(contd. from The Hanuman Chalisa – Part 2)

Chowpais 21 – 22 : The Lord’s Gatekeeper

Raama duaare tuma rakhavaare,
Hota na aajnaa binu paisaare;
Saba sukha lahai tumhaaree saranaa,
Tuma rakshaka kaahoo ko dara naa.

You guard the entrance to Lord Rama’s palace where none dare to enter (or go out) without your permission. All those who seek refuge in you enjoy every kind of happiness. Why should one be afraid of anything when you are there to protect?

There are some unscrupulous men who read into these lines a license to take bribes! The truth is that Hanuman is anxious that all should have the Darshan of the Lord. He does not stop anybody, but directs them to have the proper feeling so that the door of their own heart opens up to the Lord within them. In this manner, he is the doorkeeper of the Lord.

In a deeper sense, how are we going to recognize the Lord unless we have a Guru like Hanuman to point Him out to us? There is the story of Tulsidasji who was asked to go to Chitrakut for Darshan. There, after he had a bath in the Mandakini River, two handsome youth, resembling princes, one fair and one dark, came on horseback. Tulasidasji did not take note of them. Afterwards Hanuman came to him in his dream and asked if he had the Darshan of the Lord.

Tulasidas said to Hanuman that at least he should tell the devotees when the Lord is coming. Then  Hanuman said that he will be there as well and will be applying tilak on the foreheads of the two Princes, so that Tulasidas can recognize them.

If true surrender is there, there will be no worries whatsoever. Worry, tension and stress are all expressions of fear. The devotee resolves this problem by surrender to the Lord: “Do with me what You want, for You will always do only what is best for me.”

Chowpais 23 – 24 : Fear of Evil Spirits

Aapana teja samhaaro aapai,
Teenon loka haanka ten kaanpai,
Bhoota pisaacha nikata nahin aavai,
Mahabeera jaba naama sunaavai.

You alone are capable of controlling your power; all the three worlds tremble when you roar. Evil spirits dare not go near a person on hearing the name of the great warrior, Sri Hanuman, being repeated. Acharyaji gave a personal experience to explain this power of control that the Lord has over us, if we open ourselves to Him. He asked Hanumanji in prayer, “If you want a cassette on the Hanuman Chalisa, you make it happen.”

It was not long after that when two CD’s became available from CCMT with all 40 verses chanted and explained. When Acharyaji was staying at a friend’s home in London, his mother, who had great love for the Brahmacharis, told Acharyaji about a fear she had for ghosts. Acharyaji confidently prescribed the CD for her to listen to as often as possible. Her problem soon got resolved completely.

From experience Acharyaji told us that we will never fear ghosts if we chant the Hanuman Chalisa regularly. Here ‘ghosts’ really means all negative forces that try to deflect us from the path of Truth. In other words, it stands for all obstacles. Thus Hanuman, like Lord Ganesha, is the remover of all obstacles.

Chowpais 25 – 26 : Diseases and Ailments

Naasai roga harai saba peeraa,
Japata nirantara hanumata beeraa;
Sankata ten hanumaana chhudaavai,
Mana krama vachana dhyaana jo laavai.

All ailments, diseases and afflictions vanish when your powerful Name is repeated constantly. Sri Hanuman overcomes all the difficulties of those who worship him with their thoughts, actions, words and prayers (i.e. with sincerity and faith).

Acharyaji recounted how he himself was helped with a health problem at the age of 27 years, when he had a major attack of Ankiosis and could not move a muscle in his body. Doctors had put him on pain killers. It was the worst thing he could have had. It was a frightening thought at the age of 27 to think, “Will I ever be able to move again or not?” “The study of Vedanta had helped, but would I be able to do some work to teach it? One day, inspired by the picture of Hanumanji on my altar, the thought came to me to do the Hanuman Chalisa all night! I could hardly bare the pain, so I could not sleep.

Why not do the Hanuman Chalisa, I thought. The night passed so quickly. At daybreak I was feeling greatly relieved. All I can say is we should never doubt that Hanuman’s Grace is there for us. We just need to surrender to him. All else will follow.”

