Lord Hanuman, is the perfect example of love and devotion that we must carry in our heart for God, by whatever name we call him, says OSWALD PEREIRA

In these days when true loyalty is hard to find, Lord Hanuman can show us the way and teach us what loyalty really means. When loyalty is traded for a price to be given in exchange for rewards, it becomes a commodity.

Bhakti for a higher place in the kingdom of heaven is not really devotion, but a trade off or bargain. On Hanuman Jayanti today, the life of the god or divine vanara is a beacon for the human race to understand the true meaning of devotion and loyalty.

Lord Hanuman is the Param Bhakt of Shri Ram. There is none who can take his place or match his love and devotion for Lord Ram.

Oswald Pereira

Brother Nakulananda, belonging to Paramahansa Yogananda’s Self-Realization Fellowship, in a blog has narrated a poignant story about Lord Hanuman’s devotion.

He says, “Everyone was wondering what Lord Rama was going to give his favourite disciple Hanuman for bringing Sita back to Rama, after vanquishing the demon king Ravana.”

Lord Ram gave Lord Hanuman a strand of pearls, which was very precious, because they were Sita’s, which she had given to Him when they were married, according to Brother Nakulananda.

“And so Hanuman went off into a corner by himself, and everybody was watching him.  And he looked at the pearls, shaking his head, and put it to his mouth, shaking his head, and he put the pearls to his ears and shook his head.

And finally Hanuman just broke the pearls and threw them on the floor. And everybody was looking in astonishment, ‘What is he doing?’

Lakshman walked over and said, “What are you doing, Hanuman? Don’t you know the value of these pearls? These were Sita’s. She had given them to Rama!”

This was unlike Lord Hanuman, who loved both Lord Ram and Maa Sita with his whole heart.

And then Hauman said, “But I looked at the pearls and I didn’t see the image of my Lord Ram. And I put them to my lips and I didn’t taste the sweetness of the fruit that would touch the feet of my Lord. And then I listened to them and I didn’t hear that sweet song of ‘Ram, Ram, Ram.’ He said, “These pearls didn’t remind me of my Lord at all. Of what value are they to me?”

Lakshman was further enraged, and he said, “You think you’re the only great devotee? What about all of us? We love Rama just as much as you.” He said, “I don’t even see you wearing an image of Rama on your chest.”

And that is when Hanuman took his fingernails and he tore open his chest. And there imprinted in his heart was an image of Lord Ram. He had imprinted that image inside of himself. He didn’t need anything in the exterior world because his guru was living right within him.”  

When your God is right in your heart, that, indeed, is true love and devotion, which no pearls or all of the world’s riches and power can replace.

Lord Hanuman, is, indeed, the perfect example of love and devotion that we must carry in our heart for God, by whatever name we call him.

Oswald Pereira, a senior journalist, has also written eight books, including The Newsroom Mafia, Chaddi Buddies, The Krishna-Christ Connexion, How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life and Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories. Oswald is a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and practises Kriya Yoga.

More Stories by Oswald Pereira

 (Featured Image Courtesy: Indiatoday.in)