Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 10

 

  Shri Hanuman Chalisa

By RahulKSaini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113402769

दोहा
श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निजमन मुकुरु सुधारि। बरनउं रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायक फल चारि।।
बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार। बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार।।
चौपाई
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर। जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर।।
राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा। अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा।।
महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी। कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी।।
कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा। कानन कुण्डल कुँचित केसा।।
हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजे। कांधे मूंज जनेउ साजे।।

शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन। तेज प्रताप महा जग वंदन।।

Please find the links to the previous posts here - 

1. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 1 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
2. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 2 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_21.html
3. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 3 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_22.html
4. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 4 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_24.html
5. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 5 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
6. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 6 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_5.html
7. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 7 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_19.html
8. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 8 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/02/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
9. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 9 - Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 9

Today, let us look at the seventh couplet or Chaupai of Shri Hanuman Chalisa -  

बिद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर। राम काज करिबे को आतुर।।

“Vidyavaan guni

ati chatur.

Ram kaj

karibe ko aatur.”

Goswami Tulsidas is continuing to praise Lord Hanuman and his qualities. In the same theme, the poet describes some more qualities of Hanuman and his actions.

Tulsidas ji praises Hanuman for his knowledge as well as his smartness. He says that you are so smart and full of knowledge and always ready to do the actions for Ram. This is a quality we all should imbibe.

In one of the stories, Hanuman asks his mother that he wants to learn and gain knowledge. With her understanding, his mother suggested him to go to the Sun god who is supposed to travel all over every day and probably has all the knowledge possible. Inspired, Hanuman goes to the Sun requesting knowledge. Sun suggested that he continuously travels East to West and takes no breaks. Hence he has no time to sit down and teach Hanuman. Hanuman then comes up with two different solutions per various stories - 

1. Hanuman flies in front of the Sun's chariot facing the Sun continously and absorbing the knowledge in this process
2. Hanuman stands tall with one leg towards east and the other towards west, following the Sun's chariot all the time to learn from Sun

Looking at Hanuman's methods, not only Sun gave all the knowledge, but also praised Hanuman for his smartness. 

The lesson to learn from this portion of the couplet is to have the smartness along with the knowledge from the books. A person may have read all the books and could be called learned as he knows how to read, but unless he knows how to utilize his learnings he can not be called as knowledgeable. Along with smartness, the will to learn is also very important. Hanuman shows all the traits - he has the will to learn, he is ready to pay the price for learning, he finds his teacher and he is ready to apply his learnings.  This is the definition of an ideal student. 

Hanuman's cleverness is also seen in another story from Ramcharitmanas, when he jumps over the ocean to go to Lanka in search of Sita. While he was flying over the ocean, a serpent named Sursa looks at him hoping to catch him for her food. She had supernatural powers and hence is successful in catching Hanuman. Hanuman requests her to leave him as he is on a task for his Lord Ram. Sursa wanted to test Hanuman's intellect and says that she has been hungry for a long time and it would not be correct for Hanuman to go without satiating her hunger. She suggested she would only leave Hanuman if he could go inside her mouth and come out. Hanuman then prays to Sursa that he is too small to satiate her hunger. He recommends to grow his size so that Sursa can have a sumptuous meal. Just as he grows his size, Sursa opens her mouth widely to consume Hanuman. When Sursa's mouth was open too large that she could not see him, Hanuman shrunk himself and flew inside Sursa's mouth and came out. He bows down to Sursa who then blessed him with all praises for his smartness, tact and devotion towards Ram. 

Hanuman's knowledge and smartness is also coupled with another facet - self-awareness. Hanuman is so self aware that he does not looks at others to gain his powers or energy. He is not looking for anything as he has overcome his own hunger. He is so devoted that he is always known as a servant to Ram, despite of his knowledge and power.Hanuman has offered himself and all his identity to Ram. Contrasting Hanuman is another learned person in the forest - Ravana. Ravana has all the knowledge of the Vedas and Puranas. yet, he is looking at others to praise him, boost his ego. Ravana expels his brother when he praises Rama over Ravana. 

There are a few folk stories as to how Ram and Hanuman met each other. 

In Ramcharitmanas, we know that Ram and Lakshman were in the forest looking for Sita when Ravana had abducted her. During their search, they met Hanuman who took them to the exiled monkey king - Sugreeva. 

