Sree Hanumat Pancharatnam - K N Anantharaman

Introduction

The story of Rama and Sita as detailed in the great epic Ramayana is well known. It has been told and retold over a period of thousands of years in India and its influence has spread even to far away countries like Thailand and Indonesia. In more recent times, it has had great appeal in the West also. Sri Rama is worshipped as God in several households. The word ‘Rama’ itself is a sacred mantra and is revered and recited as such. The first person who knew its greatness and imparted it as a life saving mantra was Hanuman. The recipient of the life saving mantra was none other than Sita herself. The Ramayana of Valmiki which is the original version and the foundation for the later versions by Tulsidas and Kamban consists of seven cantos or kandas, each named because of the location of the events or the nature of the events described in the canto. Thus, the first canto is the Bala Kanda relating to the birth and childhood of Rama and his brothers; the second is called Ayodhya Kanda as it details the events in Ayodhya, the capital of the kingdom ruled by Dasaratha, the father of Rama; the third is rightly called Aaranya Kanda, as the events take place during Rama’s stay of nearly 14 years in the forest (Aarayna); the fourth is called Kishkindha Kanda as the events take place in Kishkindha, the kingdom of Sugriva, the King of the Vanaras, who befriended Rama, and promised aid to him in his search for Sita; the sixth is called Yuddha Kanda because it deals mainly with the battle between the Vanara army led by Rama and the Rakshasa army led by Ravana ending with the triumph of Rama and his return to Ayodhya to be crowned as King of Ayodhya; and the seventh and the last called Uttara Kanda deals with events taking place after Rama became King. The fifth kanda is however called ‘Sundara Kanda’ or the beautiful Kanda even though the events take place in Lanka. This special name is because it describes the super human and unparalleled exploits of a great devotee of Rama, Hanuman, who imparts the life giving message of Rama to Sita in the form of ‘Ramanama’ (name of Rama) embossed on a ring sent by Rama through Hanuman. With unswerving devotion of Rama in his heart, Hanuman is proud in proclaiming the greatness of Rama and attributes all his powers and courage to Rama. We see in Hanuman a humble devotee who is spurred on to great deeds because of his Bhakti and unshakeable faith in Rama. No wonder that the worship of Hanuman has become popular.

Hanuman is believed by the devout to be a Chiranjeevi, one without death, alive though not visible to us. Several thousand years after the period of Rama, at the time of the next incarnation of Narayana, as Sri Krishna, Hanuman is mentioned as living. Thus it is believed that Hanuman is not somebody who is dead but who is alive and therefore ready to help any devotee. The great Acharya Adi Sankara Bhagavad Pada, who has composed devotional verses on several deities to facilitate worship, has therefore composed this beautiful piece of five slokas on Hanuman and this is rightly called a Pancharatna. Compositions by Sages like Sankaracharya have a special value and efficacy. He has composed them for our benefit. We should take every opportunity therefore to study, understand and worship Hanuman, so that we not only get the blessings of Hanuman but Rama and Sita as well.

© "dilip" (July/September, 2002) published by Sudakshina Trust (Regd.) and printed at Colour Publications Pvt. Ltd., 126A, Dhuruwadi, AV Nagvekar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400 025. Reprinted with permission.

<< Back