Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Story #14: Why did Hanuman protect Arjuna’s Chariot?



   We know that lord Hanuman was present and protected Arjuna’s chariot in the war of Mahabharata. Let's see the story behind it.

   Arjuna was once on a pilgrimage, touring the land with many saints. After covering various shrines, he reached Rameswaram. After worshipping the deity, he saw the bridge that was built by the vanara Sena.

   Arjuna looked amazed at the remains of the bridge that had survived. He wondered as why a great archer like Rama had to rely on creatures like monkeys and bears to build a bridge. Why didn't he bridged the distance with arrows. No one with him was able to answer.

   Then, a small monkey who had been following them laughed out and replied to his question. "Oh prince! are you aware of the might of the monkeys of old? No bridge of arrows could have withstood the weights of  Sugreeva, Nala, Neela, Angada, hanuman. Though I look very small,  no bridge of arrows could even withstand my weight"

   Arjuna was quick to take up what he perceived as an implied challenge and said if he isn't able to construct such a bridge he would burn himself.  The monkey readily agreed. 

   Arjuna, taking the aid of his famed quiver of inexhaustible arrows, laid down a bridge across the ocean. The monkey jumped onto it and no sooner had he taken two steps, the bridge collapsed.

   Arjuna asked for another try and did with even more knitted bridge,but failed miserably again. 

   True to his word, Arjuna got ready to burn himself.  That's when a little boy stopped him from doing so.  The little boy said without a judge a competition wouldn't be complete. He further said that, he would be judge and asked Arjuna to try again.

   Both the monkey and Arjuna accepted and Arjuna laid the bridge again. This time the bridge didn't collapse even after the monkey jumped on it.

   The monkey then grew up to enormous size that Arjuna and those others who where present there where awestruck. Very soon they realized that it was hanuman himself in the guise of little monkey.

   His foolishness in assuming that a bridge of arrows would bear warriors like Hanuman became quite apparent to him. He was humbled.

.  However, the bridge did not collapse. Not even under the weight of the now gigantic Hanuman. Arjuna could not comprehend what was happening. There seemed to be no logical explanation as to why the bridge hadn't broken yet. Apparently, Hanuman couldn't fathom things either. He began jumping on the bridge but it still wouldn't yield.

    All the while the little boy was smiling. In a moment of enlightenment, it struck both participants of the contest that their adjudicator was no ordinary boy.

   As soon as they realized, the little boy showed his real self of lord Vishnu.

   The Lord said "I protected your bridge from collapsing, Arjuna. May this be a lesson in humility for you. Hanuman, you should have known better than to humiliate Arjuna thus. He is a fine warrior, one of the best of his times. How could you drive him into giving up his life?" Arjuna and Hanuman sought the Lord's forgiveness and He blessed them.

   Hanuman as an act of remorse, promised to protect Arjuna's  chariot during the battle that was about to come.

Vishnu now in form of Krishna advised Hanuman to be on the flag of Arjuna during the war.

Belittling others is by itself a sin.  Before talking, one must put oneself in the other person's shoes and then talk.

Vishnave Namaha !! 

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