RamarpaNam 378 => 380.

Jai Sri Ram.

Hanuman meets Rama :

When an Aspirant for Refuge approaches an Acharya with all earnestness and sincerity, He without examining too closely, initiates him to nearness of God. In fact according to Scriptures there are strictly no qualifications for Refuge. This is called gataka-krutyam. One may ask why a middle man like an Acharya is needed when a Prapanna has the choice to approach God directly. But that may work for him or may not, as it is the hand-shake mode while through an Acharya, it is a never failing, foot-lock mode.

Hanuman does the act of an Acharya by finding Seetha and uniting Her with Lord Rama, who is His Soul mate as well. An Acharya should possess Wisdom and sterling Character of practising what he preaches. Gnjna, Sakthi & good Conduct are the integral acumen of Hanuman and His greatness is getting revealed in the ensuing sargas fully:

At the request of Sugreeva, Hanuman approaches Rama and Lakshmana in the disguise of a sanyasi. This shata budhi (absence of ruju budhi) at the introduction of Hanuman in this sarga paints a bad picture about him. In fact the reason to change his original form to that of an Ascetic is perhaps Rama and Lakshmana themselves appeared in self-contradicting personage. They are wielding bow and arrows like hunters but give the look of Kings or Emperors. Sporting the dress and hair style of an ascetic are strolling looking for some body or a lost thing. Sugreeva had suspicion abut them and doubted it to be one of enemy's tactics, and advised Hanuman not to approach them in his original monkey form.

Rama and Lakshmana also had every reason to doubt the entry of Hanuman in the guise of an ascetic, in such forlorn place. But Hanuman by his words and expressions stands tall proving him to be the cleverest of the clever, a supreme scholar, and a unique character.

Rama is eulogised by Valmiki as ''vAgmi ShreemAn'' , ''poorva bhAshi'' ''smita bhAshi'' etc. for His soft spoken and down to earth approach with others. That Rama is now flabbergasted and remained speech-less to what Hanuman said and narrated.

Their lengthy hands, and spherical shoulders similar to clubs are worthy of decoration with every kind of ornament, but why they are undecorated - He asked. There are three kinds of explanations given by Swami PeriyaVachan Pillai, Thani Sloka Vyakyanakartha, to what Hanuman queried.

1. Perhaps the ornaments would lessen the brilliance of their personage, dis-inflicting evil eyes.

2. Rather the ornaments would be beautified, instead of they beautifying the two.

3. The beauty of the Lord is the last of His weapons to beseech a hard-liner, and Hanuman doubts whether he is one among those hard-nuts to be cracked by revealing His beauty in its entirety.

He then reveals himself and tells about who he is, why he has come and what they are looking for etc. Hearing all those words said by Hanuma, Rama is pleased and speaking high of Hanuman, requests Lakshmna to give a fitting reply.

Hanuman's training, schooling and knowledge are well appreciated by Rama in this. The knower of Rig Veda will attain humility and obedience. The knower of Yjur Veda will have good remembrance. The knower of Saama Veda will be the ultimate in Studiousness, inquisitiveness and be repository of knowledge. The subsidiary scriptures of Veda-s, like, vyaakarana, nirukta, sikhsha,chandas are revealed in his speech. Truly the non-knower of these can not speak with sweet voice, articulated syllables, properly breaking the words, be quick and confident, ensuring rhythmic delivery, the six best qualities of recitation.

Hanuman in no doubt is one among such speakers.

Rama, as if minding the protocol aspect, requests Lakshmna, His minister-designate, to give a fitting reply to what ever Hanuman said and queried, He happens to be the incarnation of the 1000-tongued Adhi-Sesha.