Kamaroopaya thubhyam namah...
Shri
Kathyayini priyan
Old-many many centuries old - is the Ramayana. Ramayana is the earliest known
epic written by Adi Kavi Valmiki in the Sanskrit language. The original work
of Valmiki, which describes the virtues of Lord Rama as central character,
had been retold by many others later. Kalidasa had written Raghuvamsa in
Sanskrit, Tulsidas' Ramacharithra manas in Awadhi, Kamban in Tamil, to
mention a few. The epic had been translated and retold in English and other
foreign languages as well. If there is any other character, which equally
attracts the attention of the reader of Ramayana it is that of Lord Hanuman.
Valmiki had chosen to give a physical form of a monkey to this immaculately
perfect character. Hanuman though given the vanara roopa, possesses
characters of a perfect man and no imperfection had been found in him.
Monkeys are known for the restlessness and unsteadiness, but in Hanuman there
was no trace of chanchalathva or asthirathva. In fact he is ajattya meaning a
very active being and a go-getter, and there was nothing that was impossible
for Him to achieve. With such qualities one would wonder whether he is a
monkey or "Va-nara" meaning, "is he a man?". He is the embodiment of all good
characters and virtues one would like to possess not only spiritually but
also in a worldly sense. He had knowledge, physical strength, brawn, courage,
non fearing, healthy, active, wisdom, eloquence in speech, humility,
celibacy, magnanimity, presence of mind, valour, and total surrender in
devotion combined. All this he dedicated to his Lord with Bhakti, and it was
his humility and realisation of Paramathma in Lord Rama, and total surrender
to Lord Rama that made Hanuman from "Va-nara" to a "Super man" to
"Devatha".
A "Kamaroopi".
Hanuman is known as "Kamaroopi" meaning one who could take any physical form
at the desired time. Hanuman is known as "Kamaroopi", not just because he can
change the physical form. Even with his monkey outfit constant he had assumed
positions of eminence, by his actions. Therefore it could be interpreted that
Hanuman was a "Kamaroopi" by virtue of the changes that he brought about
internally in accomplishing the purpose of his existence - namely to realise
the Paramathman and to surrender to the Lord - without of course changes in
the external form. Else it could be interpreted that a person of eminence and
virtues had taken an anatomical form of a monkey hence he is a "Kamaroopi".
If the word "Kamaroopi" is spelled as "Kama - roopi" it could be interpreted
as "a person with loving figure". But in the case of rakshasas who are also
known as "Kamaroopi"s, it is that they can change their physical form only.
How delicately and beautifully Valmiki has handled this character, "Kamaroopi"
is to be enjoyed, felt, relished and realised.
We see men roaming around like animals without education and knowledge, but
here is a monkey that had studied from a no lesser a Guru than Lord Surya
himself. "Vidya thathyathi vinayam" is the saying . The knowledge imparted by Surya to Hanuman had made him so, that at the first meeting itself Lord Rama
had assessed Hanuman to be a profound chathurvedi, and a navavyakarna
panditha.
It is interesting to note that Hanuman, the Kamaroopi, had taken the
roopa of
a student when he first met Lord Rama, thanks to the accomplished
astamasiddhis. The love and recognition for each other eventually led to Lord
Rama choosing Hanuman to be his emissary to Lanka. The choice was influenced
more by the abilities of Sri Anjaneya aptly suiting the role of an emissary
rather than merely by the love and the liking Sri Rama had for Sri Anjaneya.
Qualities like expressing the thoughts clearly and cogently without any
ambiguity, the way the presentation is structured, the modulation of tone,
the language that is required to be used for the occasion, eloquence in
speech are some of the prerequisite for a good emissary. These qualities
which were identified with Hanuman the "Va-nara" by Lord Rama hence he was
chosen for the job.
Hanuman, the Kamaroopi, when entering Lanka takes a small figure and moves
about in the palace without making any noise, is a manifestation of anima
siddhi Hanuman finally meets Sita Devi in the Asoka vatika in a state of
distress, and had to save Sita Devi from committing suicide. After a great
deliberation on how to save Sita and to tell her that he is the emissary of
her lord, he decides upon reciting the Rama charithra for diverting the
attention of Sita Devi. What happens if the rakshasis sitting around Sita
Devi hear that? Therefore Hanuman the Kamaroopi decides to use the tenants
vasithva siddhi to keep them in Tranquilised State before reciting the Rama
charithra.
On hearing her lord's name Sita Devi looks at Hanuman. She was doubtful about
the vanara, who was sitting on the Shimsubha tree, for she feared Ravana the
Kamaroopi. But concludes it can't be illusion, since the monkey is talking
with a clear vision. This meeting brings to end all sorrows Sita was
undergoing as she comes to know of the welfare of Lord Rama. While conversing
with Hanuman she wants to know how is that he could cross over the ocean with
his small features. In reply Hanuman the Kamaroopi takes the viswaroopa - an
exposition of mahima siddhi.
Later in the battle field when Lakshmana was breathless Hanuman had to fly to
Himalayas to bring the Sanjeevinibooti. In contrast to the large physical
form taken by him while the crossing the ocean to reach the Lanka, here
Hanuman flies to Himalayas and back to Lanka with the entire Sanjeevi
mountain in his hand in no time. The Hanuman the Kamaroopi had achieved this
by making his body weightless - a true feat of Lahima siddhi.
Hanuman the Kamaroopi was able to perform all these miracles with ease since
he had totally surrendered himself to Lord Rama, and had only one thing in
his thought that is "Ramaya Tubhyam Namah".
Kamaroopaye Thubhyam Namah||