DIVINE STORIES 07-2022-05
Dear friends, I have started posting a few divine stories. Hope thesestories could be refreshing. These werestored in memory device earlier after reading from different websites. There are variations in these stories as heard popularly. Gopala Krishnan 20-7-22 1 Veer Hanuman(Hanuman, the Hero) Oneday, Rama was holding court and discussing the state of the kingdom with hisministers, when the arrival of Vishwamitra was announced. Rama paid hisobeisance to the sage and took him to a seat. As soon as he sat down, the sagesaid, “Rama, the king of Kasi, Yayati isarrogant. He has insulted me. You must kill him. You may take this as mycommand!” Rama was aware thatYayati was a righteous king and he would not be unfair or unjust to anyone.But, the orders have come from none else than his Guru. He could not possiblyrefuse to obey his revered teacher. At the same time, he would lose an ally inYayati, a king who did everything for the welfare of his people. How could he go and kill such aperson? Rama was in a dilemma. Vishwamitra was angry with Yayati because the king has failed to payhis due respect. It so happened that his subjectshad gone to the king to complain about a herd of elephants that was destroyingthe crops and terrifying both the cattle and the villagers. As a king, it washis duty to ensure the welfare of his subjects, so Yayati decided to hunt downthe elephants. He was driving them away into the forest when Vishwamitra camethat way. Yayati did not notice the presence ofthe sage, who took it as an insult. Hence his command to Rama to take revengeon Yayati. The king came to knowthat Rama was getting ready for a war with him. He was shocked. Queen Yashodhara and their children,Prince Chandrangad and Princess Chandramukhi were all devotees of Rama;they could not believe their ears when they heard the threat of a war from Ramahimself. Yayati wondered whatcrime he had committed to provoke Rama’s anger. “Rama does not forsake anyoneif he were to seek refuge in him” said Yayati. “I shall go and fall at his feet and askhim to pardon me!” He was getting ready for his journey to Ayodhya, with his familywhen sage Naradareached there. Yayati told him what had happened. “Are you out of yoursenses, O King?” remarked Narada. “Don’t you know that Rama will keep a promiseonce he gives it? Ifyou go to him now, he’ll surely kill you, as he is angry with you. So, it wouldbe better if you approach Anjana Devi and appeal to her. Herson, Hanuman, is with her now. So, go to them straight away.” Yayati thought that thesage had given him the right advice. So, he started for the ashram of AnjanaDevi, where he found her in deep meditation. “Devi!” he wailed before her. “Ihave sought refuge here, please save me!” The king’s wailingdisturbed Anjana Devi. She suddenly woke up from her meditation and stood up.When she saw Yayati in front of her, she comforted him, “Son, don’t be afraid, I assure you, that,on the strength and power of my son, that no harm will come to you!” Hanuman reached there insearch of his mother. Yayati bowed before him. “I’m Yayati, the king of Kasi. I’m a devotee of Rama. You alone will be able to save me fromdanger I’m facing now. I entirely depend on you.” “Don’t worry on anycount!” Hanuman assured the king. “My mother has already given her promise. I’mher son, and its my duty to carry out her promise. Don’t have any doubt. Ishall save you from whatever danger you’re facing.” “Now that Hanuman hasalso given his assurance,” said Anjana Devi, “please tellus what kind of danger is threatening you.” “How can I describe it!”said Yayati with a sigh. “Rama, whom I worship, wants to kill me! I’ve no ideawhat crime I’ve committed to earn his displeasure and wrath. I haven’t doneanything deliberate.” “Is it true that Ramahimself wants to kill you?” said Anjana Devi unbelievingly. “I wonder whetherI’ve been too hasty in giving you a promise. How can my son fight Rama on your behalf? What shall Ido now?” She wrung her hands in despair. Hanuman saw his motherfacing a dilemma. “Mother! You should not go back on your word. It’s our dutyto protect whoever seeks our refuge. I shall not allow any harm come to kingYayati. We must face whoever happens to be his enemy.” Soon word spread that Hanuman