CHAPTER 48 THREE EGOS AND HANUMANJI

yàvadràma kathà vì charisyati mahìtale tàvacchharìre vatsyantu prànà mama na samsayah

--Valmiki Ramayan

Hanumanji promised Sri Ram:

"My Lord, as long as Your mind-sanctifying, heart-enlivening, life-culturing pastimes are sung on the earth, so long will My body also survive, and Your glorification alone will be the basis of My survival, My Master."

Hanumanji maintained His body according to that promise. But then when the Silver Age of one million two hundred ninety-six thousand solar years had passed and the Copper Age started for eight hundred sixty-four thousand solar years and human values began to deteriorate, Hanumanji left the plains and entered the Himalayan wilderness.

Many astral yogis say that our world, which modern man believes to be the whole world, is part of a bigger earth and there exists more beautiful countries and mysterious dimensions of the earth beyond the North Pole. One part of that subtle world is called Kimpurush varsa. It is the center of Sri Hanumanji's permanent residence and worldwide activities. He has been closely related to the three main esoteric astral ashrams of the Himalayas -Siddhashram, Jnanaashram and Yogashram. Almost all the astral yogis are aware of His large scale benevolent activities for mankind, which have been unfailingly going on for one million years.

Although His main center is Kimpurusa Varsa, beyond the North Pole, the second center is Kajalivana in the Himalayas, He is free to materialize Himself anywhere at any moment and play the role of a valuable protector for those who are surrendered to the Holy Name of Shri Sita Ram.

At the end of the Copper Age, Hanumanji appeared on the screen again when Lord Krishna was handling the destiny of the earth five thousand years ago, residing in the city of Dvarka at the shore of the Arabian Ocean. Lord Krishna was a great philosopher, as well as a prophet of love. Krishna wanted everyone to realize the Absolute Truth by making others merge in the transcendental love of His Holy Name, Form, Abode, and Pastimes --which are all Divine, so he loved his gopis and gopas, his friend Arjuna, Uddhava and innumerable other fortunate souls.

But at times, the tragedy behind his love was that, a few selected ones whom he loved, instead of transcending body consciousness and ego and universalizing themselves in Lovetrance, got puffed up, their ego was fed.

You already know Krishna was not merely an ignorant blind lover. He was a deep and practical prophet. He never wanted to see any of his beloved friends as egoists.

He had to seek every available situation to break the egos of his beloved ones, and they would find their egos broken and melt into a liquidity, into the watery Personality of true love or Lovetrance state of consciousness. The Mahabharatam records all those incidents of how Krishna used to kill many birds with a single stone. He did this with Arjuna, to whom he delivered the knowledge of the Bhagavadgita. He did this with Uddhava. He did not even spare his own wife.

Now there were three candidates whom Krishna loved and who became all puffed up with pride. It is quite natural that, if a Krishna-like personality loved someone it would be always intensive, and those whom he loves would feel very fortunate and feel that he was the only one and the greatest one. So simultaneously with the love, a barrier was being created which was against Krishna's message. So by his own mercy, by his own compassion, Krishna had to do something like an operation. And it used to be a severe operation at times. And in such moments their love was tested.

Satyabhama, one of Krishna's main eight wives, was extremely beautiful and Krishna loved her tremendously, innocently, but with great intensity. One day in deep love moments, she asked Krishna Sita, on whose separation Sri Ram had wept and tormented over so much in the jungles, was more beautiful than herself? Krishna knew that she had gotten puffed up. His invincible carrier Garuda, who was able to fly with the speed of light, and Sudarshan Chakra, who was able to burn even the fire into ashes, these friends also had become swollen with pride and ego.

One day Hanumanji was enjoying Himself at the valley of Mandarachala, east of Mount Meru. He felt that Lord Krishna is remembering Him. He paid attention and He heard an echoing voice of Krishna.

"Hanumanji, many years have passed and You have not tasted the fruits of my royal garden frequently. When will the fruits be successful by being eaten by You? Come and see me quickly." A clear voice erupted in the heart of Hanumanji.

Krishna's wish was the most urgent work for Hanumanji, so He flew faster than the speed of light. He crossed about two hundred forty-nine thousand miles within a few minutes and entered the fort of Dvarka. He assumed a huge monkey form and entered the royal garden and began to eat delicious fruits. By jumping from one tree to another He began to break the branches, and by His shaking the trees, all the fruits fell to the earth.

The guards rushed in and saw Hanumanji. Such an enormous form, they were afraid to face Him, so they ran to Krishna and conveyed the message.

Krishna was very happy to hear the news and said to Garuda, who was standing nearby,

"A Monkey has come from somewhere. He is eating the fruits, breaking the branches and destroying our royal garden. Go instantly and bring Him here to me!" And Krishna smiled.

The smiles of great philosophers and great saints include great mysteries within them. Insensitive people miss the mystery behind the smile of Krishna; thus they miss a great joy of life. To become sensitive to the serene smiles and mannerless laughters of a spiritual master is a great accomplishment in the spiritual field.

