Hanuman’s Ramayan

Value: Love, Truth

Sub-Value: Devotion, Detachment

saibalsanskaar-creation

After Valmiki completed his Ramayana, Narada wasn’t impressed. ” It is good, but Hanuman’s is better,” he said.

“Hanuman has written the Ramayana too!” wondered Valmiki. But, he didn’t like this at all and pondered over whose Ramayana was better. Therefore, he set out to find Hanuman.

In Kadali-vana, grove of plantains, he found Ramayana inscribed on seven broad leaves of a banana tree.

He read it and found it to be perfect. The most exquisite choice of grammar and vocabulary, metre and melody. He couldn’t help himself. He started to cry.

“Is it so bad?” asked Hanuman.

“No, it is so good,” said Valmiki.

“Then why are you crying?” asked Hanuman.

“Because after reading your Ramayana no one will read my Ramayana,” replied Valmiki. Hearing this, Hanuman simply tore up the seven banana leaves stating, “Now no one will ever read Hanuman’s Ramayana.”

Valmiki was shocked to see this action of Hanuman and asked him why he did this; Hanuman said, “You need your Ramayana more than I need mine. You wrote your Ramayana so that the world remembers Valmiki;  wrote my Ramayana so that I remember Ram.”

At that moment Valmiki realized how he had been consumed by the desire for validation through his work. He had not used the work to liberate himself from the fear of invalidation. He had not appreciated the essence of Ram’s tale to unknot his mind.

Valmiki’s Ramayana was a product of ambition, but Hanuman’s Ramayana was a product of pure devotion and affection. That’s why Hanuman’s Ramayana was so much better.  Valmiki realized that “Greater than Ram, is the name of Ram!” (राम से बड़ा राम का नाम).

There are people like Hanuman who don’t want to be famous. They just do their jobs and fulfill their purpose. There are many unsung “Hanumans” in our life too, our spouse, mother, father, friends, let’s remember them, and be grateful to all.

In this world, where everyone is propagating his/ her work and seeking validation. Let’s just do our karma because the almighty God, he who matters, knows without telling him. In the end, it is actually just he who matters only.

Let’s sing His praises alone and stay blessed forever.

Learning

Devotion is one of the highest forms of emotion which when practiced in our daily life will bring transformation in us which helps us to become better human beings.

“Devotion has to be unintermittent, uninterrupted, like the flow of oil from one vessel to another.”– Sathya Sai Baba

Listen to the story now on podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498462/episodes/6612073

Also can be heard on apple and google podcasts as well as Spotify on our podcast ‘Sai Prem’