Hanuman Chalisa chaupai -6

         Hanuman Chalisa   Chaupai   - 6


   Sankara  suvana  kesarinandana ,

  Teja pratapa  maha  jaga  bandana .


You are the son of Lord Shiva and the delighter ( son ) of Kesari . You are worshipped  by the whole world for your great lustre and valour .

 Hanuman is the son of Lord Shiva and also of Kesari . He is the son of wind god also.

When Ravana 's atrocities were increasing , all the deities and sages prayed to Lord Vishnu . The Lord said that he would take birth as Rama , the son of king Dasharatha of Ayodhya to destroy the demons . At the behest of Brahma , all the gods assumed the form of monkeys to serve the Lord in achieving his mission. Vali was the son of Indra , Sugriva the son of  The Sun god and so on. Vayu blessed Anjana and Kesari , the parents of Hanuman with his power and Hanuman was born. Therefore he is called the son of wind god .

Lord Shiva also wanted to serve Vishnu when he took the incarnation as Rama. He placed his glow ( tejas ) in Hanuman in order to serve Rama . Hanuman is known as the son of Shiva and also known as an incarnation of Shiva as it is said that the eleventh form of Rudra ( Shiva) took birth as Hanuman to seek vengeance against Ravana who worshipped with his ten heads the Lord Shiva 's ten heads only, ignoring the eleventh one.

Hanuman's earthly father's name was Kesari, which also means ' lion '. Hanuman is born of a lion like father who is fearless, brave and strong.Hanuman has imbibed these virtues from him. He is the purifier and life giver to his devotees like the wind god. Like Lord Shiva he destroys evil and blesses everyone. A worthy son of all the three . References to wind god as his sire and Lord Shankara as his ancestor or god father indicate his divine origin and distinguished heritage. In keeping with this Hanuman displayed his lustre and valour by extraordinary feats for the welfare of others. So his lustre and valour is honoured and praised by the entire world , everyone sings the glory of Hanuman.

Hanuman Chalisa chaupai - 5

                   Hanuman Chalisa  chaupai  - 5



       Hath  bajra  au dhvaja birajai ,

      Kandhe  munj  janeu  sajai  .


You have the thunderbolt and flag in your hand . The sacred thread of  munja grass adorns your shoulders.

Hanuman carries a mace ( gada) in his hand which is as strong as lord Indra' s  thunderbolt and kills on whomever it is used.

Vajra is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt and diamond and is a ritual tool or spiritual implement which is symbolically important to both Buddhism and Hinduism.

The vajra destroys all kinds of ignorance , and itself is indestructible. Made to be worn as a pendant it reminds to the wearer and the viewer , of the supreme indestructibility of knowledge. It implies indestructibility , just as diamonds are harder than other gem stones.

In Hindu mythology vajra is a powerful weapon having the combined features of sword , mace and spear. Indra used vajra to kill Vrtrasura who had conquered the heaven and terrorised the gods. Brahma had told the deities that only with the weapon made from hermit Dadhichi , Vrtra could be killed. So Indra' s vajra was created out of hard bones of the sage Dadhichi who gave up his life willingly so that his spine could be used to build the weapon to be used for a noble cause. Due to his supreme sacrifice, sage Dadhichi became a legend.

Flag is a sign of identification . A personal flag was a mark of rare heroism. It symbolized a hero or a military commander of sizable contingent. Hanuman carries the flag of  Rama which symbolically shows that  he always remembers Rama . Dhvaja ( flag ) stands for victory also. He always declared victory of  Rama in every endeavour he undertook.

This can be interpreted in a different manner also. Hanuman has in his hands ( palms) the signs of vajra and flag which are the signs  indicating a great person according to Samudrika Shastra.

The sacred thread used to be made of  munja grass , is worn over one' shoulders when one' s thread ceremony ( Upanayanam) is done and initiated into Gayatri mantra , a life of study and discipline . Three threads  are woven together with a knot . The knot in the thread represents the Brahman - the Supreme Consciousness . The three strands represent the three qualities sattva, rajas and tamas and are centered on Brahman. Hanuman ' wearing the thread points out that he is a scholar properly initiated , celibate ( brahmachari) andhis attention is always on the Truth ( The Supreme ) .

Hanuman Chalisa chaupai 4

                   Hanuman Chalisa    Chaupai  - 4



         Kanchana  barana biraja  subesa

          Kanana   Kundala   Kunchita   Kesa.


     Your golden complexion shines with attractive clothes ( which you are wearing ) , with glittering earrings and with your curly hair.

Golden colour , fine clothes , ear-rings and curly hair refer to the physical features of Hanuman.

It is said that when Anjana was pregnant , the child ( Hanuman ) in her womb had much to suffer at the hands of Vali , the king of the monkeys. Hearing from Narada that Shiva' son  had been born in Anjana 's womb , Vali  feared that the actual birth of such a son would jeopardise his lordship over the monkeys. To ward off the threatened contingency , Vali let in the five metals ( gold, copper , iron ,tin and zinc ) in watery form into the stomach of Anjana to kill the child inthe womb itself . But the attempt misfired. Instead of the five metals killing the child in Anjana' s womb , they became ear ornaments for it and Hanuman was born with ornaments in his ears. This episode is narrated in Kamba Ramayana ( Ramayana in Tamil language ).

The golden complexion is the index of his excellent virtues in the heart. Curly hair shows his eternal youth. Like his great deeds , Hanuman' s physical features are also impreesive.

Hanuman Chalisa chaupai - 3

   
                            Hanuman chalisa  chaupai  - 3


       Mahabira  bikrama  bajarangi ,

      Kumati  nivara  sumati  ke  sangi .


  You are a hero of great valour, courage with a body as strong as the thunderbolt or diamond. You are the dispeller of evil thoughts and a companion of  good sense and wisdom.

    Hanuman is a great warrior . Lord  Rama himself sang his glories. When the Lord himself honours and praises a person , that person cannot be ordinary one.

  Generally vira refers to one who displays heroism and courage in the battle field. Scriptures mention    Five kinds of heroism.

1 Dharmavira  - one who  sacrifices everything for the sake of righteousness.

2 Dayavira    - heroism in compassion . One who cannot bear the sorrow of others and will do his best to alleviate them is dayavira.

3 Vidyavira  - heroism in knowledge and learning. One who can overcome all obstacles and steadfast in pursuit of knowledge and learning and in distributing them.

4 Danavira  - heroism in charity. Hanuman confers on the devotee  anything he seeks . But the greatest gift he can bestow is devotion to Lord Rama .

5  Ranavira  - bravery in the battle field.

In the world , we find people who have one of the five kinds of heroisms. But Hanuman has all the five kinds of valour , hence he is called mahabira. He used all the five to serve the Lord , so he is called a supreme hero ( parama vira ).

