Hanuman

He took no pleasure in the blossoming trees or the song of birds, flowers to him were mere frivolity and he only loved the streams because they seemed to him to sing a song which never varied in its mournfulness and because they were convenient receptacles for the floods of tears which he shed day after day.

His immediate attendants were Nala, Nila, Tara and Hanuman son of the wind.

When these intelligent animals saw Rama and his brother and noted the bows in their hands they took to flight hid themselves in a dark grove and seated themselves in a circle with their chins upon their knees to consider what was next to be done.

We have made a mistake to run away said the son of the wind for these mortals may be of use to us.

If your errand be as worthy as your bearing is gallant let me be your guide through this wood.

Lakshmana smiled to see a monkey in the dress of a hermit and made himself and his brother known to the son of the wind telling him that a hermit had recommended them to seek the help of Sugriva the king of the monkeys in the search for Sita.

Hanuman cast aside his cloak.

"'Sugriva is my sovereign,' he said.

He's not just a... person who carries people around he's also a stalwart opponent of evil and he has taken a liking to some of the animal mutant creatures on rift's earth and is especially the mutant animal birds because you know he's a bird person I think that's pretty cool.

One of the other more powerful gods is Hanuman, the Monkey King.

This one helped Rama... who was another avatar of Vishnu who's mentioned but is not detailed in this book, during several of his quests.

Rama is sort of, but not exactly, a Heracles-like figure who went on a number of adventures, and he encounters Hanuman, and Hanuman assists him, sort of, but not exactly, in the way that Gilgamesh is aided.

by the man-bull Endiku.

But Hanuman is a very wise character.

He's also very powerful.

Because he has assisted Rama, he has been... elevated and given extra power so this is another going back to we had a shout out earlier from implementer about how gods can gain power and apparently one of the ways that gods can gain power is it can be bestowed upon them by other gods so this is an this is something that hanuman at least has gained uh not maybe not necessarily his deity but his his power has risen as a matter of his actions.

Gods and demons heave together and can't move it an inch.

So, who's going to carry the whole mountain to the beach? Should we call Hanuman? No,

he's not needed.

Vishnu sends his giant eagle, Garud, who scoops up the entire mountain and flies it to the sea.

Angada targeted the heavily fortified southern gate.

Hanuman mounted a fierce attack on the western gate.

Rama and Lakshmana took command of the main army to attack the northern gate where Ravana himself was believed to be watching.

Before the commanders moved to their posts, Rama issued one vital order.

Their famous bows slipped from their helpless hands and fell into the dust.

A collective gasp of horror rippled through the Vanara ranks.

Hanuman, Sugriva and Angada rushed to the fallen princes, trying desperately to pry the slithering snakes off.

But the serpents sank the deadly fangs deeper whenever anyone touched them.

So, most...

My family had a connection with Lord Ram, Lord Rama, and my father had a connection with Lord Hanuman.

But it's what most Indian families have, you know? I think it's not really a spiritual thing, it's more like a religious thing.

Uh, but for me, it was something which I know clearly was about the spirit because as a child, I don't remember having a resonance with a certain god.

But now that I read up more and I'm very fascinated with Indian mythology because I feel like it's all about Indian archetypes.

Yes.

All about archetypes, you know? So for me, I also have a strong resonance now with Hanuman, with Lord Hanuman, because you know, he stands for courage and devotion.

And I think when you've been on this path for a long time, you know, you get tested a lot and you have a lot of things that happen y- you know, which require you to step into devotion and courage at the same time.

Like Radharani, Srimati Radharani in Kurukshetra is really the classic, classic example.

And Gop Kumar, first in Vaikuntha, then in Yoja, and so intimate, more intimate with Ramachandra and Hanuman and all the associates, and there's something personal going on, but at the same sense, it's not the full manifestation of that person whom he loves.

And Ramachandra being compassionate, This is our faith.

Our faith is that our Lord is following us around.