Hanuman is one the character who appeared in both of the great epics – the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Hanuman was blessed by Ram to be cheeranjivi, i.e. to be immortal. We know much involvement and appearance of Hanuman in the epic of the Ramayana. However the appearnce of Hanuman in the Mahabharata is lesser known.
Let’s read, the fact of appearance of Hanuman in the Mahabharata in two different episodes with in the time frame of the Mahabharata. The first episode of Hanuman’s appearance in the Mahabharata, is most probably the well-known incident, when Bhim meets Hanuman for the first time. Bhim and Hanuman were brothers, as they were born of the same father, Vayu, the wind God. Once during the exile of the Pandavas, Draupadi asked for the Sughandika flower or the flower with the celestial fragrance. Bhim went into the jungle to get the flower for Draupadi. On the way, he found an old monkey lying with his tail blocking the way. Bhim haughtily asked the old monkey to move its tail. The only monkey which was actually Hanuman, asked him to do it himself, if it was bothering him. Bhim tried to move the tail, but couldn’t move it even an inch. After trying it for lot of times Bhim understood that the monkey was no ordinary monkey. He bent on his knees and asked him to introduce himself. Hanuman then appeared with his real and usual form. Bhim then sought pardon from him. This is considered as lesson of humility for an otherwise arrogant and aggressive Bhim.
Let’ read the next episodeof Hanuman's appearance in the Mahabharata. However it is is relatively lesser known one. Once at Rameshwaram, while looking at the Ramsetu, the bridge built by Ram with the help of Hanuman and his group of monkeys. Arjun commented as to what made Rama to take the help of monkeys to build a bridge when he could have built a bridge of arrows all by himself. Hanuman appeared and challenged him to build a bridge of arrows, which could just about hold the weight of one monkey. Arjuna accepted the challenge, and started building a bridge of arrows, in which he was extremely efficient at. However Hanuman managed to destroy every bridge by just one step of his on the arrow. Looking into the situation of cold war between Hanuman and Arjun, Lord Vishnu appeared and chided both of them. He rebuked, Arjun for challenging the mighty Hanuman and Hanuman for making Arjun feel so mere and insignificant, that he was contemplating taking his own life in shame.Because of to this situation and on his act of humiliating Arjuna, Hanuman felt extremely sorry and promised to help Arjun during the forthcoming war of Kurukshetra.
Later during the war, of Kurukshetra he sat at the top of Arjun’s chariot, in the form of a flag, thus giving the chariot a sense of stability. At the end of the war, Lord Sri Krishna asked Arjun, to get off the chariot first, which was completely against the war protocol. As soon as he did, Lord Sri Krishna followed and then came down Hanuman and after bowing to Lord Sri Krishna, he vanished. No sooner had he vanished, the chariot was up in flames and reduced to ashes. A shocked Arjun was at a loss of words. Lord Sri Krishna explained that the chariot had withheld all the celestial weapons hurled at them, thanks only to Hanuman and him, the only two who could withstand the negative effects of such deadly weapons. If they had dismounted first, then he along with the chariot would have been reduced to ashes, long ago! He couldn’t have continued in the war so far.
Both the episode of Hanuman in Mahabharata teaches a great lesson of humility and gratitude to Pandav brothers. Never the less both lesson are also applicable for mankind. And another message of keeping promise. thats what Hanuman did, he kept his promise to safeguard Arjun, the word that he once said.
Hanuman was blessed by Ram to be cheeranjivi, i.e. to be immortal. We know much involvement and appearance of Hanuman in the epic of the Ramayana. However the appearnce of Hanuman in the Mahabharata is lesser known.
Let’s read, the fact of appearance of Hanuman in the Mahabharata in two different episodes with in the time frame of the Mahabharata. The first episode of Hanuman’s appearance in the Mahabharata, is most probably the well-known incident, when Bhim meets Hanuman for the first time. Bhim and Hanuman were brothers, as they were born of the same father, Vayu, the wind God. Once during the exile of the Pandavas, Draupadi asked for the Sughandika flower or the flower with the celestial fragrance. Bhim went into the jungle to get the flower for Draupadi. On the way, he found an old monkey lying with his tail blocking the way. Bhim haughtily asked the old monkey to move its tail. The only monkey which was actually Hanuman, asked him to do it himself, if it was bothering him. Bhim tried to move the tail, but couldn’t move it even an inch. After trying it for lot of times Bhim understood that the monkey was no ordinary monkey. He bent on his knees and asked him to introduce himself. Hanuman then appeared with his real and usual form. Bhim then sought pardon from him. This is considered as lesson of humility for an otherwise arrogant and aggressive Bhim.
Let’ read the next episodeof Hanuman's appearance in the Mahabharata. However it is is relatively lesser known one. Once at Rameshwaram, while looking at the Ramsetu, the bridge built by Ram with the help of Hanuman and his group of monkeys. Arjun commented as to what made Rama to take the help of monkeys to build a bridge when he could have built a bridge of arrows all by himself. Hanuman appeared and challenged him to build a bridge of arrows, which could just about hold the weight of one monkey. Arjuna accepted the challenge, and started building a bridge of arrows, in which he was extremely efficient at. However Hanuman managed to destroy every bridge by just one step of his on the arrow. Looking into the situation of cold war between Hanuman and Arjun, Lord Vishnu appeared and chided both of them. He rebuked, Arjun for challenging the mighty Hanuman and Hanuman for making Arjun feel so mere and insignificant, that he was contemplating taking his own life in shame.Because of to this situation and on his act of humiliating Arjuna, Hanuman felt extremely sorry and promised to help Arjun during the forthcoming war of Kurukshetra.
Later during the war, of Kurukshetra he sat at the top of Arjun’s chariot, in the form of a flag, thus giving the chariot a sense of stability. At the end of the war, Lord Sri Krishna asked Arjun, to get off the chariot first, which was completely against the war protocol. As soon as he did, Lord Sri Krishna followed and then came down Hanuman and after bowing to Lord Sri Krishna, he vanished. No sooner had he vanished, the chariot was up in flames and reduced to ashes. A shocked Arjun was at a loss of words. Lord Sri Krishna explained that the chariot had withheld all the celestial weapons hurled at them, thanks only to Hanuman and him, the only two who could withstand the negative effects of such deadly weapons. If they had dismounted first, then he along with the chariot would have been reduced to ashes, long ago! He couldn’t have continued in the war so far.
Both the episode of Hanuman in Mahabharata teaches a great lesson of humility and gratitude to Pandav brothers. Never the less both lesson are also applicable for mankind. And another message of keeping promise. thats what Hanuman did, he kept his promise to safeguard Arjun, the word that he once said.
Great story from the pages of Mahabharat.Loves both the stories. I will agree to the fact that the stories inside are less known to people. Everyone must read it once and learn the lesson in the stories. Keep doing great job.
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