Three Sources of Homage For Hanuman In The Ashoka Grove

“Covered with flowers, Hanuman, the son of the wind, became brilliant in the middle of the Ashoka grove, looking like a mountain of flowers.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 14.11)

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पुष्पावकीर्णश्शुशुभे हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः
अशोकवनिकामध्ये यथा पुष्पमयो गिरिः

puṣpa avakīrṇaḥ śuśubhe hanumān māruta ātmajaḥ
aśoka vanikā madhye yathā puṣpamayo giriḥ

People worship for different reasons. To say thanks. To show appreciation. To repay favors they feel they have previously received. Sometimes when they weren’t asked for. Sometimes just when everything appeared doomed. Sometimes when they were already safe and secure, additional fortune came their way. Some people worship to get something in return, and some worship to increase the beauty of the object of worship. In the case of Shri Hanuman, the sources of worship are sometimes unexpected.

It is a scene that has played out countless times on stages and screens, both large and small. One of the characters central to the story is intruding. He is entering a restricted area. There is usually a noble purpose. Looking for an important item. Trying to help someone out of a jam. Perhaps taking back something that was stolen.

The scene flows from entry to resolution. At the beginning, the character does not know where to go. They are in a new place. They are trying their best to go undetected. The last thing they want is to cause a scene. Of course, that is the way to inject humor into the situation. The character might stumble over a plant on the floor. They might accidentally trip over a sofa. A pot comes crashing to the ground in the kitchen. If the character is hiding in a closet, it might be that in a desperate attempt to free themselves of an unknown object they end up being wrapped in a long coat.

With Shri Hanuman, the related scene had an outdoor setting. He was looking for a missing princess. He was searching in an unknown area. He was seeing the place for the first time. Everything about the place was impressive. Gold and crystals used in the construction of the buildings. A grove with the most beautiful trees, in full bloom during the beginning of the spring season.

Hanuman had the special ability to change his shape at will. This meant that he could dart in and out. He was as quick as the wind, which makes sense given his pedigree. He is the son of the wind, after all. He was in a territory that would not recognize him. His presence would be conspicuous, but we see that the forces of nature combined to offer worship, nonetheless.

1. The birds

At one point, Hanuman’s movements caused the birds to be startled. They were otherwise sleeping. Hanuman accidentally woke them up. The birds immediately flew away.

2. The branches

Upon their exit, the birds clipped branches of the trees. The birds must have been in a hurry. The force of the wings of the birds caused the branches to shake. This meant that something was about to fall.

3. The flowers

In the Vedic tradition, an item commonly offered in formal worship is the flower. It is a nice gesture. We approach a sanctified area, look at something that represents someone real, and present a flower. We want the object of worship to know that we are thinking about them. The behavior also aligns with a recommendation found in Bhagavad-gita.

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं
यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
तद् अहं भक्त्य्-उपहृतम्
अश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.26)

In Lanka, there was no one to offer Hanuman anything except harsh words and a scowling glance. This place was ruled by the ten-headed Ravana. The fiend had taken Sita Devi away, in secret, in cowardly fashion. Hanuman was here to find Sita, to hopefully then report on her whereabouts to her husband, Shri Rama. If Sita was held there against her will, it means that the people of Lanka would not take too kindly to someone trying to rescue her.

Nevertheless, Hanuman is always glorious. Whether he is in the large stature required to cross over the ocean to reach Lanka or in a diminutive size necessary for darting between trees in the Ashoka grove, it is always appropriate to offer him flowers. The birds that quickly flew away and clipped nearby branches caused flowers to fall directly onto Hanuman. He was so perfectly covered that he looked like the Spring season in living form.

Indeed, that image is appropriate for Hanuman, as he is always full of life. He brings hope to those who are without it. He brings energy to the beleaguered. He brings the most auspicious news to those desperate to hear it. He was there to revive Vaidehi, the beloved daughter of King Janaka. We see that nature played a role in that eventual meeting, in paying their respects to the one who is forever dear to both Sita and Rama.

We see that based on the conclusion, there is credit that goes up the chain. That is to say, the people that helped along the way are also tied to the outcome. As the birds, the trees, the flowers, and even the grove itself were kind to Hanuman, they become transcendental in nature. The relationship is everything. If we are fortunate enough to please the Supreme Lord with our devotion, then it means that everyone who helped us along the way also benefits.

In Closing:

When success to achieve,
Then benefit to receive.

Those providing a hand,
Like Hanuman on tree to land.

Where birds startled them all,
Flight causing flowers to fall.

On that messenger heroic and brave,
Carrying news spirits to save.