4.01 Hanuman meets Raghava

ஹநுமானும் ராகவனும்

After leaving Mathanga Ashrama, Rama and Lakshmana walked towards Kishkinda, a hill country, where Vali and Sugriva, the two brothers lived. On a misunderstanding that Sugriva wanted to usurp his throne, Vali banished Sugriva and chased him out and took hold of his wife Ruma. Sugriva sought refuge in Rishyamuka Parvatha where Vali could not enter because of a curse. He lived there in exile with his four ministers including Hanuman.

On seeing the two well built men with bow and arrows coming towards the Parvatha, Sugriva got frightened that Vali had sent somebody to kill him and started running to safer places. But Hanuman calmed him down saying that the two looked like Kings with God-like features and advised him to seek their friendship. Sugriva then sent Hanuman to meet them and befriend them if they were actually good.

Hanuman disguised himself as a Brahmin boy and appeared before Rama and Lakshmana and offered salutations. Hanuman asked them, ” You are with extreme’ ‘Tejas’, what are you doing in this forest and what is the purpose of your visit? You two look like Sun and Moon. I am Hanuman, son of Vayu, and minister of Sugriva, the Vanara king. Banished by Vali, Sugriva seeks your friendship.”

Hanuman could not keep disguised himself in front of Rama and Lakshmana because of their Godly appearance and bowed to them as Vanara.

Rama was impressed with the intelligent talking of Hanuman and told Lakshmana, “He appears to have known all the four Vedas and nine Vyakaranas. Otherwise he cannot talk like this. You tell him who we are.”

நாந்ருக்வேதவிநீதஸ்ய நாயஜுர் வேத தாரிண:

நாஸாமவேத விதுஷ: ஸக்யமேவம் ப்ரபஷிதும்

நூநம் வ்யாகரணம் க்ருஸ்த்நமனேன பஹுதா ஸ்ருதம்

பஹு வ்யாஹ்ரதா அனேன ந கிஞ்சிதபஸப்திதம்

(Valmiki Ramayanam, Kishkinda Kandam, 3.29-30)

(Since Hanuman was the minister of Sugriva, Rama asked Lakshmana to talk instead of talking to him directly, maintaining protocol!)

Kambar also amazingly describes Hanuman’s intellect:

இல்லாத உலகத்து எங்கும் இங்கு இவன் இசைகள் கூரக்

கல்லாத கலையும் வேதக்கடலுமே என்னும் காட்சி

சொல்லாலே தோன்றிற்று அன்றே யார்கொல் இச்சொல்லின் செல்வன்

வில்லார் தோள் இளைய வீர விரிஞ்சனோ விடை வல்லானோ

(கம்பராமாயணம், ஹனுமப்படலம்- 60)

Lakshmana described the story of Rama, SIta’s abduction by Ravana whose whereabouts were not known and that they were searching for Sugriva on Kabandan’s advice.

Hanuman grew large and showed the two brothers his big size, and carried them in his shoulders and reached Rishyamuka Parvatha.

Thus started another time immemorial Baghavan-Bhagavatha relationship.

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