Hanuman is also known as bajarangi. The Sanskrit word vajra angi has become bajarangi in Avadhi language . Hanuman has a body as strong as the thunderbolt of Indra. Indra's thunderbolt was made out of the bones of  the sage Dadhichi. It was invincible and Indra used it to kill his enemy Vrtra , a demon. Vajra also means diamond . Diamond is the hardest stone . Hanuman's body was as strong as diamond .

Hanuman was great in every sense of the word. Deeds which required the greatest strength , the greatest will power fell to his lot , and he performed them with admirable thoroughness and execution. His strength was seen in his kick, fist and tail. His tail has played an integral part in many of his exploits especially in the burning of the city Lanka .

Apart from physical strength , Hanuman 's moral strength is also very well known . He is pious in thoughts ,words and deeds . Prayer to Hanuman gives us good thoughts and eliminates evil thoughts. He relieves the suffering of humanity by augmenting good sense and eliminating vices. He is also the protector of the good and destroyer of the wicked.

Hanuman Chalisa chaupai 2

                         

                     Hanuman Chalisa      chaupai  2



             Rama duta atulita bala dhama ,

         anjani putra   pavanasuta  nama.


  You are the messenger of Rama and the abode of immesurable strength, and the son of Anjana , you are also known as the son of the wind god.

Hanuman is well known as the ideal and the best messenger of Rama. As a distinguished messenger from Sugriva , Hanuman succeeded in establishing the contact between  Rama and Sugriva and in achievement of Sugriva's lost kingdom. Rama assessed Hanuman in the first encounter itself about his ability. That is why, of all the monkeys , Lord Rama chose Hanuman as a messenger to be sent to Sita for he knew that Hanuman alone could do the job. The task of a messenger is difficult. One has to deliver the message promptly and correctly. In Hanuman's case , the job was more difficult  because he had to enter Lanka , the citadel of king Ravana situated on the other side of the ocean and secretly deliver Rama's message to mother Sita , concealing himself from all the demon guards. Hanuman overcame all the obstacles and succeeded in his mission with complete devotion and courage. Right from the moment he left the shores of sea, Hanuman had only thought in his mind namely, how to do his job in the best manner . Hanuman maintained the highest degree of alertness while crossing the ocean and while in Lanka. He overcame all the obstacles on the ocean with the thought of Rama. He maintained his restraint when he saw Sita, threatened by Ravana and frightened by the demonesses keeping watch over her. He waited for a proper time to inculcate faith in Sita by singing the praises of Rama. Hanuman took pains to see, that Sita was not frightened and spoke in a familiar language to restore her confidence. This move is a master piece indicating his knowledge of human psychology. He gave her the signet - ring from Rama and took from her crest - jewel as well as the episode of the crow as heard from Sita. As an expert envoy, Hanuman knew his master Rama's goals and intentions. He wanted to meet Ravana and also assess his his military strength, which information would be of immense help in planning a war strategy. He already knew the geography of Lanka when he explored every avenue trying to locate Sita. Then he hit upon eating the delicious fruits of Ashokavatika and destroying the grove. This he did to assess their strength  and throw a scare into the enemy before the war. He allowed himself to be caught as he wanted to give Ravana the most sound counsel conducive to  Ravana as well as in the interest of his own master to avoid the war and disaster. These are the ideal traits of an excellent ambassador. When his tail was set to fire as a punishment , he burnt the city of Lanka. The terrorizing effect of it on the subjects of Ravana is portrayed well in the Ramacharitamanasa thus  :
  " Piteous cries were heard everywhere : ' O father, O mother, who will save us at this hour ? He is no ordinary monkey but some god intheform of a monkey. Such is the result of despisinga noble soul. The city is consumed by fire as though it has no master ".

 Thus Hanuman, although despatched for a specific purpose, achieved much more, exhibiting unflinching  loyalty , alertness , shrewdness, strength , wisdom, meticulousness , relentless perseverance , dedication and surrender to his master Rama. That is why Hanuman is extolled as the best ambassador.

Hanuman is the very epitome of immesurable and incomparable strength . He has super - human powers. When he was a child he was blessed with various boons by different deities like he would be invincible in battle , could assume any form at will , could move unhindered , would perform wonderful and super natural deeds , not prone to weapons , body would be strong like thunderbolt , would be a great scholar and proficient orator , would be immune from fire, water and death, that he would be a model devotee.

Hanuman's personality and popularity emerged out of his selfless deeds , since he could perform certain feats which no one else was capable of performing. It is he, who could cross the vast ocean without any assistance and reached Lanka , which could not be done by any one else. Even Rama and Lakshmana who were considered to be divine personalities could reach Lanka only after the bridge was constructed.  He could bring the Sanjivani herb for the cure of Lakshmana , which none else could do. Finally , when at the time of Rama's coronation he was asked to seek something for himself , he prayed for eternal devotion to Rama , which no one else did. These and several  other selfless and courageous feats performed by him for the welfare of others with humility impressed the comman man in the country and his adoration gradually started , as a devotee of Rama , then as a deity himself.

His ancestory has been indicated by the words Anjaniputra , the son of Anjana and popularly known by the name Pavanasuta , son the wind god . These refer to his divine origin . That is why he was extraordinary in everything.

Hanuman Chalisa chaupai 1

 
                                         Hanuman Chalisa    chaupai 1


                  Jai Hanuman gyana guna sagara,

                 jai kapisa tihu loka ujagara.


     Victory to you , O Hanuman , who is an ocean of knowledge and virtues. Victory to you , O lord of the monkeys , who enlightens the three worlds.

 Hanu means chin. Hanuman means one with chin.But his is different from others. Hanuman's chin is cut in the middle and his mouth appears swollen.

As soon as he was born , hungry he was, he saw the rising Sun. Thinking it to be a ripe fruit, he flew to the Sun and started swallowing it. The whole world became dark. To release the Sun , the lord of the deities Indra struck that little child with his thunderbolt. The thunderbolt struch the chin. Being all powerful , Hanuman did not die and fell on the earth and became unconscious. When the wind god, the god father of Hanuman came to know about this, he took away the child and stopped the flow of the air. Every one became suffocated without air. All the deities started praying to the wind god and sought his apology. As per the demand of the wind god,all the deities blessed the child with all their powers and virtues they possessed. Thus Hanuman came to be blessed with extraordinary might , strength, knowledge and immunity from death. Indra blessed him that the child would be known as ' Hanuman .'
The chin and jaw  together represent the foundations of the face . According to Samudrika shastra , scripture predicting the character of human being on the basis of the features of the body , these features chin and jaw are looked to detect strength and vitality. So Hanuman's unique chin points to his extraordinary strength.

