Hanuman - 9 - Hanuman and Sathyabhama

10/30/09

When we continue the same story of Hanuman and Garuda we can see how Bhagavaan uses Hanumanji again to shatter the ego of one of His own chief consorts Queen Sathyabhaama. We saw that Garuda showed his respect and retired to this quarters. Hanumanji eagerly went inside Vaikundham to see his Lord Rama and Sita Devi. 

 

Before Hanuman reached there, Bhagavaan told Queen Sathyabhaama to dress like Sita Devi and come and sit near Him who had dressed  like Lord Rama. Sathyabhama was very proud of her beauty and her extreme vanity made her believe that she was the most beautiful woman. She believed that her unparalleled beauty made her Bhagavaan's favorite. This superiority complex was often reflected in her behaviour and of course Bhagavaan, a well-wisher of all devotees wanted to correct her attitude.

 

Sathyabhaama took a long time with the help of several 'sairandhris" or make-up ladies and dressed like Sitadevi and came and sat near Bhagavaan. In a few moments Hanumanji came and fell prostrate at Bhagavaan's feet, washed His feet with his tears of intense devotion and asked Bhagavaan: "Lord, where is Mata Sita? I want to do a pradakshinam (circumambulaion) of both of you and do a namaskaar. Please call Mata Sita, I am dying to see both of you together just like I saw you during the pattaabhishekam or coronaion in Ayodhya."

 

Sathyabhaama was perplexed and told: 

"Bhaktha Hanuman, I am here. Look at this side."

 

Hanumanji silenced her: "Sodari, (sister) do not utter foolish words like this. You are an ordinary woman and my Mata Sita is not like you. She is as beautiful as Mahalakshmi and and she is the kindest and most affectionate woman in the whole universe. Do not play this game to me. Please go and ask Mata to come here. I will not leave this place unless I see her with my Lord."

 

Sathyabhaama's eyes were filled with tears. Hanumanji's words were like arrows piercing her heart. Bhagavaan saw this and asked her to go inside and asked one of his assistants to go and request Rukmini Devi to dress and come as Sita. Sahtybhaama disappeared in to the inner quarters and waited near a peep hole to watch everything.

 

In a few moments Rukmini Devi came in simple dress and humbly sat near Bhagavaan, who was waiting for her in the form of Lord Rama. Hanumanji was delighted to see Mata Sita with His Lord and jumped, clapped his hands and did somersaults to show his extreme emotion.Then he did several pradakshinams and did namaskaar again and again and washed their feet with his tears of joy and bhakthi. Bhgavaan embraced him, and both Sita Devi and Lord blessed him. Hanumanji took leave  by walking backwards until he came out of Vaikundham and went back to Gandhamaadana parvatham to continue his Raama naama sankeertthanam.

 

Sathybhaama was watching all these from the inner quarters and realized how vane she was and apologized Bhagavaan. When the veil of ego was removed, she felt that the world was much brighter and she could serve Bhgavaan and His devotees with unswerving and pure devotion. 

 

VaayusoonO namaamyham