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.