Jaya Guru Datta Through Sadguru's grace, my wife and I were privileged to write and edit "The Life and Mission of Hanuman" from discourses by Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji, Avadhuta Dattapeetha. (Available through www.dycusa.org) It is an amazing story unfolding the metaphorical correlation of the Devas to the physical form. From the intitial impulse of energy, through critical events during Lord Rama's eleven thousand year reign. (There are many other stories from other yugas and adventures told but not published yet)
I would like to attempt to allay some commonly held misconceptions about Hanuman. One misconception is that Hanuman was a Monkey. Hanuman was of the race of Vanaras. Very intelligent beings who looked like monkeys. He had a human-like body with the head of an ape. Hanu= as in large jaw. Just after Anjaneya (son of Anjana Devi) was born he thought the Sun was a tasty fruit and leapt to consume it. Rahu saw this and was very perturbed that someone else was taking his job. Rahu dashes to Indra the Lord of Heaven complaining about this. Indra intercepts Anjaneya on the face with his vajra-astra (diamond hard thunderbolt) hence comes the name. When Anjaneya falls to the earth unconscious, Vayu (his father) sweeps him off and becomes furious and withholds all breath from creation. One thing leads to another.... In Dvapara Yuga, during Mahabharata war, there were only three (trinity) witnesses to the goings on between Lord Krishna and Arjuna in that great chariot. Sage Vyasa, Sanjaya (who had been given the gift to see by Vyasa in order to tell King Dhritarasta real time events of the war) and Hanuman, who was guarding Arjuna on his flag. Hanuman served Lord Dattatreya in order that he could find his master Lord Rama. The following links provide some other background stories from Trinidad where 85ft tall Hanuman was constructed and consecrated in 2003 through the sankalpam of Sri Swamiji. http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/tours/2002/trinidad/trinidad_speeches_apr_02.htm http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/tours/2003/nada_prasara_2003/ trinidad_pratishthe/frontpage/front_page.html "Atma is Rama, Buddhi is Seeta and Hanuman is Prana. According to Yoga, HanumanÕs power i.e. breath power creates mental strength in order to have powerful determination. It requires you to meditate for half hour, sing Bhajans, practice quietness. According to Adhyatma Ramayana, the whole human body is the forest. The nerves represent the rivers and streams. Rama is the soul. Seeta is the intellectual power. Breath is Hanuman. The temple is the body. The more you get inward, Ganapati, Shiva, they all become alive. You have to find the truth in this lifetime itself through understanding and patience." Sri Guru Datta ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> AIDS in India: A "lurking bomb." Click and help stop AIDS now. http://us.click.yahoo.com/VpTY2A/lzNLAA/yQLSAA/JjtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/