To do any work efficiently, physical strength is a must. Hence they say strength is essential. Having physical strength alone may tend to pick up fights. Alternatively, having mental strength alone will lead to making plans only, which is useless without their execution. Therefore, if a person has physical strength and mental strength together, he will be able to execute the work as planned. Therefore, in the concept of 'bowthika-saareer' both physical strength and mental strength are put to use together. Having both physical strength and mental strength could serve a good cause. Hanuman had all these good gunas.
Budhdirbalam Yaso Dhairyam Nirbhayatva-Marogata |
Ajadyam Vakapatutvam Cha Hanumatsmaranathbavet ||
बुद्धिर्बलं यशॊ धैर्यं निर्भयत्वमरॊगता।
अजाड्यं वाक्पटुत्वञ्च हनूमत्स्मरणाद्भवेत् ॥
By offering prayers to Hanuman, doing His puja, and even the very thought of Hanuman, we are sure to be blessed with both of these strengths. To do good deeds, one should have courage, which is bestowed at that moment by Him. One should not be a coward, and to do an evil deed, one should be afraid and refrain from doing it. The first enemy of man is laziness; hence, one should never be lazy in his life. Cultivating the laziness in oneself is a more dangerous enemy than any enemy from outside, and one should get rid of it.
Over and above this, one should know where to speak, what, and how to express himself. Where it is necessary, one should speak boldly; where it is necessary, one should speak humbly; and where it is necessary, one should speak with reverence. In simple terms, one should speak just as Hanuman spoke. Hanuman spoke with majesty at Ravanas' durbar, with devotion to Sita, with reverence to Lord Rama, and very politely to Sugreeva and with other vanaras differently. To speak aptly in different situations is an art. One should not speak with the same tone to everyone and should know to use high and low tone to suit the occasion. One has to master this art and know how to use it to impress others. Using high-flown words in flattery is not always good. One should use such language, which will bring good results.
If these good qualities are to be bestowed on us, the blessing of Anjaneya Swami is required. Like Hanuman, we should serve mankind.
There were many who had served Rama, like Sugreeva, Lakshmana, Vibishananan, and Sita, but all had one reason or another. Lakshmana had a duty towards his elder brother; Vibishana had kingdom in his mind, but Hanuman had nothing behind his sewa, which is known as 'Vishwartha sewa atmartha sewa'. Without anticipating any reward, i.e.., 'prathi palan,' Hanuman had done his service as a duty. He had only one thing at heart; that was the place for Lord Rama. He carried nothing else in his thought nor had any other ambition.
Whatever life we lead, whatever business we do, whatever job we attend, when coming to personnel life or national duty, one should do the sewa sincerely with his heart and soul, without anticipating any reward.
One should lead a spiritual life and undertake good service to the nation and to one's culture. Dharmo rakshathi rakshithaha is the saying. If we protect the Dharma, Dharma will protect us. To protect Dharma means adhering to Dharma in our life style and working as told in Dharma. Adhering to the prescriptions of Dharma as regards our behaviour towards father, guru, parents, and our duty towards nation is known as Dharmarakshanam (following Dharma). For doing this, we will be protected by the Dharmadevatha. Every one therefore should contribute their might for the cause of Dharma and get self-satisfaction, i.e. athma thrupthi, and the nation and mankind should benefit from such persons; this is our blessing.
|| jaya jaya shakara hara hara shankara ||
|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||
|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||
Ed [11th May 2001]