In another folk tale, when Ram was a little boy, he felt lonely and wanted a pet. knowing his desire Shiva came to Ram's palace as a juggler with a pet monkey - Hanuman. On Kaushalya's (Ram's mother) insistence, the juggler gave the pet to Ram. When Vishwamitra takes Rama to the forests for learning, Hanuman goes to kishkindha waiting for Ram's return. 

Later in Ramayana, when Ram defeats Ravana and returns to Ayodhya, Hanuman accompanies Ram. He continues to serve Ram and stays with him till his last time on the earth. When Ram was returning back to Vaikunth as Vishnu's time on the earth was over, he requested Hanuman to stay back on the earth and carry his name and legacy forward. Ram suggested Hanuman to stay and support when he comes back as Krishna and later help humans when they worship Ram. 

 

Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 9

  Shri Hanuman Chalisa

By RahulKSaini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113402769

दोहा
श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निजमन मुकुरु सुधारि। बरनउं रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायक फल चारि।।
बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार। बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार।।
चौपाई
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर। जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर।।
राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा। अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा।।
महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी। कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी।।
कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा। कानन कुण्डल कुँचित केसा।।
हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजे। कांधे मूंज जनेउ साजे।।

Please find the links to the previous posts here - 

1. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 1 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
2. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 2 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_21.html
3. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 3 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_22.html
4. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 4 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_24.html
5. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 5 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
6. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 6 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_5.html
7. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 7 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_19.html
8. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 8 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/02/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html

Today, let us look at the sixth couplet or Chaupai of Shri Hanuman Chalisa -  

शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन। तेज प्रताप महा जग वंदन।।

“Sankar suvan

Kesari nandan.

Tej prataap

maha jag bandan.”

Goswami Tulsidas is continuing to praise Lord Hanuman and his qualities. In the same theme, the poet connects Hanuman with Shiva and praises the greatness of Lord Hanuman.

In this couplet, the poet suggests a connection between Hanuman and Shiva. By saying that though Hanuman is known as Kesari Nandan - the son of Kesari, Hanuman is also a part of Lord Shankar or Shiva. Hanuman's asceticism and disconnect from the worldly affairs makes this connection plausible. At the same time, this connection is also very important from the very fact that it tries to connect the divide between the Shaivite and Vaishnav sects of Hinduism. 

In the Ramayana, Ram who's is an incarnation of Vishnu kills Ravana who is a devotee of Shiva. This angers the people following the Shaivite thoughts. To counter, they suggested Hanuman is form of Shiva as he is celibate, content and has no wants and needs of his own. Hanuman's color is also white like camphor representing the white color of Shiva. There has always been a difference of opinions amongst the two sects, but during the Ramcharit Manas, Tulsidas has deftly shown occasions where Shiva is seen to be worshipping Rama who is a form of Vishnu. And Rama sets up the Shiva idol for worshipping at Rameshwaram. In the Hanuman Chalisa, Tulsidas ji continues this attempt displaying how Hanuman, being a form of Shiva is a devotee of Rama and considers himself in a perennial service of his Lord Rama. 

As the stories have it, when Shiva saw the Mohini incarnation of Vishnu, he got invigorated. The wind god Vayu, collected the Shiva's sweat and poured it in the ear of Anjana - a vanara woman. Anjana later gave birth to Hanuman and her husband Kesari brought him up as his own. Thus Hanuman has the names - Aanjaneya and Kesari nanadan. Besides a mortal father (Kesari) and a Vedic father (Vayu), Hanuman also has a Puranic father (Shiva). Besides a mortal mother (Anjani), Hanuman also has a celestial mother (Shakti).

According to the Shaivites, Shiva himself descended to kill Ravana - an errant Shiva devotee. As per their stories, Ravana offered his ten heads to Shiva and thus gained boons that made him very powerful. However, Rudra is the eleventh form of Shiva and Ravana's ten heads only satiated ten forms of Shiva. As the eleventh unhappy form Rudra took the form of Hanuman. Hence, Hanuman is also known as Raudreya. 

Vishnu worshippers argued that Hanuman obeyed Rama's orders or wishes. However, Shiva worshippers counter argue that Ram would've never been able to find Sita if Hanuman did not come to rescue. In one of the Telugu retelling of Ramayana, though Rama was informed that Ravana's life resided in his navel, Rama's nobility did not allow him to shoot the arrow below the neck. Thus when Ram shot the arrow at Ravana's head, Hanuman sucked the air into his nostrils causing the arrow to shift direction and hitting Ravana's navel. 