The power of sincere prayers addressed with faith to the indwelling Lord is being highlighted in this verse.

Chowpais 27 – 28 : Hanumanji’s Grace

Saba para raama tapasvee raajaa,
Tina ke kaaja sakala tuma saajaa;
Aura manoratha jo koi laavai,
Soi amita jeevana phala paavai.

You carried out all the tasks of Lord Rama, who is a supreme ascetic ruling over everyone. You bless all who seek your Grace, and grant them in large measure all that they want, and also grant them the fruit of long life. Hanuman himself had been blessed abundantly by the Grace of Lord Rama, having the opportunity to serve Him on the most important occasions in His life.

Thus Hanuman was in turn able to help many devotees to get the spiritual blessing that he received from Lord Rama. Since he did everything in the Name of Sri Rama, he became a perfect channel for the Lord’s Grace to flow freely through him. Even now devotees of Hanuman continually experience his blessings in mysterious ways.

Chowpais 29 – 30 : His Glory & Fame

Chaaron juga parataapa tumhaaraa,
Hai parasiddha jagata ujiyaaraa;
Sadhu santa ke tuma rakhavaare,
Asura nikandana raama dulaare.

Your glory radiates through all the four Yugas and your fame shines everywhere in the universe. You are the protector of the righteous and destroyer of the wicked. You are very dear to Lord Rama. Sri Hanuman is one of the few sages who were granted the boon of being “Chiranjeevis”, i.e. he was given the boon of immortality. For that reason, he will be known for all time, in all the four ages. He was born in the Treta Yuga. In the Dwapara Yuga, he took  birth again and helped Bhima with divine weapons and knowledge of war. Now in the Kali Yuga, Tulasidas has immortalized his Name by composing the Hanuman Chalisa which is chanted my millions of devotees all over the world.

Why is Hanumanji revered so widely and so greatly?

It is all because of his complete and utter surrender to Lord Rama, the Supreme Being Himself. As a helper to Sri Rama, Hanuman had another key role to play which was part of Sri Rama’s mission on earth. It was to bring together and protect all devotees of God, all righteous people, and to destroy the unrighteous. Sri Hanuman performed this task with great distinction, mainly by his own example and inspiration. His life has brought inspiration to all devotees to continue on the path of righteousness and service of the Lord.

Chowpais 31 – 32 : Bestower of Supernatural Powers

Ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke daataa,
Asa bara deena jaanakee maataa;
Raama rasaayana tumhare paasaa,
Sadaa raho raghupati ke daasaa.

Janaki-mata (Mother Sita) bestowed on you the boon that you may grant the eight Siddhis (supernatural powers) and the nine Nidhis (forms of wealth) to anyone you like. The elixir of devotion to Lord Rama is with you, who always stay with utmost humility at the feet of Lord Rama as His servant.

Ashtha Siddhis: The Eight Supernatural Powers

These powers are as follows:

1. 1. i) Anima: the power to assume a very small form.
   2. ii) Mahima: the power to become very large, to pervade everything.

iii) Garima: the power to make oneself very heavy.
iv) Laghima: the power to become very light like a feather.
v) Prapti: the power to attain whatever one desires.
vi) Prakamya: the ability to go anywhere in the three worlds.
vii) Isitvam: the power to rule over all the three worlds.
viii) Vasitvam: the power to control others, to make them follow your lead.

Another listing of the Eight Powers is as follows: Intelligence, strength, good name, fortitude, fearlessness, good health, agility and eloquence.

Nava Nidhis: The Nine Kinds of Wealth
These are: Mahapadma, Padma, Sankha, Makara, Kachapa, Mukunda, Kunda, Neela and Kharva.

However, above all these precious stones and material wealth, Hanuman gives us the wealth of devotion to Lord Rama, the Raama Rasaayana, which is so great that it makes one have no desire for any other wealth.

