In the sacred land of Ayodhya, where
the divine fragrance of Lord Rama’s reign lingered like the scent of blooming
lotuses, a momentous event was unfolding. The Treta Yuga was drawing to a
close, and Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, had chosen to
conclude his earthly leela. His divine mission—to vanquish the demon king
Ravana and establish dharma—was complete. The time had come for him to return
to his eternal abode, Vaikuntha, through the sacred ritual of jal samadhi,
merging his mortal form into the serene waters of the Sarayu River. Yet, this
tale is not merely of Rama’s departure but of the eternal vow bestowed upon his
most devoted bhakt, Hanuman, the mighty vanara, whose heart beat solely for his
Lord.
The Devotion of
Hanuman
Hanuman, the son of Vayu, the wind
god, and Anjana, a celestial apsara, was no ordinary being. His strength was
unparalleled, his wisdom profound, and his devotion to Lord Rama unmatched.
From the moment he pledged his life to Rama in the dense forests of Kishkindha,
Hanuman had become the embodiment of bhakti—pure, selfless love. He carried
Rama and Sita in his heart, their names a constant chant on his lips. Whether
leaping across oceans to find Sita in Lanka, uprooting mountains to fetch the
sanjeevani herb, or single-handedly setting Ravana’s golden city ablaze,
Hanuman’s every act was an offering at the feet of his Lord.
As Rama’s reign in Ayodhya flourished,
Hanuman remained by his side—not as a mere servant but as a friend, a
protector, and a devotee whose very existence was intertwined with Rama’s
divine will. The citizens of Ayodhya revered Hanuman, not only for his might
but for his humility. He would often be seen sitting quietly under a banyan
tree, chanting “Sri Ram Tarak Mantra” with closed eyes, his tail curled around
him, lost in the bliss of his Lord’s name.
The Day of Jal
Samadhi
The fateful day arrived when Lord
Rama, after ruling Ayodhya with justice and compassion for years, announced his
decision to enter jal samadhi. The news spread like wildfire, and a somber mood
enveloped the kingdom. The people of Ayodhya, though aware of Rama’s divine
nature, could not bear the thought of losing their beloved king. Lakshmana, and
the other devoted souls prepared to follow Rama, for their lives were
incomplete without him. But Hanuman, the ever-faithful vanara, was torn. His
heart ached at the thought of being separated from Rama, yet his duty to serve
his Lord bound him to obey any command.
On the banks of the Sarayu River,
under a sky painted with hues of twilight, Lord Rama stood resplendent, his
serene face radiating divine calm. The waters of the Sarayu glimmered like
molten silver, reflecting the golden light of the setting sun. The air was
thick with the fragrance of sandalwood and the soft chants of Vedic hymns by
the sages who had gathered to witness the divine departure. Hanuman stood a few
steps behind Rama, his muscular frame trembling with emotion, his eyes fixed on
his Lord. He had vowed never to leave Rama’s side, yet he sensed that a greater
purpose awaited him.
The Divine Dialogue
As the moment of jal samadhi
approached, Lord Rama turned to Hanuman. His eyes, deep as the cosmos, met
Hanuman’s tear-filled gaze. “My dearest Hanuman,” Rama began, his voice like
the gentle ripple of the Sarayu, “your devotion has no parallel in the three
worlds. You have served me with every breath, every thought, and every action.
But my time on this earth is complete. I must return to Vaikuntha, for my leela
here has fulfilled its purpose.”
Hanuman fell to his knees, his hands
clasped, tears streaming down his face. “O Raghava, my Lord, my life is
meaningless without you. Allow me to follow you into the waters, for I cannot
bear the agony of separation. What purpose does this body, this strength, this
existence hold if it is not in your service?”
Rama smiled, a smile that held the
warmth of a thousand suns. He placed his hand on Hanuman’s head, and a wave of
divine energy coursed through the vanara’s being. “Hanuman,” Rama said, “your
purpose is far greater than you can fathom. You are not merely my servant; you
are the guardian of dharma, the embodiment of strength, and the beacon of
devotion for all ages to come. I have a task for you, one that only you, my
most trusted devotee, can fulfill.”
Hanuman looked up, his heart pounding
with a mix of sorrow and anticipation. “Command me, my Lord. Your will is my
existence.”