Hanuman's celibacy has also encouraged his association with Shiva, thus reinforcing him to be a great idol for the various ascetic schools of Hinduism, including the Natha-yogis, Vedantic maths who followed Madhavacharya and also Sant Ramdas who inspired Maratha warriors 400 years ago. It was later during the Bhakti movement, that Shiva became a householder Shankara and even ascetic Hanuman became an obedient devotee of Rama for the benefit of the society. 

At one point, women were not allowed to enter a Hanuman temple. It was said that his celibate radiance is so strong that it can make the women pregnant. Though the masculine nature of Hanuman has toned down over the centuries, the stories of his radiance are still boundless. Since there is no Shiva without Shakti, it is said that Hanuman's tail is a form of Shakti. She follows him wherever he goes and accompanies him always. 

Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 8

 Shri Hanuman Chalisa

By RahulKSaini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113402769

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि

बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके सुमिरौं पवन कुमार

बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं हरहु कलेस बिकार

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर

जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर

रामदूत अतुलित बल धामा

अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा

महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी 

कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी 

कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा 

कानन कुण्डल किंचित केसा 

Please find the links to the previous posts here - 

1. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 1 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
2. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 2 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_21.html
3. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 3 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_22.html
4. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 4 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_24.html
5. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 5 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
6. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 6 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_5.html
7. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 7 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_19.html

Today, let us look at the fifth couplet or Chaupai of Shri Hanuman Chalisa -  

हाथ बज्र अरु ध्वजा बिराजे ।

काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजे ॥

Hath Vajra Aur Dhuvaje Viraje

Kaandhe moonj janehu sajai

In the previous couplet, the poet praised Shri Hanuman Ji for his looks and the features he got through his birth. 

In this couplet, the poet proceeds to praise Shri Hanuman ji for his adornments and the symbolism of what he is carrying himself. The poet is praising Hanuman carrying a Vajra (Lighnting bolt) in one hand and a flag in the other. 

Tulsidas ji is praising Hanuman for carrying a lightning bolt or a vajra in his one hand. A Vajralooks like a lightning bolt or a stick. Over a period of time, the stick has been modified to be a mace or a gada which has a round weight at one end and a stick not he other to hold it in place. It is said that when Hanuman was a kid, he was hit by Indra with his weapon - the Vajra or the lightning bolt. Later realizing his own mistake, Indra had revived Hanuman and had gifted his own weapon to Hanuman which is what Hanuman adorns as a lightning bolt or a mace. Lord Hanuman carrying a weapon in this couplet also signifies his relation to the warrior clan or the Kshatriya class of people. 

The poet proceeds to praise Hanuman ji for carrying a flag. It is customary for the warriors to carry their own flag. A flag signifies their presence and every warrior is supposed to have a unique flag as their own identification. However, though Hanuman is carrying a flag, he is not carrying his own. Instead he is carrying the flag of Lord Ram, signifying his devotion to his master and carrying out escapades in Lord Ram's name. Hanuman never fought or did any act for his own self, but for his idol, master, god - Lord Ram. In this couplet, the significance is towards the devotion and the sevient nature of Hanuman, thus compiling him with the servant class of people. 

Goswami Tulsidas ji continues further in praising Lord Hanuman for adorning a thread over his shoulders signifying a Janeyu. A Janeyu is a sacred thread worn by the brahmins when the go through the education and the rituals of being initiated as a brahmin. A thread through the body shows the person is a learned one and has the knowledge far more superior than an ordinary human. A learned person can see and think beyond himself and can see through the others too. Adding to the sanctity of the thread worn by Hanuman it is said to be made of the moonj grass which is very strong. The moonj grass is found only in the Tarai region of India along the banks of rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Signifying that Lord Hanuman belongs to the northern region of India and has brahmanical qualities. 

The poet has connected Hanuman with every facet of the Indian society and has described him to be a pan-caste god who adorns everyone and everything equally in his quest for serving his lord - Shri Ram. 

While praising Lord Hanuman for what he is, the poet is now shifting towards his devotion and is trying to tell us the meaning of devotion for all of us. 

Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 7

 Shri Hanuman Chalisa

By RahulKSaini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113402769

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि

बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके सुमिरौं पवन कुमार

बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं हरहु कलेस बिकार

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर

जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर

रामदूत अतुलित बल धामा

अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा

महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी 

कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी 

Please find the links to the previous posts here - 

1. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 1 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
2. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 2 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_21.html
3. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 3 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_22.html
4. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 4 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_24.html
5. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 5 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
6. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 6 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_5.html

Today, let us look at the fourth couplet or Chaupai of Shri Hanuman Chalisa -  

कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा 

कानन कुण्डल किंचित केसा 

Kanchan varan viraj subesa

Kanan Kundal Kunchit Kesha

In this couplet, the poet proceeds to praise Shri Hanuman ji for his looks. The poet looks at Lord Hanuman and praises his curly hair, golden skin tone, ear rings and fine clothes. 

The poet describes Lord Hanuman to have a golden complexion acknowledging him to be a monkey and also the golden color of purity. Of all the metals known, Gold is considered the purest as it does not mixes with others easily. Though Hanuman is referred to as a monkey due to his complexion and fur, yet his earrings curly hair draws attention to his human like characteristics - as humans wear ornaments and have hair on their head. 

In some stories, Hanuman was born with earrings. The story says that Vali - the king of monkeys heard that Anjani was carrying a child that would be more powerful than himself. So he threw a weapon to hurt the child. However, due to intervention of Vayu (the wind god), the weapon transformed into Hanuman's earrings - a symbol of Vali's (Indra's) defeat. (Vali was Indra's incarnation, and Sugriv was Sun's incarnation. Ram Helped Sugriv against Vali. Later in Mahabharata, Krishna helps Arjun against Karna - God's way of striking the balance).

Earrings have a special significance in Hinduism. By piercing the ear, one creates a passage for the sunlight through the body, making the body auspicious. Piercing the the ear of a child is a rite of passage or sanksar in Hindu tradition. Both men and women wear earrings. Vishnu is famous for his Makar (Dolphin) shaped earring, while Shiva wears a Naga (Serpent) shaped earring. Hanuman's earrings are simply made as a ring denoting power.

Hanuman is also described as well dressed. In folklore, he was born wearing a loincloth made of thunder or diamond to reaffirm his celibacy. 

This verse praises Hanuman for how he looks and what he wears. This is an important point to remember as it shows how much we see and observe our deity. In Hinduism, we place a lot of emphasis on the "Darshan" or gazing or looking upon the idol of our deity. The purpose of us going to the temple is to look at the deity and be seen by them who have large shapely eyes hat captivate the visitor even from far. The devotee describes the beauty of the deity and hopes that the deity will reciprocate identifying the devotee's needs and wants. 

In other places of worship, spaces are designed for the community to get together and worship or reaffirm the devotion and submission to supreme being. But in Hinduism, a temple is the house of the deity. We go to their home to see them and be seen by them. Just as we do with our friends and relatives. The practice of invoking and adoring a deity and then petitioning him for benefits is known as Yagna. However, when the rituals are performed with the focus the "Darshan", the yang transforms to puja. 

The word "Darshan" or seeing has two fold meaning - Seeing outside and Seeing within. While many religions focus on seeing within or meditation with eyes shut, their deities are also formed in a way to aid meditation. When the focus is on seeing outside, the deity wears colorful clothes, adorn ornaments and lives a colorful life. This gives a view of acknowledging the other and their needs as well.

Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 6

Shri Hanuman Chalisa

By RahulKSaini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113402769

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि

बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके सुमिरौं पवन कुमार

बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं हरहु कलेस बिकार

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर

जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर

रामदूत अतुलित बल धामा

अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा

Please find the links to the previous posts here - 

1. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 1 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
2. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 2 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_21.html
3. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 3 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_22.html
4. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 4 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_24.html
5. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 5 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2025/01/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html

Today, let us look at the third couplet or Chaupai of Shri Hanuman Chalisa -  

महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी 

कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी 

Mahabir Bikram Bajrangi
Kumati nivar sumati Ke sangi

So far in the Hanuman Chalisa, the poet has been explaining the various qualities of Lord Hanuman. This is the first part of the overall chalisa. In our day-to-day life this is the portion where we acknowledge our god or the senior before we start asking for favors from them. This is the portion where you need to invoke their various qualities, praise them, flatter them so that they are receptive to your request. 

In the previous couplet, the poet referred to the physical strength of Lord Hanuman. In this current couplet, he proceeds to refer to the innate strength of Hanuman and why he should be referred to as "Mahaveer" - a noun / adjective bestowed upon people by Hinduism as well as Jainism. 

