्मा सु-दुर्लभः

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.19)

I cannot reach the proper conclusion on my own. It is simply not possible. We are not saying that there are exclusive gatekeepers to whom we must pay tribute in order to rise to the highest status. It is not that one person or group of individuals has full ownership of access to the Almighty. He is within the heart of every living being, after all. While we may be the knower, kshetrajna, in the field that is the body, kshetra, God is the knower in all fields.

क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत
क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम

kṣetra-jñaṁ cāpi māṁ viddhi
sarva-kṣetreṣu bhārata
kṣetra-kṣetrajñayor jñānaṁ
yat taj jñānaṁ mataṁ mama

“O scion of Bharata, you should understand that I am also the knower in all bodies, and to understand this body and its owner is called knowledge. That is My opinion.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.3)

We require assistance. Someone has to lead us to the truth. Hanuman is one such person. More importantly, upon reaching the truth we also learn of our true nature. That is of servant. Sheshi to the shesha. Dasa to the prabhu. The energetic belonging to the energy. The enjoyed, prakriti, to the supreme enjoyer, Purushottama.

Hanuman not only leads us to the Absolute Truth and the accompanying knowledge and insight into that greatest of mysteries, but he also provides a visual implementation of the proper way to live. Our life is meant for devotion. This is the natural result of realizing our true nature.

We have activities commonly associated with sanatana-dharma. Worshiping the deity. Singing and chanting mantras, such as, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” Showing respect to the gurus, which include the parents, respected personalities, and the spiritual guide. Eating a certain way. Following certain rights of passage, samskara.

We can say that these activities are the result of knowledge of scientific principles. The hammer is built a certain way. The use of the hammer, in striking nails, breaking objects, and the like, is the natural result of the constitutional makeup. In the same way, devotional service, bhakti-yoga, is the implementation within the field of play based on the constitutional makeup of the individual.

Shri Hanuman is glorious. He is praiseworthy. He is forever worshipable, and he is a teacher through his actions. He always thinks of how to please Shri Rama. Even after he has done something amazing like leaping over a vast ocean, he deliberates further. He considers how to make every achievement worthwhile. He would rather not have any great deed go to waste, and in this way he is the ideal example to follow, but not necessarily imitate.

In Closing:

Never into despair to sink,
Even if on failure’s brink.

Despite over ocean leaping,
Attention on mission keeping.

Such that Shri Rama to be pleased,
Diligent in this opportunity seized.

A reminder for me today and forever,
That Hanuman the greatest devotee ever.

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Tags: dailyprompt, hanuman, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry