Hanuman's Influence on Yoga Asanas
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
the assistance of his army and chief demon Simhika who had the power to a lengthy search, Hanuman managed HANUMAN'S INFLUENCE counselor Hanuman. hold a person by his shadow. Hanuman to locate Sita in a glorious garden called Hanuman’s giant leap from the first thought of trying to use his Ashok Vatika and identified himself ON YOGA ASANAS southern shore of India to Lanka strength to fly away but soon realized as Rama's emissary of by showing her in search of Sita is symbolized by the futility of the effort; he realized Rama’s ring. Sita was overjoyed to learn MAYANK DHINGRA Hanumanasana. that he would have to go back and that Rama was searching for her high The Sundarkand section of the reclaim his shadow. As he flew towards and low but refused to let Hanuman Ramayana describes Hanuman’s leap: Simhika, she opened her mouth to carry her back to safety, as it would "In order to travel through the skies grab him. Hanuman again reduced his be a disgrace to Rama to win her back quickly, Hanuman, who had the power size at the last minute and went inside through such surreptitious means rather to increase his size at will, assumed Simhaka’s mouth and came back out by than defeating Ravana in war. a body of immense proportions. So slashing her vital organs. He was then Hanuman decided to meet Ravana great was the momentum of his leap able to continue his journey without to offer him a chance at peace. He that he carried along with him trees further incident and reach Lanka. realized the only way he could manage n Indian sacred scriptures, Hanuman inauspicious planet responsible for by fire. Surya gave him twosiddhi s in full blossom uprooted by the force. In Anjaneyasana, as we straighten an audience with Ravana was to Iis revered as the monkey-faced deity solar eclipses, was approaching the sun of yoga namely laghima and garima, Covered with different blossoms, buds the leading leg and feel the first stretch draw attention to himself; he started famous for his strength and devotion to swallow it. Hanuman clashed with enabling him to shrink or enlarge his and sprouts, Hanuman resembled to the hamstrings, it is tempting to uprooting the trees in Ashok Vatika and to Lord Rama. Hanuman was not only Rahu and defeated him. A wounded form at will. Seeing his godson receive a mountain himself. Soon the trees just stay there and go no further since destroying the garden. a central character in the Ramayana Rahu approached Indra, the king of so many auspicious blessings, Pavan- following Hanuman and the blossoms the rear leg is providing necessary Ravana’s solders tried to capture but also featured in the Mahabharata the devas, to help him. Indra set off on deva relented and returned to earth fell off into the sea making the ocean stability and comfort – similar to how Hanuman but were defeated. – the two famous epics of India which Airavata, his white elephant mount, to along with Hanuman. look even more beautiful." Hanuman’s journey was interrupted Ravana then sent his youngest son are classified as itihasas under the smriti deal with Hanuman. Anjaneyasana (anjaneya means son Seeing Hanuman flying across the by Mainaka who offered him a place Akshayakumara to detain Hanuman genus. Several yogasanas too are linked Hanuman knew no fear; as Indra of Anjana) is dedicated to this story of ocean, the ocean king asked Mainaka, to rest and tempted him with fresh but Akshayakumara was killed in the to the events in Hanuman’s life. approached, he took hold of Airavata’s Hanuman and represents his lunge to the mountain hidden under the seas, to fruits and food. But just as Hanuman ensuing battle. An enraged Ravana According to legend, Hanuman was trunk and was about to fling him when grab the sun. Hanuman took a powerful surface and provide relief to Hanuman brushed away the offer and stayed on asked his strongest son, Indrajit, to go born into the apelike humanoid race an enraged Indra threw his weapon, the jump to reach the sun and similarly, on by offering him a place to rest. course the practitioner has to continue defeat Hanuman. of Vanaras. His father, Kesari, was a vajra, at Hanuman. The thunderbolt a physical level, the aspirant should Hanuman, who had taken a vow not ahead. After a prolonged battle Indrajit monkey chief and his mother, Anjana, struck Hanuman on his jaw and he fell enjoy a powerful stretch in the asana. to stop until he reached Lanka, politely As you lift the knee of the rear leg managed to capture Hanuman by using was an apsara who was reborn as a back towards the earth unconscious. On a metaphysical level, the quest declined Mainaka’s offer. off the floor you encounter your first the divine weapon Brahmastra, which monkey as the result of a curse. Sage This is how Hanuman got the name for the sun can be understood as the The devas were very impressed ‘monster’ and you realize muscling bound Hanuman. Hanuman was in fact Agastya, Lord Shiva and Pavan-deva, most commonly associated with him pursuit of the spiritual source of energy with Hanuman’s commitment but your way through will only lead to immune to the powers of Brahmastra the wind god, played key roles in (hanuman means broken jaw). and life. Soon after leaping for the sun, decided to test his determination for injury. You need to start using your but out of deference to Brahma allowed the events leading up to the birth of Pavan-deva was furious at how Hanuman asked Surya, the Sun God, themselves. They asked Surasa, the intuitive intelligence. Just as Hanuman himself to be caught. Hanuman. grievously Hanuman had been injured; to be his spiritual preceptor. Likewise, mother of serpents, to take the dreadful shrank himself, you need to make On reaching Ravana’s court, Sage Agastya, pleased by Anjana’s he whisked him away and hid in a as the adept spreads his hands towards form of a female rakshasa and try to micro-adjustments to go further and Hanuman requested a seat befitting hospitality when he visited as a guest, cave in the netherworld. The world the sky in the pose he should seek a obstruct Hanuman's way. overcome this obstacle. the messenger of a king. A furious granted Anjana the boon to have a was bereft of air and the devas grew greater understanding of the self. Surasa, opening her mouth wide, And finally to complete the journey, Ravana refused to offer him a seat or mighty son who would be remembered alarmed. They approached Pavan-deva tried to eat Hanuman. Hanuman your thighs have to meet their shadows treat him as a royal emissary. Hanuman for his valor and service. He asked to seek his pardon. Pavan-deva was Hanumanasana immediately doubled his size. Surasa reflected below, just as Hanuman had remained unperturbed. He lengthened Kesari and Anjana to pray to Lord not in a mood to forgive and rebuked in turn increased her size to match to reclaim his shadow from Simhika. and coiled his tail, making a seat for Shiva to realize this blessing. Lord the devas for the excessive use of force hen Hanuman finished his his. Hanuman again increased his This last obstacle is the trickiest to himself. Hanuman’s seat was lofty and Shiva in turn was so delighted with against a small child. Wstudies with Surya he asked him size; this back and forth increase in overcome and requires patience and placed him higher than Ravana. This their devotion that he decided to be To appease Pavan, the devas offered what Guru-dakshina he could offer, size continued for a while. Finally, further micro-adjustments. Once angered Ravana even more and he reincarnated as their son; Pavan-deva to bless Hanuman with extraordinary how he could repay him. Surya asked when Surasa increased the size of her the practitioner has mastered this asked his soldiers to move his throne helped carry a magical fruit and land it powers. Indra blessed him with bodily him to go live with his son Sugriva and mouth to accommodate a Hanuman of last hurdle, he/she can continue with to a higher position. In response in Anjana’s lap to complete the cycle set strength and immunity to the effects help him. Sugriva, together with a few ninety yojanas (about 72 miles high), relative ease and raise the hands off the Hanuman made his tail grow longer, in motion and fulfill the boon. of the vajra (thunderbolt) weapon. followers, was hiding in the forest from Hanuman swiftly shrank himself to floor to complete the ‘journey’. this game continued for a while and Brahma gave Hanuman two boons: he his brother Vali, with whom he had the size of a human thumb, flew into at the same time Hanuman made an Anjaneyasana would be protected from any weapon had a falling out over kingship. While her mouth and out from her ear, before Utkatasana impassioned plea to Ravana to return in war and be able to change his form at in the service of Sugriva, Hanuman she could react. Surasa, very impressed Sita and make peace with Rama. By s a child Hanuman had a voracious will. From Shiva he obtained the boons met Ram and Lakshman who were with Hanuman’s intelligent handling hen Hanuman entered Lanka he this time Ravana was livid and asked Aappetite and Anjana had a difficult of longevity, scriptural wisdom and also in exile and searching for Rama’s of the situation, gave her blessings for Wwas surprised to see the splendor his soldiers to kill Hanuman.