Love, respect unite us

With Hanuman Jayanti being observed on March 31, Pradosh Maharaj, an executive member of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha – Gauteng Branch, writes on its significance

EVERY animate and inanimate object has a time in space in which it came into being (birth).

However, a commemoration of such a birth in the Hindu tradition is referred to as a jayanti.

Why exactly would our tradition commemorate the birth of Hanuman? The other side of birth is samadhi (death of the physical body), and a noteworthy distinction about Hanumanji is that he forms part of the list of the Chiranjeevs. Unlike other incarnations of the divine, Chiranjeevs promise that they shall survive through each and every of the cycle of the four yugas.

For any devout Hindu, knowledge of this, again places Hanumanji in the greatest popularity, in the faith that he will always be here for those who believe in him.

There are myriad elements to Hanumanji’s life, and apart from being the most popular incarnation of Shiva, Hanumanji stands out as the epitome of devotion to Shri Ram (the eighth incarnation of Vishnu). What can we take from this? Any separation between a Saivite and a Vaishnavite will vanish in an instant, when meditating upon the message of mutual love and devotion between Shiva and Vishnu.

If such divine beings can pay great respect to each other and if their incarnations behave in a consistent manner, then on what basis can we mere mortals ever allow ourselves to remain divided?

We may as human beings differ in our choices and decisions. However, in the final analysis such differences will be seen as temporary. The aim of reciting the glories of Hanumanji is to ensure that the value of unity and mutual love and respect, as depicted between not only Vishnu and Shiva, but their incarnations of Ram and Hanuman.

Linked to mutual love and respect is the theme of unity in diversity, and what might appear as a contradictory feature of Hanumanji’s life. If viewed through a contemplative lens this would reveal that life cannot be viewed in plain black or white, but instead both black and white (along with many other colours).

Hanumanji was well respected for his vow of celibacy (Brahmacharya), yet what deserves more respect is that he is said to have married a Devi named Suvarchala (on the instruction of his guru, Surya Dev, to wed his daughter Suvarchala). Some devotees still revere this event as Hanumat Kalyanam on Jyestha Sudha Dasmi.

Despite being married, Hanumanji was permitted to remain a Prajapatya Brahmachary. A unique circumstance. However there is a deliberate purpose underlying this. Parasara Maharishi relates, that Hanumanji although having gained mastery over the Vedas, remained ineligible to complete the study of the nine Vyakarmas (grammars) on account of his non-grihast (non-householder) status.

Hanumanji’s motive for marriage was unconventional in that it was not for procreation of offspring but instead intended for the fulfilment of his scholarly (brahmacharik) duties of consummating his study of the nine grammars. This householder role was a means to an end, and his true commitment lay with the ashram of Brahmacharya.

The message here is that we are sometimes required to perform activities that appear counter productive to our original goal. However, trust in the guidance of those who know better (Mata, Pita, Guru and Dev), leads to good results for all .

There is no dearth of episodes from the life of Hanumanji that we may recite. However, during this era of globalisation and uniting of different cultures and people, I think that the ancient wisdom of Vasudev Kutumbakam (the world is but one world family, the logo of the SA Hindu Maha Sabha) is what I have tried to extract from the few things we have shared about this divine personality, Hanumanji.

It demonstrates that opposite values are complimentary, and although we live and work so closely with people from different walks of life – ultimately we all originate from a single fundamental source, and will merge into the same sooner or later.

Everybody has a birthday, and some are even remembered for centuries after their passing. However, it is unique when a being like Hanumanji is still remembered with such fervour and devotion, a good few millennia after his birth.

As a conclusion, I would imagine, that if one was privileged to ask Hanumanji what exactly one should include in this article, you would have guessed that he would insist that we glorified Shri Ram and none other.