Hanuman is a prodigy - a marvel , a rare combination of virtues, valour ,wisdom, speed,enterprise,courage and compassion. He is an ocean of knowledge and virtues. He was a great scholar. Even Rama expressed his admiration on Hanuman's scholarship. Hanuman had the knowledge of Sanskrit grammar,literature,politics, veda ,loka vyavahara ( mundane affairs ), music , devotion and dispassion. All god qualities like discrimination ,humility,self-control, compassion,love, friendship are there in him. Kaisa means the lord of the monkeys. He might not be the king ,but he was the king-maker. He was the only one who could achieve everything for Rama with his courage and bravery. So he was respected by all and indeed the uncrowned king of the monkeys. Hanuman is not an ordinary monkey but a brahmagyani, one who has the knowledge of the Supreme. He is always revelled in the devotion of Rama and leads others also to the path of the truth. So Hanuman is well known in all the three worlds namely the earth, sky and heaven. His fame is spread everywhere and every one respects and loves him.

          

Hanuman Chalisa- doha-2

 

                                     Hanuman Chalisa        Doha - 2




        Buddhi hina tanu janike

                     Sumirau  pavana  kumara,

       Bala budhi bidhya  dehu  mohi

                     Harahu  kalesa  bikara .



 Knowing that I am ignorant, I meditate on you, o' Hanuman , the son of wind god. Grant me strength, intelligence and true knowledge and remove all my afflictions and blemishes.



    In this verse,Tulasidasa approaches god with humility. He surrenders himself  to Hanuman expressing the inadequacy of his intellect and pleads with him  to give him strength, intelligence and knowledge.

Bala means not only physical strength but it also includes moral strength and strength of character
. Buddhi, the intellect is the faculty through which we gain knowledge ( vidhya ). Knowledge is the discrimination between good and bad and the knowledge of the Absolute leads to liberation or moksha. This knowledge alone can remove the klesha i.e afflictions which are negative tendencies and cause misery. Vikara is the vagaries of mind.

The Yogasutra of Patanjali enumerates five kinds of afflictions. They are :

1     Avidya  - It is the ignorance of our spiritual nature. Our spiritual nature is eternal, pure and bliss. Ignorance is to regard the non- eternal as eternal, the impure as pure.

2    Asmita   - asmi means ' I am ' in sanskrit. Asmita means ego. As soon as this idea of ' I ' arises, it itself creates one and differentiate others from it. This is born of ignorance and causes misery whereas the reality is there is only one entity, one truth,no second.

 3    Raga    - attraction, attachment. When one develops the ego, he begins to develop relationships with those whom he considers  others. Then that ' I ' seems to experience suffering, because somehow it responds to the environment in two ways - one which it likes and one which it does not like called raga and dvesha. The mind in ' I ' begins to distinguish ' this is beautiful, that is ugly ', ' this is pleasant, that is unpleasant ', ' I love this, I hate that.' Raga means attraction or approval. We like something because it gives us pleasure. It gives us pleasure we like it. It is a vicious circle constantly torturing the mind without revealing the truth.


 4   Dvesha    - It means repulsion or disapproval. This is unpleasant. I hate that. We dislike something because it gives us pain because we do not like it. This thought also tortures the mind always.

5  Abhinivesha  - It is a mad clinging to one's physical life. Patanjali says this is universal. Because of ignorance, egoism, selfishness, attachment and hatred we cling to what we have and to life itself. Though we know that life is full of miseries we still cling to it, for the simple reason that we imagine that future after the life is going to be some thing dreadful. The ignorance is the ground on which all these psychic disturbances arise, thrive and exist. They disappear once the ignorance goes. The ignorance can go only when we realize our true blissful nature. The impurities of mind are called  vikaras. They are lust, anger, anger, greed, hatred, attachment and jealousy.


These can be destroyed only when self- knowledge dawns. Self- knowledge can come after a clear understanding of the eternal and blissful nature of the self.

Tulasidasa says that the worship of Hanuman frees the devotee from all these afflictions and blemishes.
Tanu means body and buddhi hina means ignorant, absence of wisdom. To consider ourselves as body is ignorance. The body itself is inert. It is only when this body is enlivened by the Lord and permeated by His power, then it comes to life and functions. So people who give importance only to this body and ignore the Lord are not very wise.

We must cleanse our mind by prayer. Once our mind is clean , the glories of the Lord will shine clearly in our heart. All our sorrows will end and our ignorance will vanish. Here Hanuman is called Pavanakumara, the son of the wind god. Wind is the symbol of selfless service and purifier. It is within us in the form of vital air without which we cannot live. Similarly Pavanakumara , Hanuman served Rama with humility and devotion , without any ego. We should also imbibe such qualities of humility, devotion and service to humanity.

Tulasidasa had the vision of Lord Rama by praying to Hanuman. Hanuman possess a spotless character and when he is adored,a devotee's mind will be cleansed. Automatically the devotee will get strength, intelligence and knowledge as Hanuman is the epitome of all these and all sorrows will vanish. Once mental purity is there ,thebody and the intellect become strong.

Hanuman Chalisa doha - 1

                    Hanuman Chalisa          doha  -1



     Shri guru    charana  saroja raja

                           nija manu mukuru sudhari ,

      baranau  raghubara  bimala jasu

                           jo dayaku phala chari.




Cleansing the mirror of mind, with the pollen dust of my Guru's lotus feet, I now ( proceed to ) describe the pristine pure glory of Shri Rama, the best among the Raghu dynasty, which bestows the four-fold fruits ( goals ) of human life.

    This verse occurs in Ramacharitmanas also. It starts with the word shri, a sign of auspiciousness traditionally used at the commencement of a composition. To describe and sing the pure glory of Rama, one's speech should be pure, mind should also be pure. The purity of mind and speech comes through the prayer to the guru.

The lotus is the most perfect symbol of beauty and tenderness, purity and holiness. To call anything lotus is praise supreme. Divine feet as also the guru's feet are always referred to as padapadma or charanakamala. Of all the limbs the feet are mentioned. Feet is a symbol of surrender. The lotus and its petals are meant to indicate the highest knowledge. The beauty of lotus is that the water does not stick to it in which it grows. Likewise  a self-realized guru is one who is untouched by the wordly mire. Pollen dust of the flower has beauty, softness and sweetness. Likewise dust of the guru's feet ( poetic way of referring to guru's grace and teachings ) destroys the impurities of the mind like lust, anger, greed, hatred, attachment and jealousy. Like a dust free clean mirror reflecting the image vividly, the mind becomes pure to receive the knowledge imparted by the teacher and absorb it.

