Hanuman Appearance – Blend submission and aggression in devotion

Transcript

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Hare Krishna.
On the occasion of Hanuman’s appearance day, let us meditate on these very special glories of Hanuman Ji. Hanuman Ji is often portrayed with his hands folded and in between the folded hands there is a mace. So, this combination is very significant.
It demonstrates how there is for a devotee both submission and aggression in the service of the Lord. So, the folded hands convey submission. In front of the Lord, the devotee is submissive and Hanuman is so powerful.
In fact, in the Ramayana, the whole Kanda, the Sundar Kanda is describing his pastimes practically. How he goes to Lanka and how he discovers Sita after scaling the ocean and meeting various obstacles and then how he, after giving the message to Sita, then burns Lanka, boldly faces Ravana, warns Ravana and before that also he defeats overpowers. Very formidable warrior, single-handedly penetrates into the enemy camp and breaks havoc over there.
So, there it signifies the aggression. So, there he, actually when Hanuman goes, he doesn’t even take any weapons, he just goes and when he is fighting, he just, the door, the gate that is there, he just uproots a bar from that gate and he uses it to smash the enemies. Hanuman also has a weapon, that is his gada, which he has depicted.
So, now a devotee is submissive in front of the Lord and that same Hanuman, who is falling at the feet of Lord Ram, he is delighting in carrying Lord Ram and Lakshman on his shoulders. That same Hanumanji, who is so submissive in front of mother Sita, he considers her as a mother and offers obeisances to her and offers all reverence to her and he is so tender in front of her when Sita says that, I am going to be devoured within a year, only few months are remaining now and Hanumanji is alarmed and he says, please come with me, I will carry you. And when Sita says that, no, I was forcibly touched by another male, that is Ravana, now I don’t want to be touched.
So, Hanuman is so sensitive, recognizes, yes, Lord Ram himself will come and he will rescue you and let that glory to go to Lord Ram. So, even in a moment of supreme glory, where he is single-handedly breaking into the camp of the enemy, he is aggressive, at the same time he is focused on maintaining the dignity of mother Sita and maintaining the glory of Lord Ram. So, he could himself have devastated Lanka entirely and destroyed Ravana also.
But then he leaves that mission for the Lord. So, there is, this submission is required so that we understand the instructions of the Lord, understand the will of the Lord and we, by submission, can harmonize with that will. But then in this world, often aggression is required to implement the will of the Lord.
Now, aggression doesn’t necessarily have to mean violence. In the case of Hanumanji, that is required. But aggression may be in terms of removing misconceptions in people’s minds.
It may be in terms of removing obstacles in the service of the Lord. So, if we become submissive and humble when facing challenges in this world, then we may not be able to do our service properly. So, Srila Prabhupada would say that he was like a lion on the chase and a lamb at home.
So, with the devotees, associating with Krishna, that is very loving and humble and gentle. But then when you go out and boldly confront misconceptions and challenge them and counter them. So, as devotees, we can pray to Hanumanji that he is such an exemplary servant.
He is the paramount example of Das Sirasa. Paramount in terms of very widely known and widely appealing example of Das Sirasa. And he serves the Lord.
But in the service, there is both submission wherein we submit, we learn the will of the Lord. And we harmonize ourselves with the will of the Lord. But when there is execution of the will of the Lord, then the devotee is aggressive.
The devotee is ready to do whatever it takes. And Srila Prabhupada’s example of this aggression in terms of being adventurous and inconceivably adventurous in going all over the world to preach at a very advanced age. So, we can pray for Hanumanji for this blend of submission and aggression so that we can follow in his footsteps and also render wonderful service to the Lord.
Shri Hanumanji ki Jai.