Hanuman the master of speech
These are no words enough that can celebrate the greatness of Hanuman, the most outstanding personality in Ramayanam.
May Hanuman's 'shakti-yukti- bhakti yukta tejasvi personality' enlighten our thinking and actions.
As an attempt to contemplate upon the great Hanumaan on the eve of Hanuma- jayanti, here are a few lines about Hanuman.
Ramayanam sets Hanuman as a role model for a person of samskrtaa vani (cultured speech). Narrating the first meeting of Rama and hanuman, Valmiki describes how Rama was fascinated by merely hearing a few words of Hanuman. A worth reading part of the epic (Valmiki Ramayanam, kishkindha kanda)
Rama recognizes Hanuman's worth in seconds by just listening to his few words.(Hanuman was still a stranger to Rama then) Here is a gist of what he says to Lakshman with deep admiration - "The manner in which this gentle man speaks proves that he has mastered all aspects of grammar, poetry, logic, vedas and scriptures and even has practiced them a repeated number of times. Never has he uttered a single wrong word or faltered anywhere. His narration is neither too lengthy nor too brief, his voice is neither too high nor too feeble, his presentation and body languages are perfect--. His style is beautiful and attracts the hearts of listeners. A king who does not have a duta (messenger) like him is indeed unfortunate---A king who has a duta like him can never face defeat!!"
Valmiki is indeed setting up noble standards for speech(and formal orators in particular) through this instance. We should pick up these wonderful observations and inculcate them into our speech and thoughts. A verse in praise of Hanuman -
buddhirbalam yasho dhairyam nirbhayatvamarogataa
ajaadyam vaakpatutvam ca hanumadsmaranaat bhavet---
Ramayanam is not just a story of Rama but verily a mirror that reflects Aryasamskriti with all its sacred and secular aspects. We need to consider not only the religious feel but also inculcate such secular and idealistic aspects of our epics and puranas in order to build up a holistic culture, which shall be progressive and competent as well as well-rooted in the great heritage.
- Arathi
Hanuman is the ideal embodiment of the 'Manas' tattva. Even though by birth it is a vaanara, when its expression becomes mature and cultured, its strength, valour and humility are unsurpassable. Hanuma has shown us what position our mind always must be in - in unquestioned and devoted service to the Lord. When it becomes as perfect as Hanuma it becomes capable of creating anything it wishes - even as Hanuma has been given the responsibility of being Brahma in the next Kalpa.
ಪ್ರತ್ಯುತ್ತರಅಳಿಸಿMay Hanuma serve as a guide to us in training our minds to express. May he bless us with a fraction of his qualities which can enable us to cross the mind and seek the hand of the Lord which can pull us once and for all beyond the ocean of Samsaara.
Bhagavadarpanam