In his time, Tulasidasa saw that the common people were very much impressed by yogic practices, which they admired but could not imitate, that they were mislead by various esoteric doctrines and confused by many sects prevalent then, each with its own ritual and philosophical tenets. While describing kaliyuga in his Ramacharitamanas, Tulasidasa makes allusion to the prestige of the yogis and ascetics who misled the people with regard to real religion. His guru ( teacher ) Naraharidasa told him that devotion to Rama is the easiest and the best way and the royal road to self-realization. So Tulasidasa wrote the immortal epic on Rama as an exposition of the royal road of devotion to Lord Rama, the only way to bliss. Guru means guide who instructs the student ( seeker ) in the spiritual path. The mind gets purified by getting the doubts cleared and acquiring proper knowledge by the instruction of the guru. And in Hindu tradition, guru is considered at par with god as he only shows the path leading to god.

N
Tulasidasa does not forget to recall with gratitude , the grace of guru Naraharidasa or  Narahariyananda, whose teachings revealed to him all the hidden and unmanifest jewels of the story
of Rama. Here in this verse, guru can refer to Hanuman also. It is bythegrace of Hanuman, Tulasidasa     had the vision of Rama and composed his immortal epic Ramacharitamanasa.

The term, glory of Rama refers to deeds, the entire story of Rama. He is called here Raghuvara, the best among the line of Raghu. Raghu though not founder, was an illustrious king of the solar dynasty and great grand father of Rama who from Raghu got the patronymic name Raghava and the title Raghuvara, the best among the race of Raghu. The entire race came to be known as Raghukula because of the greatness of the king Raghu who himself was a great scholar and conquered the whole of then known world and returned with glory and bounty. He then performed the vishwajit sacrifice in which he gave away everything to the needy ones.

Hanuman Chalisa introduction part- six What do devotees pray to Hanuman for ?

                      Hanuman Chalisa   introduction   part - six

           What do devotees pray to Hanuman pray for ?

One can ask Hanuman for anything. However, people often worship him for specific things :

• Sankatamochana - When people find themselves in trouble, they pray to Hanuman. The deity's entire life was dedicated to helping Lord Rama, Sugriva, the vanaras and devotees especially when they were in trouble. He also killed evil people who harassed the innocent. So it is a time tested faith and proof that Hanuman protects all devotees from tyrants and oppressors.
• Cures the illness - Hanuman helped in bringing Lakshmana and several others back to life. Therefore, when people meet with terrible accidents or very ill, their friends and relatives pray to Hanuman for the speedy recovery of the patient. He is prayed to also for prevention against illness. According to Ayurveda, the health of the body depends on the harmony of the three doshas ( elements) called the wind ( vata ), phlegm ( kapha) and bile ( pitta ). Any disturbance in the harmony leads to ailments in the human body. Of these, the wind is the prime cause of many ailments. On the positive side it is the main sustainer of life. The vayu in the human body is classified into ten kinds depending upon its function. They are Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, Vyana, Naga, Kurma, krkara, Devadatta and  Dhananjaya.
• Prana   -Breath or in breath. Inhalation and exhalation are the functions of the prana. It draws life-force into the body.
• Apana  - Out-breath. The function of the apana vayu is to remove the waste matter  ( food in the form of excreta and water as sweat and urine ) from the body and is responsible for the movement of back, knees and thighs.
• Samana  - Mid-breath. It's  function is the digestion of food and to carry the digested juice to all organs and nerves.
• Udana  - Up-breath. This air operates from the neck to the head. The body gets support from this. Through this vayu only the contact between the subtle and physical body takes place. Yogis through this vayu come out of the physical body and roam in different worlds.
• Vyana  - Through-breath. It's main place on the top of the organ of generation. It takes blood to all the organs of the body. So it's function is circulation of blood.
• Naga  - serpent. Belching, hiccough, eructation and vomiting are the functions of naga.
• Kurma  - Tortoise. This is responsible for contraction, closing and opening of eye lids.
• Krkara  - kri-maker. This functions in hunger and thirst.
• Devadatta  -gift from god. This vayu is responsible for yawning, lethargy,sleep etc.
• Dhananjaya  - conqueror of wealth. This vayu promotes the nourishment of thebody. Decomposition of the body after death and ejection of the child out of the womb in women are the functions of dhananjaya.

   So the adoration of Hanuman, who is the son ofthe wind-god is believed to subside the ailments emanating from the wind as well as the health.

Rudra in the vedas is also associated with wind. As the incarnation of the eleventh Rudra also Hanuman is connectedwith wind, besides being the son of wind-god. The one who controls these winds could achieve all the eight powers in life and long life besides removal of other ailments.

In the Ananda Ramayana, thereis a Hanuman kavacha stotra, which Rama is said to have recited to Vibhishana, which could cure the persons suffering from fever and spirits.

In the Langulopanished, there is a collection of the mantras of Hanuman in whichhe is described as the eleventh incarnation of Rudra, a servant of Rama, a brahmachari, remover of the evil spirits, fever and other ailments.

Mantramahodadhi , a text on mantras prescribes the mantras on Hanuman and the methods for cure of jaundice.

So most doctors trained in the ancient Indian system of medicine consider him their patron

• Granting progeny  - Devotees of Hanuman pray to Hanuman for birth of a son.
• In the Hanumatsahasranamastotra ,Hanuman is prayed to remove all the ailments during pregnancy. He is described as the one who blesses people with sons and grand sons.

• Journey   - Remembrance of Hanuman at the time of undertaking of journey ensures success because whatever Hanuman undertook, he overcame all the obstacles and reached the destination.

•    Patron deity of scholars and musicians   -  As a great scholar whose teacher was the lord Sun himself, Hanuman is the patron deity of students, scholars and musicians.

        Several texts describe the excellence Hanuman had achieved in the field of music. According to the Adbhuta Ramayana, Narada once met Hanuman who performed a musical feat for him. Enjoying the music , Narada placed his veena on a rock nearby.But the sweet and devotional musical performance of Hanuman made the rock melt and the veena of Narada sank there in. When Hanuman finished his music, the rock became hard and the veena got stuck up with it. Narada could not take out the veena from there. Then Hanuman played the same devotional song again which made the rock to melt and Narada could take out his veena. Narada bowed down before Hanuman for his devotion in music.

In the Tantrasara text, Hanuman is described as a great musician. In the Sangitaparijata text, Hanuman is said to be a great teacher of music. In Bharata's Natyashastra, Shiva is said to be the propounder of the musical art. Hanuman is also considered as the incarnation of Shiva.

• For muscular strength  -  Hanuman is the symbol of muscular strength and celibacy. He is the patron deity of the wrestlers in India. His strength, energy and power aspect is worshipped in the wrestling rings ( akhadas ). Body builders perform 1,008 pradakshinas ( circumambulation ) before Hanuman every day in order to become great wrestlers and athletes.
• For protection against the negative effects of planets   -  Hanuman is a friend of planets. Almost all the Hindus believe that nine planets affect the lives of the people. saturn is the most dreaded one because of the severe period it brings to test the man. Hanuman freed Saturn and other planets from Ravana's clutches. As a result , he enjoys the good will of all the planets. Hanuman's devotees pray to him for protection against the negative effects of planets.
• Hanuman had attained importance in legal matters also. According to Skanda Purana , the division of wages and the declaration of justice should be done before an idol of Hanuman.    

