RAMA AND HANUMAN PART WAYS

श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम॥

Shri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama॥

HAIL THE RESPECTED LORD RAMA VICTORY TO LORD RAMA

Lord Rama had completed his period of exile; he had defeated the wicked Asura King Ravana. He had successfully freed his beloved wife Sita from Ravana’s clutches. Finally it was time for Him to return home to Ayodhya.

The people of Ayodhya rejoiced – their King was returning back to them. Among those eagerly awaiting Lord Rama’s arrival was his brother Bharata. Bharata had, for the interminably long 14 years, kept Lord Rama slippers on the throne to signify that no one other than his eldest brother, Rama, could be the king of Ayodhya.

In anticipation of the Lord’s return, Ayodhya was alight with oil lamps; floral decorations festooned every home and the joy among the people crowding the streets was clearly palpable. All of a sudden the skies brightened and high up above the silver clouds the Pushpak viman, that once Ravana had forcibly taken from Lord Kubera, was clearly visible heading towards Ayodhya. In the golden, gem-studded viman Lord Rama looked resplendent sitting beside his beautiful wife Sita.

At the sight of the viman the crowds let out a tumultuous cheer, “Shri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama.”

Bharata could not contain his excitement. The moment the wheels of the Pushpak touched the ground he rushed forward to greet Lord Rama. Bharata fell at Lord Rama’s feet prostrating several times until Lord Rama lifted him gently and hugged him. The Lord held his brother close and looked at him with tenderness and with eyes that overflowed love.

The time had come for Rama to take his rightful place on the throne. He was to be crowned King of Ayodhya. Rama was driven to the grand coronation hall in a chariot driven by Bharata. Vibhishana and Lakshmana stood on either side of the Lord and fanned Him gently with chamaras. Shatrughna held aloft a gilded umbrella above the Lord’s head. The rejoicing crowds followed the chariot. Lord Rama’s coronation was indeed a grand and glorious occasion. At the entrance to the coronation hall Shatrunjaya, the Lord’s favourite elephant, ridden by Sugriva awaited His arrival. Several noblemen, saints and holy seers too awaited the Lord with their heads bowed and hands folded. Flowers were strewn on the path that led Lord Rama to his throne and Vedic hymns were chanted at his arrival.

Lord Rama’s eyes filled with tears of joy as he looked around to see the abundance of love that was being showered on Him. All the Devas had come down from the heavens to witness the coronation. Mother earth was smiling, the trees were laden with flowers and fruits and the skies were radiant. The bejeweled crown was placed on Lord Rama’s head as he was seated on the ornate, golden throne. In a glittering finale the coronation ended with the Gandharvas (celestial musicians) playing their instruments and the beautiful Apsara’s dancing to the heavenly tunes.

Lord Rama ruled for the next eleven thousand years. His rule was referred to as the golden years of Rama Rajya. During his reign there was no disease or untimely deaths, animals did not trouble humans and humans were kind and caring towards animals. Trees were never bereft of fruit, flowers or foliage. There was no theft, greed or unhappiness. Everyone lived righteous lives. All the living beings were happy and content during Rama Rajya.

Lord Rama as an avatar of Lord Vishnu had taken human form to restore dharma to earth. He had come to help us but not to stay with us forever.

One day a holy sage came to see Lord Rama. The sage requested a private audience because he wanted no one to hear what he had to say to Lord Rama. Folding his hands and with bowed head the sage requested, “Lord, may I ask that you give instructions that while we are speaking we should not be disturbed. What I have to say to you must not be made known to anyone else.”

Lord Rama readily agreed and requested his brother Lakshmana to stand guard at the entrance to the room. Lord Rama said, “Lakshmana, make sure that we are not disturbed. Allow no one into the room. Should anyone insist, please warn them that he who dares to disobey my orders will die. I wish to be alone with the revered sage.”

In some versions of the Ramayana, it is said that this saint was none other than Kala Devata, or Time. Kala Devata had come to remind Rama that the purpose of his appearance on earth had been completed. It was time for Him return to Vaikuntha (Vishnu’s abode).

No one can escape the cycle of smasara (birth and death). If there is birth then inevitably death must follow. Lord Rama as an avatar of Lord Vishnu was free of this cycle. However, he had taken a human form only in order to defeat all evil on earth. Now that his work had been completed it was time for him to discard his human form and revert to his original form as Lord Vishnu and return to his divine abode at Vaikuntha.

Lord Rama knew that His time on earth and as King of Ayodhya had ended. However He was worried about His most ardent devotee Hanuman. He knew that Hanuman would not be able to accept His departure. Lord Rama knew that Hanuman’s grief when He left would devastate him. Hanuman loved Lord Rama even more than he loved his own self.

Just as Lord Rama had expected when Lord Yama, the god of death, came to escort Rama back to Vaikuntha Hanuman pounced in front of Yama and said, “I will never allow you to take my Lord away from me.”

Lord Yama knew how powerful Hanuman was. He knew that there was no way that he could force Hanuman to move away. Lord Yama turned helplessly to Rama his eyes and thoughts beseeching Lord Rama for help.

Seeing Yama confused and worried Lord Rama, in order to distract Hanuman, dropped his ring to the ground. The ring rolled into a crack in the floor. Hanuman immediately rushed after the ring. He was not about to let Rama lose His ring. As a young child, Hanuman had been granted a special boon from Surya Devta that enabled him to transform the size of his body at will. He could become huge or miniscule according to his wish. In order to enter the crack into which Lord Rama’s ring had fallen, Hanuman made himself very tiny. In moments he slipped down into the crack.

