�� Richard Randall

Caribbean

Sundries

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.

In another incident during the war, Rama and Lakshmana are captured by Mahiravana (also called Ahiravana), and are held captive in his palace in Patalpuri or Patala (the nether world). In search of them, Hanuman entered Patala. The gates to Patalpuri were guarded by a very young boy called Makardhwaja or Makar Dhwaja or Magar Dhwaja. The story of Makardhwaja is interesting ��� Although Hanuman remained celibate all his life, he had a son called Makardhwaja. Makardhwaja was half fish and half monkey - when Hanuman was in Lanka trying to extinguish his burning tail in the ocean, unknown to him, a drop of his sweat fell into the ocean which was swallowed by a fish which became pregnant. This was discovered when the fish was brought to Ahiravana's kitchen to be cooked. Ahiravana brought him up and entrusted Makardhwaja with the job of guarding the gates of Patalpuri. Hanuman was, all the while unaware of this son of his. Although Makardhwaja knew that his father was Hanuman, he didn't recognise Hanuman since he had never seen him. When Hanuman introduced himself to Makardhwaja, he sought Hanuman's blessings but decided to fight his father since it was his duty to guard the gates of Patalpuri. Hanuman subdued him and tied him up before entering Patalpuri to rescue Rama and Lakshmana.

After entering Patala, Hanuman discovered that he had to extinguish five lamps at once to kill Mahiravana. Hanuman took the [[Panchamukha]] (Pancha - five, mukha - faced) form with faces of Varaha, Narasimha, Garuda, Hayagriva, and his own, and blew out the lamps. Thus killing Mahiravana, Hanuman rescued Rama and Lakshmana. After Mahiravana was vanquished, Rama asked Hanuman to crown Makardhwaja the king of Patalpuri.

After the Ramayana War

After the war, and after reigning for several years, the time arrived for Rama to depart to his heavenly abode. Many of Rama's entourage, decided to depart with him including vanaras like Sugriva. However, shunning the heavens, Hanuman requested to remain on earth for as long as Rama's name is venerated by people. Sita accorded Hanuman that wish, and granted that his image will be installed at various public places, so he could listen to people chanting Rama's name. He is thus one of the chiranjeevis (immortals) in Hinduism.

Thus Hanuman is considered to be alive even today. This is also reflected in the Mahabharata, when Bhima, who believed himself to be the strongest, encounters an old monkey whose tail he attempts to lift in vain. This incident is considered an effort by Hanuman to control the ego of Bhima, who is a younger brother to him, being also sired by Vayu.

Eager to be of service to another avatar of Vishnu, Hanuman attached himself to the flag of Arjuna's chariot, whose charioteer in the Mahabharatha war was Krishna. He thus had the fortune of hearing the Gita as recited by Sri Krishna himself, the only other people having the opportunity being Arjuna, Sanjaya and Dhritarashtra.

Presence of Hanuman

There have been numerous saints who have seen Hanuman in modern times, notably Tulsidas (16th century), Sri Ramdas Swami (17th century), and Raghavendra Swami (17th century).

Others have also testified to his presence wherever the Ramayana is read: (in Sanskrit, not transliterated)

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Yatra Yatra Raghunath Kirtanam Tatra Tatra Krita Mastaka anjalim Bashpawari Pari purna lochanam Marutim nammascha rakshas antakam

Which means:

That wherever the deeds of Sri Rama are sung, At all such places does Hanuman cry tears of devotion and joy, At all such places does his presence remove the fear of demons.

Hanumad Ramayana

It is considered that after the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana,Hanumanji went to the Himalayas for continuing His worship of the lord.There He originally scripted a version of the Ramayana on himalayan mountains by his nails, recording every detail of Rama's deeds. When Maharishi Valmiki visited Him to show Him his version of the Ramayana,he also saw the Lord's version.So the saint was depressed. When the Master asked him the cause of his sorrow,he said that nobody would see his version which he had created so laboriusly.At this, the Master took those rocks on one shoulder and Maharishi on the other shoulder and went to the sea. There He threw His version into the sea ,offering them to Lord Rama.It is this version that is called the Hanumad Ramayana and is unavailable since then.

Maharishi was so much taken aback at the incident that he said he would take another birth to sing the glory of the Master which he had then understated in his version.Later it is said that Saint Tulsidas who composed Ramcharit Manas was no other than the Maharishi Valmiki who came back to fulfill his desire.

Later one tablet is said to have floated ashore, during the period of Mahakavi Kalidasa, and hung at a public place to be deciphered by scholars. Kalidasa is said to have deciphered it and recognized that it was from the Hanumad Ramayana recorded by Hanuman in an extinct script, and considered himself fortunate enough to see at least one foot (or pada) of the stanza.

Temples for Hanuman

There are numerous temples for Hanuman, and his images are usually installed at all temples where images of avataras of Vishnu are installed. Hanuman temples can be found in many places for the reason that the area and the surroundings are free from 'Rakhshasas' and 'evils'. This was a presentational 'Varam' to him by Rama and Sita. We can find Hanuman idols in ghat roads because it is believed that he protects people from accidents.

Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami was the main deity of Sri Raghavendra Swami. The place where he meditated on this five-faced form of Hanuman is now known as Panchamukhi, wherein a temple for him has been built. There is also a shrine for Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. A 40 feet tall monolithic green granite murti of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has been installed in Thiruvallur, also in Tamil Nadu. This place was known as Rudravanam in olden times when many saints and seers had blessed this place with their presence. The Panchamukha Hanuman Ashram itself was established by a saint called Venkatesa Battar.

Every Face of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman has significance ���

�Ģ Sri Hanuman faces east. He grants purity of mind and success.

�Ģ The Narasimha faces south. He grants victory and fearlessness.

�Ģ The west facing Garuda removes black magic and poisons.

�Ģ The north facing Varaha, showers prosperity, wealth.

�Ģ The Hayagriva mukha faces the Sky. But since we cannot see it, it is usually tilted and shown above Hanuman's face. Hayagriva gives Knowledge and good children.

�Ģ An 85 feet Karya Siddhi Hanuman murthi was installed at Carapichaima- Trinidad and Tobago, by Avadhoota Dattapeetham Pontiff Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji. (Tallest in the Western Hemisphere, second tallest in the world)

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