Just as in previous couplet, the poet proceeds to explain the various names which are used to invoke Lord Hanuman and expects us to understand the backstory for each one of them. 

Hanuman is referred to here as "Mahaveer" - Veer of the Veers - powerful amongst the powerfuls. This actually indicate one who has mastered their own thought - their own self. Similar to being referred in the opening stanzas, Hanuman is being revered as someone who has the capability of overcoming the ill or evil thoughts emanating from one's mind. Instead of fighting the evils outside, a Mahaveer is one who can defeat the demons within their own thought. Once you are at peace with your own thoughts, your own mind, you shall start witnessing peace with everything else in the world. If you are not at peace or are worried about something, you shall see see the same struggle in everything. Similar to the other doha "जाकी रही भावना जैसी, प्रभु मूरत देखि तिन तैसी " - You see the world and the god in the same way as you think in your mid. 

Lord Hanuman is seen as "Vikram" - again a metaphor to represent a victorious king who exemplifies physical strength and mental strength from knowledge and amazing judgement. You shall have heard the stories from "Vikram air Vetal" where the king is bound to make a judgement, and it is his knowledge that helps him. At the same time, his perseverance to catch the ghost is seen in this story. So is the perseverant qualities of Lord Hanuman. Nothing shall ever deter him in his devotion and service to Lord Ram and his family. 

When Hanuman was a kid, he yearned for a mango fruit. Thinking the golden hue from Sun as representing the mango, Hanuman jumped toward the Sun to eat it. As much as the Sun ran away from Hanuman, the latter followed in his ambition to eat the former. Finally Indra intervened, hitting Hanuman with his divine weapon - the "Vajra" or the lightning bolt. When the issue was sorted, Indra (under pressure) gave a boon to Hanuman that his body would be as strong as the lightning bolt itself. Thus Hanuman is known as "Bajrangi".

The Indian scriptures talk about "Lakshmi" and "Alakshmi" - the effect of the wealth goddess and her unwanted sister who always accompanies to cause the ill-omens. It is said wherever the Lakshmi goes, ALakshmi follows. While the Lakshmi brings the wealth, the Alakshmi brings all the ill-thoughts - jealousy, greed, infatuations, obsessions and many other feelings that cause grief. The only way to counter Alakshmi is the presence of Saraswati - The goddess of Knowledge. It is said, that if one has knowledge, they are less affected by the ill fate brought on them by the wealth. Lord Hanuman is said to be the harbinger of the good thoughts and eradicate the ill-omens from one's mind. This helps in the same way as in the opening stanzas to drive away the feelings that cause grief. 

Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 5

Shri Hanuman Chalisa

By RahulKSaini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113402769

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि

बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके सुमिरौं पवन कुमार

बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं हरहु कलेस बिकार

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर

जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर

Please find the links to the previous posts here - 

1. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 1 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
2. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 2 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_21.html
3. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 3 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_22.html
4. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 4 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_24.html

Today, let us look at the second couplet or Chaupai of Shri Hanuman Chalisa -  

रामदूत अतुलित बल धामा

अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा

Ram doot atulit bal dhama
Anjaani-putra Pavan sut nama

In this second chaupai, the poet goes ahead to describe and introduce Lord Hanuman. In this description, the poet addresses Hanuman with various names that signify the different stories and meanings. Let's try to look into these and explore the stories. 

Tulsidas refers to Lord Hanuman as the servant of Ram (रामदूत) who has unmatched power (अतुलित बल धामा). This is the first time, the poet tries to refer to the immense strength quality of Lord Hanuman. At the same time, he couples this reference with the devotional nature of Hanuman towards Lord Rama. Tulsidas ji suggests that Hanuman has such great power that can not be equaled by anyone in the three worlds, yet he is given in service to Lord Rama. Hanuman does not uses his powers for himself, but only to do Ram's work. This is a great quality to have in oneself. We should be aware of ourselves and our strengths. But we should never use it to show off or hurt others. This strength, if used to help others, has even greater meaning. 

Lord Hanuman was born with immense power. He is known to be the son of the Wind god and hence gets the name पवनसुत. Wind is one of the most essential elements of the nature. Wind or Air is also referred to as the god of life in the Vedas. Once a person dies, it is said that they have no wind in them. the transactional nature of the human body with the Air or the Wind is what causes the life in the body. Lord Hanuman is said to be having the qualities of the Wind god as he is his son. 

