Sri Rama Jayam
நேற்று (டிசம்பர் 16, 2009) ஹனுமத் ஜயந்தி.
Smt. M S Subbulakshmi அவர்கள் பாடிய
तव दासोहम என்ற தியாகராஜர் கீர்த்தனையை மீண்டும் மீண்டும் கேட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தேன். அமைதியைத் தரும் எளிய ஆழமான பக்தி நிறைந்த பாடல். இன்றைக்கு ஒரு idea bulb மின்னியது why not add a blog entry with information about this
kriti? The lyric and meaning are already available online, please visit the link seen above when you have time. Additionally, here's some details about Hanuman excerpted from
Sri Ranga Sri:
Sri Anjaneya is believed to have been born in the month of மார்கழி in the constellation of மூலம் and on the Amavasya day. This is also believed to be the birthday of another Rama Bhakta, Bhadrachala Ramadasa. Sri Sita praises Hanuman as the only one endowed with all eight characteristics of an intelligent person. These eight characteristics are:
i) Understanding what others say
ii) Remembering what was thus understood
iii) Retrieving that information when required
iv) Explaining its meaning to others, using appropriate words
v) Comprehending views of others (at times by intelligent guesses!)
vi) Providing ready responses to such view points
vii) Understanding subtleties implied in the expression of some people
viii) Grasping the real interpretation of what is being conveyed
If you have access to a copy of the Valmiki Ramayana, see Yuddha Khaandam Sargam 116 verse 27 for the original verse.
A PRAYER
Buddhir Bhalam Yaso Dhairyam Nirbhayatvam Arogathaam |
Ajaatyam Vaak Padutvam Cha Hanumat Smaranaath Bhavet ||
Meaning: Wisdom, strength, fame, valour, fearlessness, health, determination, oratorical skills - all that one can wish for can be achieved by anyone meditating on Hanuman.
ABOUT HANUMAN'S POWERS
One day, Anjaneya's mother Anjana stepped out to gather some fruits for her sleeping child. Quite unexpectedly, Anjaneya woke up feeling very hungry. He got out of his bed and searched for something to eat. In the distance Anjaneya spotted the Sun rising up like a red apple. Desiring to pluck it, the baby pounced over the skies to reach the Sun. That was about the time when Rahu was to catch the Sun, it being the day of the solar eclipse. Finding a new rival in Anjaneya, Rahu complained to Indra. On receiving Rahu's call for help, Indra rushed to the spot mounted on Airavata. To Anjaneya's eyes, Rahu now appeared more attractive than the Sun and soon Airavata even more so! Giving up his hot pursuit of the Sun, Anjaneya now turned instead to Airavata. Enraged, Indra struck Anjaneya down with his Vajrayudha. Anjaneya's cheeks were disfigured as he fell. "Hanu" means cheek and because of this incident, Anjaneya came to be known as Hanuman.
Vayu was overwhelmed with grief on seeing the plight of his dear son mercilessly hit by Indra unmindful of the fact that Anjaneya was a baby. He gathered up his son and hid within a cave. With the movement of air coming to a standstill, the world began to suffocate. The Devas reported the matter to Brahma who rushed to the spot with all the Devas. He gently massaged Hanuman. At the touch of Brahma, Anjaneya regained normalcy. Brahma told all the Devas that Anjaneya had a mission to accomplish in assisting Rama in his Avatara. Brahma ordered the Devas to shower their blessings on Anjaneya.
The Devas vied with each other in blessing the child. Indra was the first to declare that Anjaneya would never again be bothered by his Vajraayudha; Varuna vowed that Anjaneya would never be troubled by his Varuna Paasam or by any water related accidents. Yama declared that he would be free from the noose of death, would ever be victorious in war and free from all diseases. The Sun God blessed him with supreme valour and his own brilliance. Viswakarma agreed that none of the warheads in his arsenal would ever torment Anjaneya. Rudra offered him immunity from his own Trishula, Pasupathaastra and other weapons. Finally, Brahma guaranteed Anjaneya protection against his own most powerful Brahmaastram.
HANUMAN'S OTHER NAMES
Anjaneya has several names. He is known as Hanuman in Tamil, Hanumanthaiah and Mukhya Praana Devaru in Kannada, Hanumanthudu in Telugu. As one moves North beyond the Vindhyas, he is called Maruti and in Maharashtra they call him Mahaveer. Do you know that besides being called Vayuputra, Anjaneya and Siriya Tiruvadi, Hanuman has yet another name?
The story goes that sage Valmiki wrote the epic after Sri Rama's coronation. After completing Aaranya Khaanda, he desired to name the next canto after Anjaneya. But Anjaneya appeared before him pleading that he need not be given such an importance for after all he was only a servant of Sri Rama.The sage took Anjaneya's consent in naming the canto Sundara Khaandam. Later, Anjaneya narrated the incident to his mother. Even as he was approaching her, Anjana greeted him with the name "Sundara" for that was the name she had given him at birth! Not knowing what to do, Anjaneya rushed back to the Sage to request him to drop this title also. But the Sage said that it was too late for the chapter had already been completed with Sundara as its hero.
CROSSING THE OCEAN
Consider the extraordinary feat of Hanuman in that high and long jump across the ocean in search of Sri Sita. Lord Rama had to build a bridge with the help of the battallion of Vaanara-s and squirrels too! Duly guided by the engineering skills of the technical experts in his entourage, he could walk his army across to Lanka. But what did Hanuman do? He simply recited the name of Rama and he could fly over the high seas to land accurately on his destination! Anjaneya proves the power of chanting Rama Nama.
PRESENCE
It is believed that Hanuman attends every discourse of Srimad Ramayana. Even to this day, a special seat is provided exclusively for Hanuman in every hall where a discourse on Srimad Ramayana is delivered.
Hanuman is believed to listen with undivided attention to the glory of Rama's name, hands folded in respect and eyes brimming with tears of joy:Yathra Yathra Raghunaatha Keertanam
Thathra Thathra Kritham Hasthaka Anjalim |
Bhaashpa Vaari Paripoorna Lochanam
Maarutim Namatha Raakshasa Anthakam ||
