March 8 - Sargas 36 and 37 of Uttara Kanda.
I am making a departure today and scanning the shlokas of importance here. I shall explain these, but the rest I shall simply give you a translation without the Sanskrit words.
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Lord Brahma descended with other devas to where Lord Vayu was sitting, extremely distraught, cradling a dead baby Hanuman in his arms. Valmiki says that the moment he saw Brahma, Vayu got up and bowed low to the creator of the universe.
Brahma lifted up Vayu and tenderly ran his hand over the baby. Valmiki says that upon Brahma's touch, the baby sprang back instantly to life much like a plant recovers after watering. Vayu was relieved beyond description and at once lost his anger. He recirculated the Pranas in all creation, thereby restoring the life force and vitality throughout. Valmiki says that life forms felt as relieved as lotuses in a lake when the tormenting icy winds stop blowing.
Valmiki says that Lord Brahma, who was just one facet of the triumvirate of Godhood controlling creation, sustenance, and dissolution, now addressed all the gods.
"Oh, Indra, Varuna, Mahadeva, Kubera, and others, this baby is going to play a special role in the future. He needs all your grace. Kindly grant him generous boons now. This will also please Lord Vayu, no doubt!"
Lord Indra, resplendent and handsome, came forward.
"Since the boy's jaw/chin has been hurt by my vajra, he shall become famous as Hanuman (Hanu means jaw/chin.) I also bless him that even my vajra/thunderbolt won't hurt him ever again. "
Surya came forward. "I give Hanuman a hundredth of my radiant power. I also will teach him all the shastras and vidyas when he grows up if he so desires. By my boon, Hanuman will be the supremely eloquent one among all creation and incomparable in the knowledge of the shastras."
Varuna blessed that Hanuman would live for a million years and be immune to Varunapasha (death by drowning). Yama came forward and blessed that Hanuman would be immune to even Yamadanda and never get any disease or affliction. Kubera blessed that Hanuman would never tire in any battle, and would be immune to the strike by his world-renowned gada.
Lord Shiva now came forward and said, "Neither I nor any of my weapons will be able to kill Hanuman."
Vishwakarma came forward and blessed that Hanuman would be immune to any of the divine weapons he had created and would create in the future. And Hanuman would be be immortal.
Lord Brahma finally said, " Hanuman will live very long, be a Mahatma, and be immune to any of the Brahmadandas."
"Oh, Lord Vayu! Your worthy son Hanuman will be a terror to his enemies, and bring freedom from fear to all his friends. He will be unconquerable in war. He will be able to change form at will and move fast wherever he wills without any impediment. He will be the greatest among vanaras. Nobody will be ever able to stop Hanuman. He will be famous forever.
"Indeed, Hanuman is destined to perform several miraculous deeds of unbelievable valour to serve Sri Rama and destroy Ravana. "
After conferring these boons, the devas left. Lord Vayu, cradling baby Hanuman lovingly, took him to his mother Anjana, told her everything, and happily departed.
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Hanuman grew up into a very mischievous boy. He would go into all the rishi ashramas and he would constantly break their things and spoil their ceremonies. He made a big nuisance of himself, somewhat arrogant with all the boons and powers he had. The rishis said, "enough is enough." Descendants of Sage Bhrigu and Angiras decided to set matters right. They were really not angry but did not want Hanuman to be known for his misdeeds. So they blessed him with a curse, that he shall at once forget all his powers and boons, and be a good and strong vanara just like others. He would carry on like this until the right moment would come for him to be reminded of his boons and powers and his energies to be rekindled for serving a historic purpose.
That is how Hanuman grew up and became a close friend of Sugriva, who was the Prince Regent to Vali when he took over from his father Riksharaja as the supreme lord of all vanaras. Valmiki says that Hanuman and Sugriva were as close allies as wind and fire. But neither Hanuman nor Sugriva had any inkling of Hanuman's powers and hence they were driven away by Vali.
Hanuman went to Lord Surya for his university education. Soon he became the foremost master of all scriptures and language. The shlokas scanned as shown above translate thus:
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Sage Agastya concludes by saying:
"Prowess, enthusiasm, extreme valour, great character, gentleness, diplomacy and softness, dignity and decorum, intelligence and problem-solving, physical might used well to serve what is good, courage in every circumstance - these qualities are in Hanuman more than in any other being in creation.
"Hanuman studied the Sanskrit grammar thoroughly under Surya after seeking him with all diligence. He became the repository of all scriptures. He mastered all the rules and corollaries of Sanskrit, as well as the meanings of all words in existence. There is no one comparable to Hanuman in this regard. He is also the past master in syntax and prosody. Even so in asceticism. In fact, Hanuman is a worthy rival to Brihaspati, the preceptor of gods, in this. Hanuman was the first to master the nine forms of Sanskrit grammar. Even Lord Brahma was proud of him.
"In powers, Hanuman is like the ocean who can flood anything, fire which can burn anything down, and Yama with the power to end anyone's life. No one should dare to confront him.
"Oh, Sri Rama, know that even Sugriva, Mainda, Divida, Sunila, Tara, Angada, Sarama, Nala, Gaja, Gavaksha, and so on - all these heroes were created by the gods with special powers to serve in your cause.
"Sri Rama, hope you are now satisfied after I have told you in detail the story of Hanuman and these other vanaras."
Sri Rama and Lakshmana had heard all the stories with bated breath. They felt most fulfilled. Before departing, all the sages with Agastya in the lead were submitted a most sincere request by Sri Rama. " Oh, venerable sages, I need all your blessings to rule this land well. I shall also perform several yajnas for the welfare of all and for furthering the name of the Ikshwakus. Kindly come and guide me and be always here to officiate in these ceremonies. That will confer your utmost grace on all of us. " The sages were most happy to oblige.
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Now Valmiki also describes how Sri Rama received (perhaps on more than one occasion) King Vibhishana, King Sugriva, Hanuman, Angada, and so on in Ayodhya.
Every morning, Sri Rama was woken up ceremonially with chants and panegyrics and music. He performed his ablutions and proceeded in full regal splendour, with all the devotion that he exemplified, to pray to the gods in the temple in the Ayodhya palace. This was his first task every day.
Sri Rama held court in a way that only he could, attended by sages like Vasishtha, kings like Surgiva and Vibhishana, and his chiefs and ministers and everyone else. His royal court was very much like Indra's court. Great sages would recount stories and parables from the scriptures for everyone's benefit.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
