Hanuman Saves the Day:
Hanuman Retrieves Healing Herb to Save Rama's Army
The day has finally come. The final ceremony for the Monkey of the Year is about to take place. Lakshmana has been asked to introduce Hanuman, and while Lakshmana is one of the strongest fighters in Ayodhya, he is not the most comfortable when it comes to public speaking. He cautiously looks over his notes as he gives this interview. As most know, Lakshmana is one of the brothers of King Rama. Lakshmana remained by King Rama's side throughout his exile and fought diligently against Ravana. In this interview, Lakshmana explains how the war could have been lost if Hanuman had not come to their rescue.
Chaitanya: Good morning, Lakshmana. I appreciate your time as you prepare for this momentous occasion.
Lakshmana: It is not a problem... In fact, the longer I can hold off on giving this speech, the better.
CH: Surely the great warrior Lakshmana is not afraid of giving a speech!
LK: (Laughs) Oh, I wish I could confirm that statement, but I am afraid I cannot. I am typically not one to use my words to express myself. My actions tend to speak for me.
CH: That is understandable. Now, getting to the subject or your speech, can you describe the relationship that you have with Hanuman?
LK: Well, I would have to admit that my brother is much closer to Hanuman than I. My friendship with Hanuman was originally quite distant, but he and I fight with the same courage and zeal. We are very much alike in that matter. I believe that our friendship is one that will grow over time, and despite what I do not know of Hanuman, I can trust everything that I do know.
CH: Do you agree with King Rama's nomination of Hanuman as Monkey of the Year?
LK: Yes, in every way. He has proven himself worthy in extraordinary, somewhat supernatural ways. I, along with many others, owe him my life.
CH: Really? Why is that?
LK: Well, it was during a fierce battle between our armies and those of Ravana. His son, Indrajit, was too powerful to defeat as he shot his arrows that were endowed with an omniscient intensity. He used mantras and illusions that we were not prepared for. One by one we were slain without mercy, not that we expected any.
(Lakshmana paused for a moment and gazed out a nearby window as if he was reliving the moment in all of its detail.)
CH: Oh, please continue.
LK: Oh, well, Rama and I were the last to be killed. When Rama died before my eyes, my heart ached in an unimaginable way. I let down my guard as one of Indrajit's arrows pierced my body and all breath left me. I do not remember much of what happened between the time I died and when I was given a second chance, but this is what I have been told. Vibhishana, Jambavan and Hanuman were the only survivors of the battle. Vibhishana and Hanuman had little hope, but Jambavan knew what to do as he reminded Hanuman of his power and called on him to travel to Medicine Hill of Life to retrieve the herbs that could restore life.
(Here, Devadas, the ceremony director interrupted Lakshmana's story to inform him that he had five minutes until the opening speeches would begin. As Lakshmana shifted nervously in his seat, he continued his story.)
LK: (Clears throat) Well, as I was saying, all hope rested on Hanuman's ability to jump to Medicine Hill and retrieve the life restoring herbs. From what I understand, Hanuman did not hesitate when Jambavan presented this challenge to him. Hanuman knew what he had to do. He flew through the air like a comet toward the Himalya Hills. I have heard stories that people saw a bright light in the sky that day. Many believed it was a sign of good fortune, as it had great power but did not disturb the earth's surface. I suppose it was a sign of good fortune after all. Apparently, even the plants that resided on Medicine Hill could sense Hanuman's presence and they retreated from his sight. He questioned the compassion of these herbs, but remembered his purpose. Nothing deterred him as he used his immense strength to remove the entire mountain from its place.
CH: Oh! What happened next?
LK: Hanuman raced back to Lanka where he found that there was no place for him to rest the mountain. Fortunately, there was no need to even set the mountain on the earth's surface. The fragrance of the herbs flowed from the sky to the dead on the ground. I awakened to find that Rama was alive and I was filled with a passion I had never known. I was more than ready to return to battle. I did not say much at the time, but I have always been grateful to Hanuman for what he did for our people. Though my spoken words may not be as eloquent as I would like, I hope that my thankfulness will always be clear to everyone.
(Devadas returned to retrieve Lakshmana as the ceremony was about to begin.)
CH: Thank you for your time, Lakshmana. I believe that all of Ayodhya will know of your respect and esteem of Hanuman. Good luck!
LK: Thanks. I'm going to need it.
Author's Note: I wanted Lakshmana to tell this story because the book does not provide much insight into how he reacts to many of the situations. I also wanted to include a character who is greatly affected by Hanuman's actions, but is not necessarily the closest to him. I wanted to do this because it provides a perspective of how Hanuman's efforts are not noticed only by his best friends. To me, Lakshmana typically does not speak with his words, but with his actions. When he disagrees with someone, he does not confront him or her verbally. His silence sometimes speaks louder than his words. In this story I simply wanted to reiterate why Hanuman is such an excellent character. He is powerful, determined and devoted. He gives his all in every situation and always remains true to those who trust in him. Hanuman is clearly the most dynamic monkey character of the entire story. He has both great strengths and weaknesses, but he excels in every task he is given. As this story reminds us, Hanuman also never works alone. He is supported and encouraged by other characters such as Rama and Jambavan who seem to bring out the best in him.
Bibliography:
Buck, William. Hanuman and Medicine Hill of Life. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing, 2000. (311-315).
Image Information:
Jai Hanuman
Web Source: Exotic Indian Art
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