• An enemy of ghosts and black magic.

    Fear of ghosts is dispelled by prayer to Hanuman who is fearless and as an incarnation of Shiva ( Bhutanath ) , he has control over the ghosts. It is believed that people in some Indian villages sometimes cast spells or thrash evil spirits on their enemies. Devotees of Hanuman are immune to such attacks.

Several tribes in India perform mystic rituals in honour of Hanuman to ensure that the insects and germs that trouble them are killed.

Those who have been bitten by snakes, scorpions and other poisonous creatures pray to Hanuman to eliminate that poison. He also gives his devotees protection against epidemics and other natural disasters. This is referred to in many texts.

• The patron of new wells.

   

    Whenever a new well is being dug, a small temple of Hanuman is set up nearby. Hanuman's protection is sought for the construction by the workers and his blessings for the quality of the water of the well.

• Grants super - natural powers :

Hanuman himself a yogi can grant all the eight super natural yogic powers to the devotees.Sita granted Hanuman the power to bestow these powers on his devotees.

Most people worship Hanuman because he is the royal path to the devotion of Rama. Therefore, there is no questioning of beginning a recitation of the story of Rama ( Ramayana ) without first praying to Hanuman.

Hanuman's remarkable quality is his selfless love and service to Rama. This love is expressed as a kindness for all fellow creatures, and a desire to serve others.

Hanuman uses his matchless strength to protect and comfort , not to frighten, disturb or destroy. He does not get disturbed by events. His faith in God and adherence to principles is so intense that he succeeds in everything. He is very intelligent. He is always cheerful. He has a positive approach to everything because he knows that every person, creatureor situation is a step taking us to God.


 Divinity is nothing but manifestation of excellence. Excellence comes by hard work. No work is high or low. All men are equal. If farmers do not give produce from the fields, weavers do not weave cloth, doctors, engineers or anyone cannot contribute anything to society. So whatever profession one is in, he should do with total dedication without personal ego and a sense of triumph keeping public welfare in mind. The five causes for the accomplishment of all actions mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita are adhishthanam, karta, karanam,cheshta and daivam. The adhishthanam is the body. In order to perform action, there must be a desire, desire arises in the mind, which is supported by the body.Karta is the doer, the individual soul dwelling in the body to fulfill  its desires. The different organs of perception and action proceed to perform the action is karana.The different activities are the fourth cause cheshta. The fifth factor is destiny, daivam. The qualities and manifestation of destiny can be seen in extraordinary intelligence, memory, capacity for endurance, truthfulness, intuition and the like. All the achievements in the world are due to hard work only. One cannot achieve by mere praying and doing nothing. Prayer to god helps these factors by keeping the mind calm, pure and strong. In case of achievement, there will be contentment. In case of failure, disappointment will not be there. The performer with his pure mind will try to find out the factors responsible for that and rectify it without giving up the work. Achievement of goal will always be there. In this sense, prayer helps. Thoughts of god cheer up the body, mind and spirit. Names of god soothe the nerves. Love of god bestows peace and joy. Knowledge of god breaks the fetters of karma, leading to self-realization, the source of bliss. God is none but one's own pure consciousness. This is ultimately realized by the seeker after passing through many stages of prop.

It is said ' Devo bhutva devam yajeta '. One should worship god by imbibing the qualities which he stands for. So when a devotee imbibes the qualities of Hanuman in his life and practices them , all his prayers will be fulfilled. This is the secret of success in life.

                        With this introduction, dohas and chaupais to follow ...

Hanuman Chalisa Introduction part- five Prasada or offerings

          Hanuman Chalisa    Introduction   Part - five

           Prasada  or offerings


Prasada means that which gives happiness, peace . During the worship dry fruits, fresh fruits ,sweets or any preparation from grains are offered to the god. After offering them ( placing them at the feet of the deity ) to the deity, they are distributed to the people inside and outside the temple after the worship is over. Apart from this, flowers, Tulasi leaves ( sacred Basil ), sacred water, vibhuti ( sacred ash ), sindoor ( red vermilion) are also given as Prasada to the devotees assembled there. It is believed that they are charged with mysterious powers by the chanting of the mantras and hymns during the worship. The grace of the god descends through prasada. Each god is offered different kind of Prasada with special significance. The benefits of prasada and water ( charanamrta) are beyond description. They have the power to cure diseases. Prasada is an antidote for misery, pain and anxiety. The faith of thedevotee is the main factor. It is spiritual elixir. It is divinity in manifestation. Offering and partaking of offering is significant in another way also. It reiterates the truth that all things which man gets are from nature only ( god). And through offering them to the lord first and then sharing among them, man expresses gratitude to the god. Man cannot have any thing without His grace. This gratitude erases the ego and instils humility in the devotees. Furthermore  ,it depicts equality of all . All are equal before god. All people rich and poor partake the same prasada with faith and relish it. So if a man is rich , it is his bounden duty to share his things with others and strive for the upliftment of the society and the world both animate and inanimate.

In North India, the famous prasada offered to Hanuman os boondi or laddu, a sweet made from bengal gram. It is in the shape of nuts. Monkeys are said to be fond of nuts. In Maharashtra, devotees offer urad seeds(black gram) as well. In southern parts of India, devotees place offerings of butter and garlands of vada (edible vegetarian balls made of urad dal) to Hanuman. In some parts of India, Garlands of betel leaves are offered to Hanuman.

In northern parts of India people recite the text Hanuman Chalisa sometimes followed by Hanuman Sankatamochana stotra, also composed by Tulasidasa.

In most parts of India, Sundara kanda (the fifth book of Ramayana) is recited in order to request Hanuman for favour. Recitation of Sundara kanda of Ramayana is said to be very auspicious because in this kanda only Hanuman discovered Sita and brought back good news to Rama.

Hanuman Chalisa Introduction - Part four Special days for the worship of Hanuman

                Hanuman Chalisa    Introduction - Part four



           Special days for the worship of Hanuman.

In fact , all days are good for the worship of all deities. Hindus worship many gods. And these gods are different names representing different powers and aspects of the same Supreme. So different week days are allotted to deities and the Hindus find satisfaction  and joy in concentrating , worshipping and offering different kinds of things favourite to the gods known as ' prasada ' to them.

Tuesday is the day associated with Hanuman in north India. However , in Maharashtra and some other parts Saturday is also a special day for the worship of Hanuman in temples.

It is believed that Tuesday is the day when Lord Rama  ( and perhaps Hanuman too ) was born. It is also said  that it was a tuesday when Hanuman went and told Sita in the Ashokavana about Rama's victory over Ravana. She was so overwhelmed at the news that she blessed Hanuman that whoever worshipped Hanuman on Tuesday, his wishes would be fulfilled.

