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 ) .