At the same time, Hanuman is known to be his mother's son - अंजनी पुत्र - Son of Anjani. In the southern part of India, Hanuman is also known as Anjaneya - आंजनेय। Being known by his mother's name is an important connotation in the Indian history. The Indian society has oscillated between a matriarchal and a patriarchal society multiple times. Though the Indian scriptures have always placed a lot of emphasis on the feminist qualities and their meanings, the society has always been referring to people by their patriarchal names. The Indian scriptures define that every human has both - the feminine qualities as well as the masculine qualities. Masculine qualities being intellect, muscular strength and objective thinking. While the Feminine qualities being emotional quotient, leaning towards arts and culture, being subjective and empathetic. Lord Hanuman being referred to by his mother's name indicates that he has both the qualities - Feminine and Masculine in himself and has created a wonderful balance in him. 

Praising Hanuman in this chaupai, Tulsidas is telling us the importance of the emotional, empathetic nature as well as the strength without ambition or in service of others. 

Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 4

 Shri Hanuman Chalisa

By RahulKSaini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113402769

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि

बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके सुमिरौं पवन कुमार

बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं हरहु कलेस बिकार

Please find the links to the previous posts here - 

1. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 1 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to.html
2. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 2 - https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_21.html
3. Shri Hanuman Chalisa - an attempt to explanation - 3 -https://nitswe.blogspot.com/2024/12/shri-hanuman-chalisa-attempt-to_22.html

Today, let us look at the first couplet or Chaupai of Shri Hanuman Chalisa -  

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर

जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर

Jai Hanuman gyan gun sagar
Jai Kapis tihun lok ujagar

In the previous blog articles we prepared our mind to make it eligible for invoking Lord Hanuman. Once we start to invoke Hanuman, we also state what is our request from him. 

In this first chaupai, the poet starts to rise Lord Hanuman saying "Jai Hanuman". The word "Jai" in Hindi means victory in English. However, in Hindi there are two different words that mean Victory in English - "Jai" and "Vijai". The two words have different meanings and implications in Hindi - 

• Vijai - Victory over other! One must duel with another and defeat them - either emotionally or physically
• Jai - Victory over your own self! you duel with your own thoughts, fight the battles within and win over them to gain peace. This is the path of nonviolence as there is no harm to the other.

Hanuman is being worshipped in this opening lines of the Shri Hanuman Chalisa as one who has conquered the battles within and is at peace with his own self. The battles from within are the thoughts that cause greed, jealousy, anger and many other feelings that drive us away from peace within ourselves. More than outside, we need to focus within ourselves and fight the battles to gain happiness in life. We are able to expand our mind and focus on other's needs rather than our own as we would have overcome the desires that cause us grief. Lord Hanuman is a perfect example of one who has won over his own thoughts and is happy looking out for others needs - be it Sugreeva or later Ram. 

In the Indian thought, one who is victorious over others is known as "Veer" or powerful, while one who attains victory over self is "Mahaveer" or powerful amongst the powerfuls. The Jain scriptures also talk about Mahavir as one of their most powerful tirthankara, as he showed the path of controlling oneself. 

Lord Hanuman is also depicted as an ocean of knowledge and great qualities - "ज्ञान गुन सागर". This is an important part of Hanuman being worshipped. Hanuman is usually visualized as a symbol of physical prowess and power that burned down the city of Lanka and killed many demons bare handed. but we are remembering Hanuman not for his physical strength, but for his knowledge and wisdom. This is actually celebration of Hanuman having an exalted mind that pairs up with the strength of an animal and makes him a human. Humans have an ability to think and imagine unlike animals, which is due to their mind. Hanuman is known to have a body of a monkey. And he is referred to as the king or the god of monkeys. Per science, monkey is the closes species to human in the evolution theory. Thus, it can be inferred that Hanuman is an highly evolved monkey who has the traits of a human - possibly much more - and is close to being a god himself. 

Hanuman is said to light up the three worlds through his knowledge and wisdom. The definition of the three worlds is quite left for interpretation. Per Indian thought, the three worlds are either - Heaven (Land of the gods), Earth (Land of the humans) and Patal (Land of the asurs) or Sky, Earth and the Space between the two! Given Hanuman's exalted state of mind, another interpretation of the three worlds could be my mind, your mind and all the other minds around us. With the wisdom and knowledge from Hanuman, may we see all in clarity!