Saturday, February 7, 2015

Prof. Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri's Thai Ramayana 25. Cupid's arrows strike Hanuman

While Vibhisana wants his daughter Benjakayi to be put to death for her attempt to cheat, Rama does not agree! 'How can I put to death the daughter of my best friend? As she is your daughter, so is she mine. This is her first offence and should be forgiven.'

Rama then deputed Hanuman. 'Lead her to Lanka respectfully and then return quickly!' Hanuman flew at once towards Lanka accompanied by the demon-damsel. On the way, he was vehemently struck by the matchless arrows of cupid. Whose deer-like heart is not captivated by gold, lotus, Lakshmi and a youthful woman? These words are quite true that even a judicious person cannot resist the temptation of a young woman.

Hanuman yields to the power of Cupid and prayed the demoness for her love. She seeing him valorous and most handsome, could not keep her mind in control and cheerfully enjoyed herself with him. Nature took its course and through the union of the demoness and the monkey a dreadful creation became manifest. At the proper time the demoness gave birth to a valorous sun, Asuraphad. The child passed his childhood in the city of Ravana with the other demons.

Hanuman reached Lanka and left Benjakayi there and, though depressed by the agony of separation,  returned quickly to his lord Rama. Thus Ravana having failed to subdue Rama without a fight became ready for a battle. Even Rama along with his monkey warriors became prepared. 

During one of his visits, my father read our copy of Sriramakirtimahakavyam and gave it back without a comment. I had not read the book yet and I asked him, 'did you like it?'. His reply, he was always a man of few words, 'How could they depict Hanuman as married? He was Aajanma Brahmachari!'  I tried to joke, 'You have seen how it is here in Thailand!'  But typically he did not respond to that! 

I researched Hanuman and find that several texts also present him as an incarnation of Lord Indra. ....The myth that Hanuman's celibacy is the source of his strength became popular among the wrestlers in India. The celibacy or brahmacharya aspect of Hanuman is not mentioned in the original Ramayana. The original Valmiki Ramayana mentions that Bharata presented Hanuman with 16 maidens as a reward. The non-Indian versions of Ramayana, such as the Thai Ramakien, mention that Hanuman had relationships with multiple women, .....

Apparently Hanuman has been a popular diety and there are many stories and many claims. But I did not expect  this one....Another story of Hanuman's origins is derived from the Vishnu Purana and Naradeya PuranaNarada, infatuated with a princess, went to his lord Vishnu, to make him look like Vishnu, so that the princess would garland him at swayamvara (husband-chosing ceremony). He asked for hari mukh (Hari is another name of Vishnu, and mukh means face). Vishnu instead bestowed him with the face of a vanara. Unaware of this, Narada went to the princess, who burst into laughter at the sight of his ape-like face before all the king's court. Narada, unable to bear the humiliation, cursed Vishnu, that Vishnu would one day be dependent upon a vanara. Vishnu replied that what he had done was for Narada's own good, as he would have undermined his own powers if he were to enter matrimony. Vishnu also noted that Hari has the dual Sanskrit meaning of vanara. Upon hearing this, Narada repented for cursing his idol. But Vishnu told him not repent as the curse would act as a boon, for it would lead to the birth of Hanuman, an avatar of Shiva, without whose help Rama (Vishnu's avatar) could not kill Ravana.

There are also restaurants, for one  Hanuman Thai cafe in Kirkland! Must look it up sometime!
Couple of pictures borrowed from the WWW. Hanuman as a warrior who has increased his size and as a charmer of women!

 




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