wouldfight on behalf of Yayati. The news reached Ayodhya as well, and both Rama andSita heard it. Shefell into a long silence. Yayati’s wife Yashodhara, along withher two children, came to meet Sita. “Devi, please save my husband. Pleaseensure that I am not widowed.” “Yashodhara! Please donot worry.” Sita consoled her. “Its certain that Hanuman will protect yourhusband. He is right now with Hanuman and so he is safe, till he comes back,you may stay in Ayodhya with your children.” She then made arrangements fortheir stay in the palace. In the meantime, Ramawent in search of Yayati, taking his bows and arrows with him. His three brothers, ministers and an army accompanied him.Hanuman accosted them. He fell at the feet of Rama, “My lord!Please be kind to Yayati. Don’t kill him. He is innocent. Let him go free.” But Rama was not willingto forgive Yayati. “I must kill him. That’s a promise Igave to my guru, and I must carry out that promise.” He then pushed Hanumanwith his foot to make way for himself. Hanuman got up and stoodbefore Rama with folded hands. “Ah! I’ve now been blessed by the touch of your feet.Just as Ahalya Devi got redemption when you kicked the stone she was cursedinto. I’m blessed by new strength and vigour!” “Stop flattering me,Hanuman!” Rama pulled him up. “You’d better turn over Yayati to me!My guru has commanded me to kill him.” “ I can understand yourdevotion and loyalty to your guru,” said Hanuman. “But yourguru’s orders are unfair. Yayati is innocent.And my mother has given him a promise that she’ll protect him. I’m duty boundto keep that promise. So, if you wish to kill Yayati, thenyou must first kill me! As long as I am left with a breath of life, I shall notallow Yayati to be killed.”He then enlarged his figure and stood before Rama like a mountain. “Are you terrifying mewith your prowess?” asked Rama. “No, my lord!” repliedHanuman calmly. “Its all your blessing!” Rama sent a shower ofarrows at Hanuman. He warded them off with his tail. Rama sent more arrows athim. Hanuman evaded all of them, Hanuman did not have to offer any fight, andthe encounter lasted a long time. Just then Vishwamitra came there. BeforeRama could see him, Hanuman had noticed the sage. “My lord! Your guru hasarrived.” “I’m not bothered!” Rama countered.“Beware! I’m going to use the Rama-ban arrow.” “Rama! Hold on!” shouted Vishwamitra.“Stop your fight! It was all due to my false pride. Yayati is innocent. You lethim go free!” “That’s impossible, Oguru!” said Rama. “I’ve already strung the arrow. Now, I must use it. Imust carry out your orders. Please don’t put obstacles!”He saw Yayati taking cover behind Hanuman. “Hanuman! This arrow will pierceyour heart! Before that, you would be well advised to hand over Yayati.” “The name of Rama isalways on my lips!” said Hanuman, coolly. “So, I’m not afraid of anything oranyone. It’s my duty to protect whoever comes to me seeking refuge. So,I’ve decided to protect and save Yayati by even sacrificing my life. If you’rekeen on sending the arrow, I shall not prevent you from doing so.” He then bared his chest, ready to receive thearrow. The arrow pierced his chest and went deep inside and disappeared. Butnothing happened to Hanuman. Everybody was able to see the brilliant image of Rama onHanuman’s chest. They were all wonderstruck. Rama letgo his bow from his hand. “Hanuman! You’ve won the fight. You’veovercome me with your devotion.” “Mylord! This fight had no winner, nor any loser,” said Hanuman. “Your arrow hadpierced my chest, but it has not remained there. It has gone back to you. Thatis your greatness. I don’t take any credit for that.” “Inprotecting those who seek refuge,” remarked Vishwamitra, you and Rama areequal.You both will not disappoint them. You, Hanuman, haveproved your ability and shown your strength. It’s not an easy thing to fightRama. You’ve proved that you’re not mere Hanuman but Veer Hanuman! Your nameand fame will remain till the world exists.” The sage thenblessed Hanuman and expressed his repentance that he was the cause of amisunderstanding between Rama and Hanuman. Hanuman took leave of Ramaand all others and returned to Gandhamadana for his tapas. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/430337794.2956792.1658298392120%40mail.yahoo.com.
