Hanuman Chalisa chaupai - 19

               Hanuman Chalisa   Chaupai  - 19



          Prabhu  mudrika meli mukh mahi ,

         Jaladhi langhi gaye acharaja  nahi .


You kept the Lord's ring in your mouth and no wonder , you crossed  the ocean .

Rama sent through Hanuman a beautiful ring studded with gems and having his name engraved on it to Sita who was kept in the Ashokavana in Lanka. A doubt arises as to how could Rama possess such a ring when he had surrendered all the royal things including garments to Kaikeyi before going to the forest. Valmiki says that Kaikeyi after collecting from Rama all the princely dress and jewels even tried to take away the possessions of Sita. Then Vasishtha, the preceptor of the royal family intervened and snubbed Kaikeyi that she had asked for Rama to live in the forest and for Sita and Sita was accompanying her husband  on her own and that Kaikeyi was trespassing the limits of decency. Sita was allowed to go with the essentisl jewellery befitting a married woman. On reaching the southeren bank of Ganges at Shringsverpura , Rama found himself in an embarrassing situation having nothing with which to recompense the boat -man Guha for his service. Sita understanding the perplexity of her husband , slipped off from her finger the wedding ring and silently handed it over to Rama , which Rama offered in turn to Guha as a token payment for the service s rendered. But Guha was moved by this gesture and declined the offer . Any attempt to make him accept the offer by Rama ,Sita and Lakshmana was futile. Thus the ring came to the hands of Rama and remained with him. This very ring was sent to Sita through Hanuman.

Here through mudrika , the significance of the name ' Rama ' engraved on it is hinted at , the power and efficasy of the name of Rama as an instrument of all success in life and also of self- realization. The finite and the infinite are the two forms of Brahman the indescribable , the fathomless , the beginningless, the incomparable. The name is greater than both because the name brings forth both under its sway. Knowledge  both of  the Infinite and the finite is like fire. The Infinite is like the fire implicit in the wood. The finite is like the explicit flame which all can see. The name and  He for whom the name stands are one but they are related as master and servant. The name immediately calls up the form. The name is the witness of both the finite and the Infinite. Rama in person could bless only the people in the Dandaka forest but innumerable are the human hearts which his name has purified and redeemed.

Failure to appreciate the importance of the name and form indicates a failure to understand the psychology of a devotee. Both are necessary for devotion. Tulasidasa gives greater importance to the name and form. He says repeatedly that the name is superior to both  Nirguna and Saguna Brahman because, though both are difficult to understand, the name makes them intelligible as well as accessible to man . The effect of the name is there in all the four yugas , but it is especially so in Kali yuga ( present Iron age ) where there is no other way .

Rama had to build a bridge to cross the ocean to Lanka where as Hanuman with Rama's name on his lips crossed the ocean with one big leap to Lanka. There was no wonder that he leapt across the ocean because he derived  rare energy from the signet ring of Rama which he was carrying.
This fact hints at Hanuman's spirit of bold adventure coupled with implicit faith in the divine.

There is no doubt that one can accomplish anything by chanting Rama's name with devotion. One can cross this ocean of worldiness too.