| In the Ramayana the story of Hanuman occurs in which a battle broke out between Ravana's army and Rama's army. Lakshman was so badly wounded in the battle it seemed that he would die before sunrise. The monkeys and bears decided that Hanuman must leap to the Himalayas and bring back the healing herb from the Medicine Mountain to save Lakshman's life. So, Hanuman leapt over the ocean, and across the whole of India to the Himalayas. Hanuman is the Wind God Vayu’s Son, therefore, we may see him in relation to spores being carried by the wind. Here are a few excerpts from the original Ramayana with emphasis on key words and phrases: Sad was the scene of slaughter shown Where'er the torches' light was thrown. Here mountain form of Vánars lay Whose heads and limbs were lopped away Arms legs and fingers strewed the ground, And severed heads lay thick around. …. 'Yea, dearer than my noblest friends Is he on whom our hope depends. For if the Wind-God's son survive, All we thought dead are yet alive. But if his precious life be fled Though living still we are but dead: He is our hope and sure relief.' Thus slowly spoke the aged chief: Then to his side Hanúmán came, And with low reverence named his name. … The trembling bears and Vánars cheer, Calm their sad hearts, dispel their fear. Save Raghu's noble sons, and heal The deep wounds of the winged steel. High o'er the waters of the sea To far Himálaya's summits flee. Kailása there wilt thou behold, Aud Rishabh, with his peaks of gold. Between them see a mountain rise Whose splendour will enchant thine eyes; His sides are clothed above, below, With all the rarest herbs that grow. Upon that mountain's lofty crest Four plants, of sovereign powers possessed, Spring from the soil, and flashing there Shed radiance through the neighbouring air. One draws the shaft: one brings again The breath of life to warm the slain; One heals each wound; one gives anew To faded cheeks their wonted hue. Fly, chieftain, to that mountain's brow And bring those herbs to save us now.' … On, on he sped: before him rose The mansion of perennial snows. There soared the glorious peaks as fair As white clouds in the summer air. Here, bursting from the leafy shade, |
In thunder leapt the wild cascade. He looked on many a pure retreat Dear to the Gods' and sages' feet: The spot where Brahmá dwells apart, The place whence Rudra launched his dart; Vishnu's high seat and Indra's home, And slopes where Yama's servants roam. There was Kuvera's bright abode; There Brahma's mystic weapon glowed. There was the noble hill whereon Those herbs with wondrous lustre shone. … The wondrous herbs' delightful scent To all the host new vigour lent. Free from all darts and wounds and pain The sons of Raghu lived again, And dead and dying Vánars healed Rose vigorous from the battle field. (66) Himalaya and Kailasa will both become important in upcoming chapters. The birth of Hanuman is covered in Ramayana Canto LXVI.: Hanuman. We have the fact that he was born in a cave, “beneath” the earth. There is the imagery of springing up in haste, and fruitage of the trees. And both mead and amrita are mentioned: Down in a cave beneath the earth The happy mother gave thee birth. Once o'er the summit of the wood Before thine eyes the new sun stood. Thou sprangest up in haste to seize What seemed the fruitage of the trees. Up leapt the child, a wondrous bound, Three hundred leagues above the ground, And, though the angered Day-God shot His fierce beams on him, feared him not. Then from the hand of Indra came A red bolt winged with wrath and flame. The child fell smitten on a rock. His cheek was shattered by the shock, Named Hanumán, thenceforth by all In memory of the fearful fall, The wandering Wind-God saw thee lie With bleeding cheek and drooping eye …. 'Tis thine, O mighty chief, to share The Wind-God's power, his son and heir. Sprung from that glorious father thou. And thou alone, canst aid us now. This earth of yore, through all her climes, I circled one-and-twenty times, And gathered, as the Gods decreed, Great store of herbs from hill and mead, Which, scattered o'er the troubled wave. The Amrit to the toilers gave. (66) http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry470.htm |