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.