Garuda was a great personality. He had conquered the planet Svah single-handed. He was a great power and also great in knowledge, but still he missed it:

hàso janonmàdakari cha màyàm

Krishna's laughter is the source of great alluring energy. It infatuates

one. Garuda flew into the royal garden and asked Sri Hanumanji rudely, "Why are You destroying the garden?" "I am just eating fruits. Please don't disturb Me!" Hanumanji replied

and kept eating as if Garuda was a nobody. "Let us go. Lord Krishna wishes to speak with You," Garuda ordered. "What have I got to do with your Lord Krishna? I am not going." That

omniscient spirit, Krishna, was inspiring Hanumanji to break down the ego

of Garuda. "Are you coming or not? Don't You know my name is Garuda? " "I have seen many birds," Hanumanji said, and kept on eating fruit. Several times He saved Himself from the violent attacks of Garuda.

When it was too much He looked at Garuda, caught him with His mighty tail,

and wrapped him all around in it. When He tightened the bondage --Garuda screamed and said, "Please excuse me!" Hanumanji freed Garuda and then Garuda adoringly requested again, "Sir, I am sorry for my rude behavior. I came to invite You. Lord

Krishna Himself wishes to see You. Please accompany me." "Sri Ram is My Master. What have I to do with Krishna?" Hanumanji still refused to go,

"Sri Ram Himself has come in this Age in the form of Krishna. Do You know this?" Garuda asked.

"I know it. Still My heart is sacrificed to the lotus-eyed, long-armed, Olympian form of Sri Ram. I believe the whole universe is the manifestation of Himself. All forms are His forms, but I love His original Sri Ram form. I am ananya. I have nothing to do with His other forms," Hanumanji peacefully replied.

"You will have to go," Garuda roared.

"You being a bird, why don't you understand that monkeys, birds and chipmunks have a natural right to these fruits. Please do not disturb Me. Let Me eat fruits," and He threw some fruits before Garuda as He began His eating job again.

Garuda then played a trick by catching Him from the back, hoping to arrest Him, but Hanumanji swiftly caught him by the wings and threw him far away in the high waves of the ocean.

"Hooray! How do you do, Garuda? I sent you to the royal garden to fetch the Vanara and I find you had been to take a sea bath. What is the matter?" Lord Krishna said and laughed whole heartedly, for he had developed the habit of enjoying the troubles of puffed-up people. Garuda was ashamed. He guessed that Krishna knew everything. His great ego was broken. He said in a trembling tone,

"My Lord, the Vanara is extremely powerful. I am unable to bring Him forcibly."

"Well, now go and say that Sri Ram wants to see You," Lord Krishna ordered Garuda.

He called to Sudarshan Chakra, "Just stand at the gate of my palace and don't allow any new visitor to come in."

Then he called the Queen Satyabhama and said,

"I am adorning myself as Lord Ram. You must adorn yourself as Empress Sita and come quickly. Sit beside me on the throne because Hanumanji is coming. Please make up carefully." After completing His breakfast, Hanumanji was just resting under a tree when Garuda came again, saluted Him, and very humbly requested, in the palace of Dvarka, Lord Ram is waiting for You. Won't You please come? "

"I am coming. You just start," said Hanumanji.

"It would be quicker if You could sit on my back. Otherwise, You will be very late." Naturally Garuda wished to show his fast speed to Hanumanji.

"I don't accept any vehicle. I shall try to reach him soon," Hanumanji was very conscious of His way of service. Being a humble Servant, how could He sit on the seat of His own Lord?

Garuda felt bitter and rejected, but he quietly returned. He was already frightened of this strange fellow. He flew away.

Hanumanji arrived at the gate and Sudarshan chakra stopped him.

"It is the matter I am telling you about. My Lord has called Me and you are preventing Me from going in?"

"No, the Lord is not available now. You have to wait." As in most situations, a big man's secretary talks in the same tone the ego's tone is always the same. Vanity's echo is qualitatively always the same.

Hanumanji caught him by His mighty hands and kept him in His own armpit, and when He pressed him a little Sudarshan Chakra cried, "I am dead. Please no more. Please spare me for God's sake!"

Hanumanji loosened His armpit and laughed,

"With this little power you were so puffed-up?" and He walked straight away in and fell down at the feet of Lord Krishna, who was sitting there in the form of Lord Ram.

Lord Krishna laughed and blessed Him and they both talked for sometime.

Then Hanumanji turned His eyes to the left and asked the Lord,

"Where is Mother Sita? Who is this maid servant whom the Lord has given so much credit by allowing her to sit at His left?"

As Satyabhama heard this remark, her vanity about her beauty was totally smashed. She got up from her seat and ran down inside the gynaeceum and said sobbingly to Rukmini,

"Your Hanuman has come and He calls me a maidservant. Go and see Him!"

"Where is He?" Rukmini rushed out and there she saw Hanumanji. Hanumanji fell flat at her feet and she was petting His head with her palms.

"Hanuman, did anyone stop You at the door?" Lord Krishna asked smilingly.

"Oh, yes, My Lord, this tiny creature would not allow me inside, even knowing that I had been called by you," Hanumanji said as He removed Sudarshan Chakra from His armpit.

Ashamed, Sudarshan Chakra was unable to raise his head. He now totally surrendered to the will of the Lord.

"And I sent Garuda to help You in arriving here?" Krishna asked.

"Its a waste of time to choose such a low-speed weak bird for a vehicle in My presence. My Lord, I am already at your disposal," Hanumanji replied.

At the same time Garuda came in and he saw that Hanumanji had already arrived. As he heard the last sentence uttered by Hanumanji, he totally melted. His ego was totally smashed and a unique humility flowed from his Being. And that is what Krishna wanted.

All philosophers, saints and yogis want only liquid egos. This is the point from which the joy and festivity of life begins.