Chowpais 33 – 34 : The Abode of Lord Rama

Tumhare bhajana raama ko paavai,
Janama janama ke dukha bisaraavai;
Anta kaala raghuvara pura jaayee,
Jahaan janma hari-bhakta kahaayee.

Singing your praise makes Lord Rama bless that person and makes him forget the miseries of all previous births. At the end of his (i.e. the blessed devotee’s) life, when he goes to the abode of Lord Rama, such a person is welcomed there (born there) as a devotee of Sri Hari, Lord Rama.

The relationship we are taught to have in this verse is to see Hanuman as connecting us directly to Lord Rama. It is like the Guru and God relationship. When we are devoted to the Guru, it is as good as to God, for the Guru is one with God. In the same way when we are devoted to Hanuman, we are as good as connected to Lord Rama. There is absolutely no difference between the two.

The devotee only wants to love God. He is not interested in wealth or even heaven. All he wants to do is serve his beloved Lord. This is the most purifying service one can do.

It is possible that some people, who are accustomed to worshipping the Lord in a particular form, become uncomfortable when another form is shown to them. It is a natural feeling of difference. However, the truth is that God is One and takes many diverse forms for different devotees. This verse is to help devotees not to feel that they are not included for the benefits of the Lord’s worship.

There is no idea of a “lesser Deity” in Hinduism. A person’s personal favourite Deity is as big or small as he himself thinks Him to be. The greatness of the worship lies in the heart of the devotee.

Chowpais 35 – 36 : Hanuman is Sufficient

Aura devataa chitta na dharayee,
Hanumata seyi sarva sukha karayee;
Sankata katai mitai saba peeraa,
Jo sumirai hanumata balabeeraa.

A devotee of Sri Hanuman need not worship any other deity, as by serving Sri Hanuman, he will get all happiness. All miseries and torments vanish when one remembers the brave Hanuman.

There is a mentality that exists among people that the Deity one worships may not be able to accomplish everything, and that they will need to go to other Deities to have certain things done. This is not the Hindu view of one’s Deity. In Hinduism, the Deity is all-inclusive. The Deities are not different departments, each with their own particular field of service.

The Hindu outlook is that one’s favourite Deity is a “one-stop office” that will do everything for the devotee. This idea arises from the fact that God is really the divine Being in our own heart. He is as big as our mind can imagine Him to be. He is not like an officer in a government department who can provide only a limited service and with whom we have to make an appointment.

The spirit of this verse is to create faith in the devotee for his chosen Deity. Hanuman is taken as an example of one’s chosen Deity. No competition among the Deities is to be read into this verse. Devotees find it more comfortable for them to address all their needs to their chosen Deity whom they are used to worshipping. They should not allow others to shake them from that basic faith.

For this reason, it is not necessary to “switch over” to or “convert” to other Deities or religions for that matter. Conversions take place when our view of God is very narrow.

Chowpais 37 – 38 : The Phala Stuti – the Fruit

Jai jai jai hanumaana gosaayee,
Kripaa karahu gurudeva kee naayee;
Jo sata baar paatha kara koyee,
Chootahi bandi mahaa sukha hoyee.

Victory to you! Victory to you! O Lord Hanuman! As our preceptor, bless us with your Grace.

One who recites this Hanuman Chalisa a hundred times is released from bondage – the cycle of birth and death – and enjoys absolute Bliss.

This is the Phala Stuti which tells us of the benefits to be attained by chanting the Hanuman Chalisa. The devotee should not have a moment’s doubt that this benefit will come to him if he does the prescribed number of recitations. With faith in the certainty of receiving the benefits, the devotee’s practice is also made more fructifying.

There is no harm at all in a devotee expecting some result at the end of the chanting. It is by this alone that he gains greater faith in the power of the Deity. That faith then builds up into further dimensions, until eventually the devotee realizes of his own accord that there is no need to expect any fruit, because the Deity always gives what one needs. The worship then becomes more of the form of “Love for love’s sake.”

