- Original Kannada : Vidway Sri Sagri Raghavendra Upadhaya
- Translation : Pushkar Parthukudi
Amongst the many extraordinary feats achieved by the devotee Anjaneya, the most notable ones are crossing the sea that was about 100 yojanas vast to locate Seeta devi in Ashokavana and carrying the Gandhamadanagiri to bring back to consciousness the monkeys that had fainted as a ramification of the weapon that was shot by Indrajit during the war of Ramayana. During the implementation of the aforementioned two feats, there was neither a single moment that passed by nor a single step taken where in Shri Anjaneya did not have devotional perseverance (anusandhaana) towards the Lord. However, such devotional perseverance goes unrecognized by the commoner. Amongst many such anusandhaanas, the above two are the ones that are quoted in shaastras and are also exemplary with respect to the commoner.
Shri Anjaneya, before crossing the sea, initiates devotion towards Shri Rama by chanting the attributional (gunaanusandhana) qualities of Shri Raama:
” रामाय शाश्वतसुविस्तृतषड्गुणाय सर्वेश्वराय बलवीर्यमहार्णवाय नत्वा . . . . . “
” rāmāya śāśvatasuvistṛtaṣaḍguṇāya sarveśvarāya balavīryamahārṇavāya natvā…. “
Shri Madhvacharya has quoted the above shloka in his famous work Shri Mahaabharatataatparyanirnaya and has attributed three special qualities to Shri Rama. Shri Madhvacharya bows to that Lord Shri Rama in whom the three special attributes reside. Shri Anjaneya excogitates those qualities before initiating or surmounting any feat.
sarveśvarā: Shri Anjaneya is out there to fulfill Shri Raama’s deed and indeed in the process he seeks the blessings of Shri Raama who is known to be the Sarveshvara. A person cannot be called Sarveshvara just because he is an emperor to the mankind. “Eesha” here tells us that he is worthy and superlative than the other deities such as Chaturmakha Brahma etc.
śāśvata suvistṛta ṣaḍguṇāya: Shri Raama rightly deserves the superlative Sarveshvara and to elucidate the pre-conceptions regarding the same, Shri Madhvacharya has quoted another adjective Shaashvatasuvistrutashadgunaaya to Shri Rama. Since Shri Raama has the superior attributional qualities, he is the Sarveshvara. As quoted in Bhagavata (1-18-20), ‘anyatamo mukundaat ko naama loke bhagavatpadaarthaha’, the Almighty is all eternal Bhagavan and hence His attributional qualities are superior to all others. ‘Sakshaattu bhagavaan harihi, nirapekshyam tu saamagryam tasya sarvaadhkam yataha’ is quoted in Bhagavata taatparya nirnaya (11-16-29). Though the other deities apart from the Sarveshvara possess the wealth required for them to be called ‘Bhagavat’, only the eternal omnipresent Almighty shall possess the absolute and permanent opulence (wealth) which is infinite and unconquerable by others. Hence, he is known as Shaashvatasuvistrutashadguna.
balavīryamahārṇavāya: Regarding the pre-conception as to why the Almighty possesses such infinite wealth, Shri Madhvacharya provides us with another superlative Balaveeryamahaarnavaaya. When ‘Bhagavat’ word is split, we get ‘Bhaga’ as the first few letters. The Almighty stands vindicated as an ocean in front of ‘Bhaga’, an opulent attributional quality (aishwarya guna) and ‘Bala’ (strength), another superlative attributional quality (guna). ‘Udadhi’ and ‘Ambonidhi’ are two water bodies which are subsets of a superset called ocean. In the same way, the attributional qualities (gunas) of the Lord are the superset to the characteristics (gunas) of all other deities and demi-gods.
‘tadgunaanaam supoornaanaam viplutkam pratibimbitam |
shreerbhunkte tadgunaan brahmaa tasya rudraadayopi cha ||’
The above quotation from Brihadbhaashya states that Almighty’s attributional characteristics (gunas) are at the source of all our qualities and whatever characteristics we experience is just a reflection of the Lord’s qualities and characteristics. Hence, Shri Anjaneya’s devotional perseverance towards Lord Shri Raama includes the above three superlatives mainly the wealth related qualities, strength related qualities and the supremacy over the universe “tam yatha yathopaasate tadeva bhavati”. Since Shri Anjaneya required such qualities and characteristics, be it while crossing the ocean to locate Seeta devi in Ashokavana or bringing the mighty Gandhamaadanagiri, it is only justice that he prays Lord and perceives the Almighty Lord Shri Raama with such superlatives so that the same be bestowed upon him as a reflection (pratibimba) of the thoughts and prayers offered at the lotus feet of Lord Shri Raama. Even otherwise in our mundane lives, if we need to achieve something great, we have to set goals and pray to the Almighty with such devotional perseverance (anusandhaana) so that our aims and goals are met with success through the reflection (pratibimba) of our prayers and hard work.
Raaghavaanghrou pranatamapi: During the war of Ramayana, when the entire vaanara army (army of monkeys) were beleaguered to Indrajit’s warfare, Jaambavanta commanded Shri Anjaneya to bring the 100 yojanas’ distant Gandhamaadanagiri to Lanka to resuscitate them. Shri Anjaneya dedicates this to the lotus feet of Shri Raamachandra as is stated in Shri Harivaayustuti by Shri Trivikrama Panditacharyaru: “Raaghavaanghrou pranatamapi….” In this way, Shri Anjaneya offers his anonymous achievement to Shri Raamachandra.
The following is his anusandhaana while offering the same : During the samudramathana (churning of ocean), deadly poison known as kaalakootavisha is swallowed by Lord Shiva (Rudra) and hence due to this, the Almighty Lord Shri Hari is pleased as Lord Rudra saved the world from the deadly poison of Kaalakoota. In the same way, when Shri Anjaneya resuscitated the army of monkeys from the medicines present in Gandhamaadanagiri, the monkeys are pleased knowing the fact that they lived to see another day due to Shri Anjaneya. This, in turn shall please the antaryaami (bimba) roopa present in all of them who is none other than our Almighty, Lord Shri Ramachandra.
In this way, the devotional path and perseverance followed by Shri Anjaneya where in each and every step of the anonymous feats achieved by him, Lord Shri Raamachandra’s goodwill and sankalpa is preserved, is present and the same is offered to His lotus feet so that He is pleased all the time.
Even in our lives, when we wish goodwill to some of our friends, families or loved ones. We need to take care that it is not just their good that is expected but also the objective should be such that their antaryami, the omnipresent, omnipotent Almighty is pleased by the goodwill that we have wished.
