10/26/09
Since we are familiar with most of the Ramayana related Hanuman stories, we will travel with time from Thretha yuga towards the end of Dwapara yuga where the preparation for Mahabharatha war is in progress.
Let us remember the last thing that happened between Hanuman and Lord Rama in Thretha yuga for our smooth journey from one yuga to another. It was time for Lord Rama's swargaarohanam ( or going to back to his permanent abode Vaikundha). Hanuman was very sad and the only blessing he wanted was Bhgavaan's blessings to think of Him continuously by chanting His divine names and glories and live in this world for ever. Lord Rama was the personification of kindness and he blessed Hanuman to live in Kadalee Vana for ever or in other words blessed to be Bhaktha and Chiranjeevi. Also he entrusted Hanuman the responsibility of guarding the bridge he made with the help of monkeys (and also squirrels) between Rameswaram and Shri Lanka known as Sethubandhanam.
Now we are in Dwapara yuga. Even Lord Krishna's attempt to avoid war was spoiled by Duryodhana's limitless ego and extreme desire for power. There were great warriors like Bheeshma, Kripa, Karna and Drona on the Kaurava side. So Yudhishtira sent Arjuna to pray to Lord Shiva and get divine weapons powerful enough to win the battle against Kauravaas. As part of the worship of Lord Shiva, Arjuna decided to visit the important Shiva temples across the country. (May be he decided to have darshan of the 12 or dwadasha jyothirlingaas).
He reached Rameswaram and after darshan he was enjoying the beauty of the sea and the bridge Lord Rama built. He noticed a small monkey sitting near the bridge. Suddenly a thought came to his mind. Why did Lord Rama took so much trouble to build a bridge with stones and sand accepting help from thousands of small monkeys? He himself was a great archer (remember he won Sita Devi so effortlessly by breaking the bow of Shiva) and could have just built a strong bridge with arrows and accomplished his task. So Arjuna asked this monkey:
"Hae Vanara, why did Rama make this bridge with the help of tiny monkeys like you? Wasn't it a foolish idea when he could have effortlessly made one with arrows?".
Both of them did not know whom they were talking to.
Hanuman was not happy to hear this Nara ( Arjuna, the man) belittling his Lord and Vaanaraas and retorted:
"Hae, Nara, a bridge made of arrows will not be strong enough even to withstand my weight."
Arjuna laughed and said:
"Vaanara, I will build a bridge right now with my Gaandivam and you can test the strength now" .
Of course Hanuman was excited and asked Arjuna to build one and laughed in his mind. Arjuna built a bridge and Hanuman stepped on it and walked a few steps. After five or six steps, the whole bridge made of arrows collapsed and fell in the ocean drowning along with it the big ego of Arjuna. Arjuna could not believe His eyes and was embarrassed to death by the power of a monkey. Victorious Hanuman rejoiced in Arjuna's defeat and showed his joy by jumping from one place to another and performing all acrobatic feats like somersault, just like an ordinary monkey.
The story continues and takes another turn with the emergence of a pious Brahmana on the scene. Let us explore it in the next post.
VaayussonO namamyaham
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