Tuesday is known as Mangalavara. Mangal means auspicious. Hanuman is quoted as Mangala Murati in Hanuman Chalisa. He is of the auspicious form because he did good deeds to all and does good to his devotees.

The most probable explanation could be thus. Mars ( Mangal ) is the planet that presides over this auspicious day ( Mangala vara ). Saturn is the presiding deity of Saturday. Saturn and Mars are associated with hardships and are known to disrupt human life with their influence. So Mars and Saturn are the most dreaded ones by the Hindus. Since Hanuman liberated Mars and Saturn ( in fact all the planets ) from the clutches of Ravana who had put them into captivity in order to havecontrol over them, Mars and Saturn do not harm the devotees of Hanuman.

Hanuman and Saturn -  The worship of Hanuman Lord Hanuman is a panacea for the harsh effecets of the unfavourable presence as well to please the Lord Shani. In the Ramayana, Hanuman is said to have rescued Shani from the clutches of Ravana and in gratitude, Shani promised Hanuman that any one who prayed to him ( Hanuman ) especially on Saturdays, would be relieved from the malefic effects of Saturn, or at the least, the effects would be softened.

Another version of the encounter between Lord  Hanuman and Shani is that once Shani climbed on to Hanuman' head implying that Shani's influence was beginning on Hanuman. Hanuman was doing some work for Rama. He started putting boulders and hills on his head, and Shani was caught painfully between Hanuman's head and the heavy boulders and hills. As the pain was unbearable, Shani requested Hanuman to release him, promising in return that if a person prayed to Hanuman, he ( Saturn ) would have no malefic influence or moderate the malefic influence on that person. Following this, Hanuman released Shani. It is also believed that devotees offer sesame oil to Lord Saturn on Saturdays to relieve him of the pain he suffered.

                                                                                             contd....

Hanuman Chalisa Introduction part three- Image

     Hanuman Chalisa  Introduction part three-  Image of Hanuman

An idol is an external symbol of God for worship. God is infinite, eternal and everywhere, all powerful, all-knowing. It is not possible for all to fix the mind on these attributes of God. A concrete form is necessary for ordinary people for practicing concentration. Idols are the shining channels through which the heart of the devotee is attracted to and flows towards. Pictures, drawings of God are also forms of idol only. By worshipping with faith, a devotee can imbibe the qualities for which that God stands for and can evolve to the highest stage, attaining oneness with the deity himself.

In almost all sculptures and paintings Hanuman is shown with a human body, monkey' face and tail.

In South India, Hanuman's idol carved out of black stone is seen in standing position with folded hands. The most common kind of Hanuman idol found in North India is in red stone or white marble stone. Vermilion paste ( red sindoor ) is smeared all over the body. There is an interesting legend connected with this paste.

One day Hanuman saw the Mother Sita applying a round shaped vermilion mark on her forehead and asked her the reason for that. Sita replied that this mark is symbol of marriedhood and that ensures the welfare of her husband Shri Rama. When Hanuman heard that , he rubbed his whole body with it to seek the happiness and welfare and long life of Rama. Owing to his sweat getting mixed with it, his whole body was covered with a thick vermilion paste. It is said that since then Hanuman' idol is invariably created with this holy paste ( vermilion with butter ). This simple incident reveals the keenness of Hanuman to keep his Lord Rama always happy and well. So the devotees also apply this paste on their forehead ( as prasada ) from the feet of the idol of Hanuman.

Sometimes the son of the Wind-god is shown flying. The most popular form shown is this. His left arm is always raised upwards and hill resting on the palm ( the hill is Sanjeevani herb to revive the unconscious Lakshmana). His right hand holds a club, which rests on the deity's shoulder.

In high art , Hanuman is shown wearing earrings made of five metals. The sacred thread worn diagonally across the chest would imply that Hanuman is a brahmachari ( celibate, a student properly initiated into scriptures

Like most male Hindu deities, Hanuman wears no garment on the chest. However, a fold of his loin cloth is seen taken up diagonally across the chest to the opposite shoulder and then diagonally down back to the loin cloth. In some idols he is shown wearing a royal, bejewelled cloak on the chest.

Deities like Rama and Krishna are shown wearing lower garments that cover their legs right down to the feet. They were kings. Hanuman was a man of action, constantly on the move. Therefore, his loin cloth is normally shown wrapped round his thighs alone. His loin cloth is mostly girdled up. This loin cloth was made  up of the same material as the thunderbolt according to later Ramayanas. It was as hard as a diamond and Hanuman was born wearing it, declaring his eternal celibacy.

Hanuman usually carries a mace and a mountain. Sometimes his idol is shown standing on the body of a demon. The famous three demons killed by Hanuman were Kalanemi, Mahi Ravana and Ahi Ravana. The demon under Hanuman could be one of these. He is shown standing on a woman, a symbol for an astrologically unfavourable period involving Saturn, or it could be a demoness depicting lust to show Hanuman' control over the senses

An outstanding icon is that of vira Anjaneya or Vira Hanuman.In this icon, this deity is portrayed in profile, with his right hand raised above his head in the posture of protection ( abhaya hasta ) and his left hand holding the stalk of a lotus flower near his chest. He is shown striding forward and has his tail, usually with a bell tied to the end, encircling his head.

In some pictures Hanuman is shown in sitting postures also. He is shown in Padmasana engrossed in meditation.He is sometimes depicted with right palm in abhayamudra ( the right hand raised with the palm of the hand facing forwards. This indicates blessing, protection and reassurance ) and left palm in varadamudra ( the left hand, with the fingers pointing downwards, with an open palm, indicates granting a wish ).

He is sometimes shown in sitting position with his right hand holding a mace over his right shoulder. Hanuman is also seen with Veena ( a stringed musical instrument ) in his hands.

Sometimes Hanuman is depicted as engrossed in bhajan with hands raised up.

In some pictures Hanuman is depicted in vajrasana position with his hands opening his chest showing the image of Rama and Sita in it. Behind this, there is an interesting tale given in the Ramayana literature. After Rama's coronation, all the bears and monkeys were given gifts as token for their help to  Rama in the battle against Ravana. Hanuman received a very valuable pearl necklace. He accepted it gratefully and broke each of the pearls from the necklace and checked it and threw it away. Looking at his tantrum, he was advised by the senior courtier of Rama's court not to waste those pearls away as each was worth a fortune. Then Hanuman explained his purpose of doing so that he was just testing the worth of each pearl. The pearls looked dazzling from outside but did not contain Rama and Sita inside - in their heart. He added that since they did not show the image of Rama and Sita inside in them, they were useless to him. That is why he was throwing them. One of the courtiers commented that Hanuman was saying this with such confidence as if he had the image of Rama and Sita enshrined in his heart. Hearing this comment, Hanuman slit open his chest with his nail. The people present there were amazed to see the dazzling image of Rama and Sita inside his heart. They all bowed down before Hanuman for his such great devotion to the Lord. The story is symbolical as it reveals the emotional character and unflinching faith of Hanuman. In pictures in the company of Shri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, Hanuman is shown standing humbly at a distance or sitting devotedly at the feet of Lord Rama.