To his astonishment Hanuman discovered that the crack had led him into Naga Loka, the kingdom of snakes. In Naga Loka Hanuman met the serpent King. Hanuman explained, “I have entered your kingdom in search of Lord Rama’s ring. It has fallen through a crack and is somewhere in your kingdom. I must find my beloved Lord’s ring and return it to him.”

The serpent King immediately offered to help and directed Hanuman to an area where there was a mountain of rings piled high. Hanuman’s eyes widened with amazement as he wondered how he would be able to find Lord Rama’s ring in this insurmountable pile. Undeterred by the task ahead and determined to find Lord Rama’s ring Hanuman dived into the ring mountain. To his utter surprise, the very first ring he picked up was Lord Rama’s ring. Very pleased with himself he was about to walk away from the mountain of rings when he decided to pick up another one to try and decipher to whom it belonged. To his utter astonishment Hanuman discovered that the second ring was also Rama’s! He picked up a third and a fourth and a fifth ring and all of them belonged to Rama.

Hanuman was now totally confused because every ring in that mountain of rings belonged to Lord Rama. Seeing Hanuman so perplexed the serpent king came to him and told him about the cycle of life and death. The serpent king spoke gently as he explained to Hanuman, “All creation takes birth, exists for a while and then dies. Creations are but forms and shapes that come into existence for a while. However when one shape and form ends a new one comes in its place. The essence of creation can never be destroyed. The shape and form may change, decay and die but the divine essence is indestructible. Rama is indestructible. He has come before and will come again.”

As he listened to the words of the wise serpent king Hanuman understood that this was Lord Rama’s way of acquainting him with the idea of death. It slowly dawned on Hanuman that despite all his divine powers he could not stop Lord Yama the God of death from taking Lord Rama away. However he now understood that everyone who dies is reborn - the cycle of life continues eternally. The serpent kings words had reassured Hanuman that though Lord Rama may leave for Vaikuntha, he would most certainly return back too. The mountain of rings had signified that Lord Rama had existed before and would continue to exist for eternity. Lord Rama would return again and again and again.

Hanuman then climbed back out of the crack.

However, despite having understood the cycle of life Hanuman was still reluctant to be parted from Lord Rama. Falling at Lord Rama’s feet Hanuman begged, “Lord I know that now that your work on earth is over you must leave but I cannot bear the thought of even a moment of separation from you. Please I beg you take me with you.”

Lord Rama looked at Hanuman with compassion and said, “I will certainly take you with me Hanuman but I must warn you that I will no longer be in this form of Rama that you love so much. In Vaikuntha you will see me as Lord Vishnu.”

Just as Lord Rama had expected Hanuman was horrified at the thought of his beloved Rama in any other form. He said “Lord, for me it is You and You as Lord Rama that I worship and adore. I cannot erase the image of You that is embedded in my heart. I love you exactly as I know you.”

Then falling to his knees and with folded hands Hanuman looked up at Lord Rama and in a soft, sad voice said, “Lord, I will not accompany you to Vaikuntha. The Lord I see before my eyes at this moment is the Lord I will carry with me in my thoughts and heart for ever. I will remain here on earth and will always cherish you as my adored Shri Ramachandra.”

Before Lord Rama left for his home in Vaikuntha he blessed Hanuman with a special boon. According to Lord Rama’s boon Hanuman would remain in this world for as long as Rama’s story continues to be heard in this world. Hanuman a true bhakt of Lord Rama fell at the Lord’s feet and promised that he would follow his beloved Lord’s command and stay here on earth worshipping Lord Rama with his whole being.

Rama left His kingdom to His sons. His elder son Kusha was crowned King.

Thereafter Lord Rama walked to the Saryu River. When He arrived at the river with no hesitation He entered the waters. Once He was at the deepest part of the river He took a dip. A while later Lord Rama completely disappeared into the river. Rama had returned to his divine form as Lord Vishnu.

Hanuman as a very young child had been blessed with several boons from the Devtas (see https://www.fablesrus.com/post/hungry-hanuman ). He received so many special boons that he became indestructible and impossible to kill by any means. Not even Lord Yama could end Hanuman’s life. Hanuman would only die when he wished to die. It is on account of being blessed with these many boons that Hanuman is Chiranjeevi or immortal. As a Chiranjeevi and because of the final boon he received from Lord Rama it is believed that Hanuman lives even today.

In peaceful solitude, his mind and heart immersed in worship of Lord Rama Hanuman lives on the snow-capped peaks north of Mount Kailash, in the Himalayas. Numerous saints have seen Hanuman including Sant Tulsidas, Sri Ramadas Swami and Raghavendra Swami. Even today it is strongly believed that Hanuman’s presence can be felt in places where sincere devotees gather to sing, recite or narrate the glories of Lord Rama.

LIFE LESSONS

1. Like Hanuman we should be sincere devotees of God.

2. Like Lord Rama we should care for and love all beings.

3. Just as Lord Rama ensured a reign of righteousness we too should live and always set an example of righteous and good behaviour.

4. Just as Hanuman obeyed the commands of Lord Rama we too should obey those older and wiser than us.

5. Both Hanuman and Lord Rama are embodiments of love and like them we too should spread love.