The most well known and most relatable personality in Ramayana is Sri Hanumanji. When we think of Bhakti in this Narada Bhakti Sutra course, exploring Bhakti as it is embodied by Sri Hanumanji is the focus of this class. Sri Hanumanji’s Bhakti is explored here at three levels – Sri hanumanji being a Karma Yogi, as a parama Bhakta Yogi and a Jnana Yogi.
Kishkinda Kanda with Sri Hanumanji as a Karma Yogi:
Bhagavan Sri Rama gives Hanumanji the task to go to Lanka, to meet Devi Sita and deliver a message to Ravana. When asked who can cross the ocean, some were saying they may be able to go half way, some were saying that they may be able to go to Lanka but not jump back etc, but Sri Hanumanji is quiet. Bhagvan Sri Rama had already chosen Hanumanji and given Him the ring to deliver to Devi Sita, and told Him to call Her the name by which Sri Rama called Her. So Hanumanji already knows that He has been chosen. Yet Sri Hanumanji was quiet and said nothing out of immense humility. He was only quietly contemplating on how to do His task. Jambavan the eldest comes up to Sri Hanumanji tells Hanumanji that He is the embodiment of strength, discipline and virtue, and His sole purpose is to serve Sri Rama. Immediately Hanumanji sticks His feet in the ground and launches Himself across the ocean. There was no hesitation!
The sole purpose of our life is Sri Rama (joy), our response should not be passive. This is our call to action!
When Hanumanji introduces Himself to Devi Sita or anyone, His sole identity is ‘Rama duta, Ishwara dasa, Rama Bhakta’. His only purpose was service to Sri Rama. He was an ultimate Karma Yogi. Hanumanji’s vision was focused on the process, not the outcome. He could have pulled Devi Sita out of SriLanka easily, but that is not what He was asked to do, He did what He was asked to do. When we think about this focus on process versus outcome, we should think that the cause pervades the effect. When our purpose is clear, what we put in is clear – our best goes in and our best comes out! When we focus on the process and not the outcome, there is an identity shift. Infact there is a loss of identity (ego). Usually we are outcome focused and we always think about what we will get/gain, but in the process focus with a clarity of purpose there is only action and a dissolution of personality. Hanumanji exemplifies this, in any part of Ramayana when Hanumanji introduces Himself, He never goes by His nama.
We should think on these lines, and as an opportunity to practice this, eat one meal of the day alone (no devices or distractions).
Sundara Kanda with Sri Hanumanji as a Parama Bhakti Yogi:
Any task that Sri Hanumanji undertakes, He begins with Lord Rama’s name on His tongue. Greater than the form of Lord Rama is the name of Lord Rama. When the bridge to Lanka was being built, Bhagavan Sri Rama notices that as everyone is placing the stone in the water, it is floating. So Sri Rama picks up a stone and notices His name written on it, and Bhagavan Hanumanji is watching this whole thing where when Bhagavan Rama let go of the stone in water, it sinks. While Bhagavan Sri Rama starts to wonder why the stone he put in water was sinking, Hanumanji says anything Sri Rama lets go of will fall! This was the awesome vision of Hanumanji!
Hanumanji travels to Lanka and when He meets Devi Sita to soothe the princess, He relates the Rama Katha to Her first, to revel in something that is dear to both, especially because she did not know Hanumanji but He knew that she loved Sri Rama. When we are scared, lost and anxious we seek comfort with those dearest to us and with those who we love. So to gain Devi Sita’s trust Hanumanji refers to Sri Rama by the same name that she refers to Him by – which is Karunanidhana (the one who is most kind, generous, affectionate).
Hanumanji sees a garden in Lanka where there is worship of Sri Rama being undertaken. Instead of just going after His task, Hanumanji feels compelled to pause and go into the garden, and He sees Vibhashana there who is a Rakshasa and calls him a Sadhu and Vibheeshana calls Hanumanji a saint. This means that the vision of a Bhakta is one who sees their Lord in all beings (regardless of form, whether a monkey or a rakshasa).
When the war has ended, Sri Rama gifts Sri Hanumanji with a beautiful pearl necklace. Hanumanji accepts the gift but bead by bead He crushes them and is searching for Sri Rama. To Him the world is useless without Sri Rama! Such was the vision of Sri Hanumanji.
So Hanumanji only likes to talk about His purpose (Sri Rama), He only likes to spend time with people with the same purpose. If the world does not support His purpose, and if He cannot see the divine Sri Rama in it, then it is of no value.
Purpose focuses the wandering mind, like the magnifying glass focuses the sun’s rays. It makes it single pointed. Bhaktas are always remembering their purpose, harnessing that wandering mind with love. They surround and seek out people with similar purpose, because that purpose brings them joy.
The pearl necklace that Hanumanji crushed symbolizes that whatever is in our life , if we cannot somehow align it with our purpose (independent joy), then it is meaningless.
Our practice is, every morning we should write down the question ‘what is my purpose for today’.
As a Jnani Sri Hanumanji shares (when asked by Sri Rama about what are we to one another):
‘If I see myself as the body, I am your servant; If I see myself as the soul transmigrating, then I am that piece/part and you are the whole (I am a part of you); If I understand myself as the Atma, then you and I are one. This is my firm conviction.’
(As a body i am the dasa ; as a jiva you are the whole (Ishwara) and i am the part (jiva); and as the Atman you and i are no different)
What we are learning must be internalized. This knowledge evolves into love for divinity. The one who has internalized this knowledge is the greatest Bhakta.
When we carry this knowledge and it has not been internalized is as though it persecutes us. When we don’t rise to meet that knowledge in the way we live our lives, it can feel like a burden.
Our practice is to gather wisdom, prioritize associating with the wise, prioritize Satsanga.