Acharyaji spoke very highly of the enormous interest seen in communities in Africa to recite the Hanuman Chalisa 108 times at least once a year around the period of Hanuman Jayanti. In Nigeria and South Africa this has become a regular practice. Large sections of the community gather together and chant for the whole day the Hanuman Chalisas 108 times in various tunes. It takes about 12 to 13 hours. In South Africa each major city holds such a recital.

In addition to this, there is an annual provincial level, or sometimes national level, chanting as well. These are events greatly looked forward to by the communities involved. They have become a regular feature of the religious calendar in the country.

Chowpais 39 – 40 : Thus Prays Tulasidas

Jo yaha padhai hanumaana chaaleesaa,
Hoya siddhi saakhee gaureesaa;
Tulaseedaasa sadaa hari cheraa,
Keejai naatha hridaya mahan deraa.

One who reads the Hanuman Chalisa regularly will certainly accomplish his goals; Lord Shiva stands witness to this statement. O Hanuman! I, Tulasidas, who am always the servant of Lord Rama, pray that you make your permanent residence in my heart.

Accomplishing goals could mean different things to different people. There could be individual goals as well as collective goals if the recital is done by the whole community. Sometimes the Hanuman Chalisa is done as a prayer for rain during periods of severe drought, and this has proved greatly beneficial. In the case where the rains started coming at the very time that the 108 recitals were ending, this generated great faith in that community in the efficacy of the Hanuman Chalisa.

To a devotee of the Lord, the only goal he is interested in is the growth of Bhakti or devotion for the Lord. That is his spiritual goal. Other goals are secondary. In truth, the secondary goals pave the way to work towards the primary goal.

In the case of Sant Tulasidas, his only desire was to become a better servant of the Lord. That was his prayer. To him, the Lord’s permanent address was his heart! He had realized the Lord’s Divine Presence in the very core of his being.

Who is Hari?

The word comes from the Samskrit root ‘Har’ which means “to steal”. Hari is the Lord who steals our heart! We want such a Lord only – one who can ‘steal’ away our sorrows, steal our heart. That is the spirit of devotion that is engendered in the devotee of Sri Hanumanji.

Many devotees are attracted by the emphasis given to the word ‘Das’ attached to the saint’s name. Their desire is to be the “servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord!” Such is the ego-effacing power contained in the Hanuman Chalisa. Acharyaji also brought in the idea of worshipping Rama and Sita jointly:

If ANANDA is Rama, then SHAKTI is Sita.
If JNANA is Sitaji, then Rama is BHAKTI.

Formulae like these help greatly in kindling the right spirit in the heart of devotees. Jnana, Bhakti and Vairagya – Knowledge, Devotion and Dispassion – should be increased. This is the essence of the recital of the Hanuman Chalisa. May this spirit be engendered in the hearts of all devotees of Sri Hanumanji!

Doha 3: Closing Prayer to Hanuman

Pavanataya sankata harana, Mangala moorati roopa;
Raama lakhana seetaa sahita, Hridaya basahu sur bhoopa.

O son of Wind-god, destroyer of all miseries, you are an embodiment of auspiciousness! O King of gods, do reside in my heart along with Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Mother Sita!

We close with the words of Pujya Guruji, Swami Tejomayananda, who writes in his commentary on Hanuman Chalisa:

“May Sri Hanuman dwell in my heart! The son of the Wind-god, who is the remover of all difficulties and whose very form is so auspicious, is the king of all gods. May he dwell always in my heart. “Sri Hanuman will not be alone; Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Mother Sita are always with him. The Lord always resides wherever his devotee does.

So Lord Rama will surely be in our heart with Hanuman. “Also, Lord Rama represents Knowledge, Mother Sita represents Devotion, and Lakshmana represents Dispassion. Sri Hanuman embodies all three of these qualities. The worship of Hanuman will help us inculcate all of them in us also.

“This is the glory of Hanuman Chalisa. Though it appears simple at first reading, recitation of it with understanding and devotion will result in great benefit. One should chant it at least once a day. That will help us purify the mind and guide us on the spiritual path and lead us to Liberation.”

Reference: https://www.chinfo.org/images/userupload/Reflections/24_Hanuman_Chalisa.pdf