The Chiranjeevi
Blessing
Rama’s voice grew solemn, resonating
with the authority of the divine. “Hanuman, I bless you with the gift of
chiranjeevi—eternal life. You shall remain on this earth until the end of Kali
Yuga, the final age of this cycle. As long as my name is chanted, as long as
dharma flickers in the hearts of men, you shall be its protector. You will roam
the earth, unseen yet ever-present, guiding those who seek righteousness,
protecting the weak, and ensuring that the essence of my teachings endures.”
The gathered sages gasped, for the
chiranjeevi blessing was rare, bestowed only upon the most exalted souls.
Hanuman’s eyes widened, not out of pride but out of the weight of the
responsibility. “My Lord,” he whispered, “how can I, a mere vanara, bear such a
divine duty?”
Rama lifted Hanuman to his feet, his
touch infusing the vanara with boundless strength. “You are no mere vanara,
Hanuman. You are the son of Vayu, blessed by the gods, and my eternal devotee.
Your heart carries my name, and your soul is a spark of the divine. Wherever my
name is uttered with love, you shall be there. Wherever dharma is threatened,
your strength shall prevail. You will be my presence on earth, a living
testament to the power of devotion.”
To seal the blessing, Rama placed a
tilak of sandalwood paste on Hanuman’s forehead, chanting a sacred mantra. The
air shimmered with celestial light, and the gods themselves descended in subtle
forms to witness the moment. Brahma, Vishnu (in his cosmic form), and Shiva
showered flowers from the heavens, acknowledging Hanuman’s new role as the
eternal guardian. The Sarayu River seemed to hum with divine energy, its waters
swirling in reverence.
Hanuman’s Vow
Hanuman bowed deeply, his heart now
resolute. “O Rama, I accept this blessing not for my glory but for the sake of
your divine will. I vow to remain on this earth, chanting your name, protecting
your devotees, and upholding dharma until the end of Kali Yuga. My life, my
breath, my very soul belong to you.”
Rama embraced Hanuman, a rare gesture
that filled the vanara with indescribable bliss. “Go forth, Hanuman,” Rama
said. “Be the light in the darkness, the strength in the weak, and the hope in
the despairing. Whenever my name is called with true devotion, you shall
answer.”
As Rama stepped into the waters of the
Sarayu, followed by Lakshmana, and others, Hanuman stood on the bank, his eyes
fixed on his Lord until the waters enveloped him. The river glowed with a
divine radiance, and then all was still. Rama had returned to Vaikuntha, but
Hanuman’s mission had just begun.
Hanuman’s Eternal
Journey
With the chiranjeevi blessing coursing
through him, Hanuman felt an unshakable strength and clarity. His body, already
powerful, seemed to hum with divine energy. He could sense the pulse of the
earth, the cries of the righteous, and the whispers of Rama’s name across the
ages. He vowed to live simply, shunning pride and worldly desires, appearing
only to those who called upon Rama with pure hearts.
In the centuries that followed,
Hanuman became a silent guardian. In the Dwapara Yuga, he appeared in the
forests of Vrindavan, bowing to Lord Krishna, another incarnation of Vishnu,
and aiding the Pandavas during the Mahabharata war. He sat atop Arjuna’s
chariot, protecting it with his presence, his tail curled around the flag
bearing his own image. Yet, he never sought recognition, vanishing into the
winds once his task was complete.
As Kali Yuga dawned, Hanuman’s role
grew even more vital. The world grew darker, with dharma waning under the
weight of greed and ignorance. Yet, wherever a devotee chanted “Jai Sri Ram,”
Hanuman was there—sometimes as a gust of wind, sometimes as a mysterious figure
aiding a lost soul, and sometimes as a surge of courage in the heart of the
righteous. Temples dedicated to him sprang up across the land, and his name
became synonymous with strength, loyalty, and devotion.
The Legacy of the
Chiranjeevi
To this day, it is said that Hanuman
roams the earth, his heart ever attuned to the name of Rama. In remote caves,
atop sacred mountains, or in the quiet corners of bustling cities, he
meditates, his lips moving in silent prayer. He appears to those who call upon
him with true devotion, granting strength to the weak, wisdom to the confused,
and protection to the oppressed. His chiranjeevi blessing ensures that he will
remain until the end of Kali Yuga, when the cycle of time turns once more, and
a new era dawns.
The tale of Hanuman’s blessing is not
just a story of divine favor but a reminder of the power of selfless devotion.
It teaches that true strength lies not in the body but in the heart that beats
for a higher purpose. Hanuman, the eternal devotee, carries Rama’s legacy
forward, a beacon of hope for all who seek the path of dharma.
Jai Sri Ram! Jai Hanuman!