Some  Hanuman idols are depicted as five-faced ( panchamukhi ) and eleven-faced ( ekadashamukhi ) also.
Vaishnavas ( followers of Vishnu ) believe that Vayu ( Wind god ) underwent three incarnations to help Lord Vishnu. As Hanuman , he helped Rama, as Bhima , he helped Krishna and as Madhwacharya (12th century C.E ), the founder of the Vaishnava sect ( Dvaita philosophy ), he helped Veda Vyasa to interpret the vedantic scriptures. The Vaishnavas, therefore ,evolved a special form of Hanuman that included the important Vaishnava deities with five heads and ten arms.The Panchamukhi Hanuman has the following: at the centre a monkey face, a lion's visage for Narasimha gazing southwards, an eagle's head symbolizing Garuda facing west, a boar head or Varaha facing north and a horse face or Hayagriva facing the sky. Each face signifies worship of a particular trait. Hanuman for courage and strength, Narasimha for fearlessness, Garuda for magical skills and the power to cure snake bites, Varaha for health and exorcism and Hayagriva for victory over enemies.

The eleven faced Hanuman is a representation of Hanuman along with the ten incarnations of Vishnu. Since Hanuman is considered as the incarnation of eleventh Rudra ( Shiva ), the eleven faced Hanuman stands for eleven Rudras namely Aja Ekapad, Ahir-budhnya, Tvashta, Rudra, Hara, Tryambaka, Vrshakapi, Shambhu, Raivata, Mrgavyadha and Sharva.


According to the scripture Prasadamandana, icons of Hanuman should be installed on south-western side of temples. Agni Purana states that when an idol of Hanuman is installed in a temple he must be depicted as holding vajra in one hand and his feet must seem to tear the ground under them.

Hanuman is usually depicted in varied colours. Red, orange and yellow symbolize the fierce persona of Shiva as Rudra, as in many myths Hanuman is considered to be a son of Shiva. When painted green and black, Hanuman's form is associated with the darkness of Saturn, whose friend he is. 

Hanuman Chalisa Introduction part two- some miracles associated with Hanuman

                                Hanuman Chalisa Intoduction part two
                       Some miracles associated with Hanuman



The temple complex at Puri ( Orissa in India ) is close to the sea. And yet the sounds of the ocean do not enter the temple of Lord Jagannath, because it is said, Hanuman guards the four corners of the temple. He ensures that his master is not disturbed.
The Sthanumalai temple of Suchindram in Tamilnadu, India- Devotees believe that Indra, the king of heavens visits this temple every night to pray.
A guardian deity- Hanuman is the guardian of the gates of Lord Jagannath( who in any case is a form of Shri Rama), Adi Maya Shakti( a form of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ), the Devi of patala (who is mother Kali ) and Shri Krishna when he was in Dwaraka. In the Krttivasa Ramayana of Bengal he is also Lord Shiva's gate keeper.

Guardian of the gate serves one more function too. He screens the visitors. And the poet Tulasidas tells us that is what Hanuman does. Hanuman , thus, is an intermediary between the devotee and Rama. He ensures that those who deserve to meet Shri Rama do so. Tulasidas had the vision of Rama through the grace of Hanuman. Sugriva and Vibhishana could get access to Rama through Hanuman's good offices.

At the spritual level Sita represents the individual soul caught in the love of material good symbolized by the golden deer and she lost the track of the Truth or the Supreme God symbolized by Lord Rama. The ocean represents the chasm between the seekers ( Individual soul ) who sray away from the path. Hanuman represents the guru or devotion. He brings the two , the seeker and the truth together again. By the grace of God, Hanuman' role is to save the individual soul when it is in trouble. Rama could not have rescued Sita or others trapped in wordly desires if Hanuman had not helped her first. So if Lord Rama is the destination, hanuman is the path that we have to take in order to get there.

Hanuman has the capacity to help thus, because he serves God with his body and mind, because his heart is pure and his mind has evolved to the highest level.

He is an embodiment of all virtues, eternal celebacy, a master of the scriptures, of physical strength of a kind never known before or after and a devotee of par excellence with unflinching faith in God.He is extraordinary in everything because of the divine boons he was blessed with in his childhood.

                                                                                                    contd.........

Hanuman Chalisa- Introduction part one-Hanuman's lineage

Hanuman, Maruti , Pavanakumara , Vayusuta, Anjaniputra, Anjaneya, Kesarinandana, Shankarasuvana, Bajarangi, Sankata mochana- all these are names of Hanuman.

Lineage - Hanuman's ancestry has been indicated in Hanuman Chalisa by the words Anjani putra, Kesari nandana,Pavanasuta and Shankarasuvana. His earthly parents were Anjani or Anjana and Kesari, the monkey chief of Sumeru region. So he is called Anjani putra and Anjaneya(son of Anjana) and Kesari nandana(the delighter or son of Kesari). He is also known as Pavana suta, the son of the wind-god, a disembodied heavenly entity who transmitted his radiance for the formation and flowering of the child( Hanuman) with the qualities of speed and vigour characterizing his own being when different deities were born as monkeys to assist Rama in his mission to destroy Ravana and other demons. Further, this rare child with super-human qualities was also theson of Shiva as his effulgence entered Kesari, the husband of Anjana to-facilitate the birth of Hanuman in order to serve Rama in his mission. Shiva or Rudra has eleven forms. It is said that Ravana, again a devotee of Shiva worshipped Shiva only with his ten forms with his ten heads. So the eleventh form of Rudra took birth in the form of Hanuman to cause Ravana's death and at the same time to serve Rama in achieving his mission. Because Ravana got from Brahma, the creator, a boon, immunity from death from all except from man and monkey for Ravana thought man and monkey, powerless as they are could not harm him.

Anjana was a divine damsel turned into a female monkey by a curse. Her curse was to be removed on  her giving birth to an incarnation (or son) of shiva. She lived a life of chastity. With her husband Kesari who was as brave as a lion, she worshipped Shiva for a son.Shiva granted her the boon.

Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya divided among his wives the divine payasa-a sweet pudding got from the sacrifice which was performed so that he might be blessed with children. By divine ordinance, a kite snatched some pudding and fle  w off with it. On its way the pudding fell down where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayu, the deity of wind delivered that pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana. She ate that puddi     ng and Hanuman was born to her as a result of this(reference- Ananda Ramayana). Since Hanuman was born by the grace of Wind god and Lord Shiva, his grand fathers are Wind and Shiva. Hence his names Pavanasuta and Shankarasuvana.

