Hanuman

This is Balinese Hanuman. I saw him first in an art store when I went to Jakarta. Later Niranjan and Meghana (my son and daughter-in-law) presented him to me after going to Bali for their honeymoon. The one I had seen first was black in colour but this one, showing the natural wood grain, is even more powerful. This is how he sits in my showcase. He has been meticulously hand-carved and never fails to stun the first-time viewer.

Hanuman is the ultimate creation of a poetic genius. He comes a close second to Krishna in his timeless appeal to me. In fact, Arjuna and Krishna have him on the chariot flag listening in on Bhagavadgita! And there can be no worship of Rama without Hanuman.

I give you ten points of why I love Hanuman:

1. He is the epitome of valour. He is totally fearless.


2. He is the epitome of devotion. There is no better example of a devotee with Ananya Bhakti.. Ananya here means nothing else exists for him except his God, Rama.


3. He is the ultimate diplomat. He handles the most tricky situations in Ramayana with incomparable aplomb - be it arranging the friendship pact with Sugriva, tiding over Sugriva's tardiness in discharging his side of the deal-of searching for Sita, or in finding out Sita's hide-out, or breaking news to her of Rama and vice-versa, or of tackling Ravana.


4. He is the ultimate action hero. He is totally focussed, and totally dependable. There cannot be a better example of this than how he brings Sanjivani.


5. He is the eternal worshipper. He is in constant chant.


6. He is the best listener. In fact Rama remarks, when Hanuman meets him and Lakshmana in disguise in the forest, how astutely he questions to find out about who they are.


7. He is intelligent. He works out how to prepare the ground for Rama's attack, by instilling the core of fear in the whole of Lanka and Ravana,when he is in Lanka


8. He is the only powerful hero who did not seek anything for himself. He does even better than Rama here.


9. He is totally egoless. He is the personification of someone living on this earth as a realized soul. Doing his duty totally out of love for all creation.


10. He is the most positive hero. One can never fail to be inspired by him... he has not a grain of negativity.

Jai Hanumaan Gyaan Gun Saagar!