Five Questions About The Qualities Of Hanuman

“O sinless one, certainly, how can any king accomplish his objectives if he doesn’t have such a messenger working for him?” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana about Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 3.34)

Download this episode (right click and save)

एवं विधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत्पार्थिवस्य तु
सिद्ध्यन्ति हि कथं तस्य कार्याणां गतियोऽनघ

evaṃ vidho yasya dūto na bhavetpārthivasya tu
siddhyanti hi kathaṃ tasya kāryāṇāṃ gatiyo’nagha

A child hears of Shri Hanuman for the first time. They are familiar with the various paintings, sculptures, and photos depicting events relating to his activities. They want to learn more, and they choose to focus on specific qualities. They ask their father to give a further explanation, to try to provide a background on the individual who seems to be the central object of worship within their family’s tradition.

1. How is Hanuman intelligent?

When first meeting Shri Rama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His special avatara of the Treta Yuga, Hanuman had to devise a way to decipher the purpose of the visit. Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana, as two warrior-bodied princes, were foreign to the area. From the perch on Mount Rishyamukha, the Vanara leader named Sugriva became apprehensive upon seeing the two youths approaching the area. He asked Hanuman to check out the scene, to see what was going on.

Hanuman decided to assume a false guise. He gave the appearance of a brahmana so as to lessen any potential hostilities. Hanuman was so intelligent that he spontaneously went into praise of Shri Rama, delivering perfect verses that were neither drafted beforehand nor edited, after the fact. Rama was so impressed that he deciphered that Hanuman was well-versed in the three Vedas and that any leader would be fortunate to have such a minister serving them.

2. How is Hanuman strong?

That meeting went well. The intelligent Hanuman determined that there was the potential for a mutually beneficial relationship. Rama could help Sugriva and Sugriva could help Rama. Except how were the two brothers going to reach the top of the mountain?

Hanuman changed his shape, again. This time becoming large, he placed those two brothers on his shoulders. We can only imagine the strength required. Hanuman would win the strongest man competition if there was one held at the time. Safely seated on his shoulders, those two brothers reached the area of Sugriva through Hanuman’s gravity-defying leap.

भिक्षुरूपं परित्यज्य वानरं रूपमास्थितः
पृष्ठमारोप्य तौ वीरौ जगाम कपिकुञ्जरः

bhikṣurūpaṃ parityajya vānaraṃ rūpamāsthitaḥ
pṛṣṭhamāropya tau vīrau jagāma kapikuñjaraḥ

“Abandoning his beggar form and reassuming his monkey form, the elephant among monkeys [Hanuman] placed those two heroes on his back and departed.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 4.34)

3. How is Hanuman brave?

Hanuman can accept a challenge and go it alone, if necessary. Imagine entering a bad area, a place that good people tend to avoid. Imagine that upon being detected, there would immediately be hostility. The people of the area would try to kill you. Except there is no choice in the matter; you must enter and you must continue to search for someone.

This is essentially what Hanuman did upon reaching the island of Lanka. He bravely continued in his search for Sita Devi, the wife of Rama. He was not afraid of conflict. He was not afraid of accepting blows from the enemy. He was concerned with keeping the mission intact, to not spoil everything through a careless mistake.

4. How is Hanuman resourceful?

As glorified by Vibhishana in the Shri Hanumat Stotram, Hanuman uses trees and rocks for his weapons. The other side has arrows augmented by spells. They change shapes at will, appearing and disappearing. Hanuman also has the ability to change shapes, but he tends to be more conventional. He can make due with whatever is available. He does not require an extensive army or an elaborate set of tools to get the work of Shri Rama accomplished.

5. How is Hanuman kind?

He is an ocean of mercy. His kindness extends beyond the length of all the great oceans combined. For every moment that time passes, in both the small scale of a paramanu and the large scale of an entire yuga, the kindness of Hanuman, as we can measure it, continues to grow.

लव निमेष परमानु जुग बरस कलप सर चंड
भजसि न मम तेहि राम कहँ कालु जासु कोदंड

lava nimeṣa paramānu juga barasa kalapa sara caṃḍa
bhajasi na mama tehi rāma kaha~ kālu jāsu kodaṃḍa

“Mind, why are you not worshiping Shri Rama, whose bow is like time, with weapons of arrows representing the different units of time, such as paramanu, lava, nimesha, barasa, yuga, and kalpa?” (Dohavali, 130)

We know his kindness because he volunteers to remain in this world for as long as Rama’s glories continue to be told. There can be no kinder act and there can be no greater rescuer of the souls fallen into illusion, in forgetfulness of their link to the Almighty.

In Closing:

Of most auspicious sight,
With unbelievable might.

Resourcefulness to use,
In proper rupa to choose.

Brothers on shoulders placing,
Without fear dangers facing.

With kindness never to end,
Like an ocean to extend.