As soon as Hanuman was born Anjana was released from the curse, she wanted to return to heaven.
The monkey child asked his mother what his future would be and how he was to earn his living. She assured him that he would never be destroyed and that fruits as ripe as the rising Sun ( pointing the Sun to him) would form his food. Then Anjana returned to heaven. Thinking that the glowing and glittering Sun was food for him to be eaten, the mon  key child made just one jump at the Sun and started to swallow him,resulting in total darkness. And seeing this attempt of the monkey child, Indra,the lord of heaven used his weapon Vajra- the thunderbolt against him. The weapon hit his chin and wounded him, and in precarious conditi   on the child fell down on the earth. Vayu, the wind god who saw his child falling down wounded carried him off to nether regions(patala).

When Vayu,the wind quitted the earth everything thereon came to a dead-stop. Living things were on the verge of death due to suffocation and, then Brahma and others went to patala and comforted Vayu and congratulated the monkey child. On the basis of Indra's Vajra having made a scar on its hanu(jaw bone or chin) the monkey child was named Hanuman by all the deities who blessed the child that he would be immune from all kinds of weapon, fire, water and death. And that he would live all his life as the greatest devotee of God. And that none would equal him in strength and speed.


 Being born of Shiva and on account of the powers of Shiva in him, Hanuman reached boyhood immediately. To learn the Vedas and other scriptures he chose the Lord Sun as hos preceptor. Hanuman agreed to the condition to learn from Surya ( Sun) walking in front of him. Concentrating all his attention on the face of Surya, Hanuman traversed the sky and within a short period of sixty hours he mastered all the Vedas and Shastras thoroughly well. When Hanuman insisted on giving Guru dakshina( tuition fees), Surya asked Hanuman to help his son Sugriva as his minister and constant companion.

Hanuman Chalisa -Preface

Hanuman Chalisa

       

The Hanuman chalisa(From chalis in Hindi meaning forty) written by Saint Goswami Tulasidasa in the 17th century CE in Avadhi language ( a dialect of Hindi) consists of forty stanzas called Chaupais ( a kind of metre) glorifying Hanuman's strength,valour,devotion and service to Shri Rama.It is written in a simple style which all can follow and understand.

The poet prefixes these stanzas with two verses known as Dohas(a kind of metre) one glorifying Shri Rama ,the Lord and the second with Hanuman. At the end of forty stanzas there is a verse( Doha) praying for the grace of Hanuman to make the poet,s heart, a residence for Rama,Sita and Lakshmana.

The Hanuman chalisa is a cherished sacred book, very popular and is in daily pious reading by our people,learned or otherwise.Basic reverence for it permeates the entire country as its reading and reading confers not only tranquility of mind but also frees one from mental fears,agony, diseases and confers all the blessings of life including salvation.Hanuman is always depicted as all-powerful and a life saver.He had saved the lives of Sita, Lakshmana and Bharata as depicted in the Ramayana.He is also the gateway to the devotion of Rama resulting in self realization.It is a time-tested truth.So Hanuman chalisa is a continuous living source of inspiration to the Hindu community.

This is my humble attempt to present the 'Hanuman chalisa' to the general public.Hence the English rendering of the verses(without diacritical mark) is given with explanation.Nothing can be a substitute to reading the Chalisa in the original.So the verses in its original Avadhi language are provided at the end for correct pronounciation.

The structure followed in presenting the detailed commentary is, the doha or chalisa is given in English Transliteration at the top followed by free translation in English in italics. the commentary that follows at places seems to repeat what has been given the 'Introduction'. This is intentional with a view to add lucidity and completeness in the context instead of reference back and forth. Further this work is mainly aimed at younger generation trying to grasp the Hindu culture and literature to whom such repetition will help assimilating the essence in full.

The chalisa makes everybody  love it and revere it and if that love and reverence have resulted in some fairly acceptable account of the work I feel blessed.

                                         Dr.Mrs. Lalita Kuppuswamy

Bhima good cook like Nala

         Bhima good cook like Nala 

         One among the five brothers in Mahabharatha, Bhima was a very good cook like Nala. This has been revealed in a technical paper presented during a national seminar organised here by the Institute for Oriental Study, on its Silver Jubilee celebrations based on the theme - Innovations and Inventions in Ancient and Medieval India. The paper, titled ''The art of cooking - A glimpse in ancient India'' presented by Dr Lalita Kuppuswamy from Daulat Ram College of New Delhi University at the conference, revealed about Bhima being a good cook. Her paper was among the two dozen papers presented during the seminar, for which Institute President Vijay V. Bedekar was the chief guest. The briefed the scholars and researchers about the work of the Institute for the past 25 years and appealed to them to take the work around the globe. Two characters in Hindu ''Mythology'' are great cooks. One is Bhima and the another is Nala. Bhima is believed to be the first to have cooked the famous dish ''Aviyal''. In Dr Kuppuswamy's paper, she has stated that the practice of fine arts was a regular feature in the cultural life of Ancient India. Among all the domestic arts, none can stand in comparison with this art of palate. Generally, housewives practice this art with skill and vigour,'' the paper stated. Art of cooking has been practised even by men. Bhima and Nala were experts in this art. Nala had the extraordinary power of cooking without fire. She pointed out that Nala in his book ''Pakadarpanam'' had written that the guardians of the quarters Indra, Agni, Yama and Varuna sent Nala as a messenger to princess Damayanti with marriage proposal. Pleased with Nala, the deities conferred on him various powers and Nala utilised these powers in makin
g different dishes and writing them in his book ''Pakadarpanam'' for humanity. Dr Kuppuswamy further said that Charaka emphasises that the three pillars of good health are food, sleep and self control. The food becomes the most important ingredient. The art of cooking without the loss of nutrients, food intake in proper time and in proper manner are important for being healthy. ''We come across interesting details on defects of food, preparation of soups with different pulses, preparation of dishes from vegetables with their nutrition contents, various types of sweets dishes, varieties of curds, chutneys, dishes according to seasons etc. The day from sunrise to sunset is divided into six parts and the first part is assigned as spring and the last as winter and the food according to the season,'' she said. She termed the art as very scientific and suggested ''The cook has to have certain qualifications. Birth in the same country, self control, soft spoken, knowledge about various materials, place and time etc. He has to wash his hands and feet before cooking. Cooking has several advantages in improving quality, digestibility and palatability. At the same time, cooking in a wrong manner can reduce the nutritional contents. We find various devices to keep the dishes cool and free from spoiling due to heat.'' According to her, ''Satisfaction of hunger is not the only primary criteria for adequate food intake. For sustaining healthy and active life, diet should be planned on sound nutritional principles. The most striking feature of ancient culinary is that it was based on a sound base of well balanced diet because the base of food preparation is based on Ayurveda - balance of Tridoshas, she added.