Puranas venerate Hanumanji as Vayu Putra , son of wind god. According to Vedas, space gives rise to vayu, air, from which agni, fire, is born. If vayu is the cause and agni, effect, then vayu is the father, and agni the son. Hence, in Vedic thought, Hanumanji embodies fire.
To say someone is 'on fire' implies that they are working with great inspiration. Fire is the source of heat, energy, dynamism, and brilliance - all qualities Hanumanji exemplifies. Moved by Sitaji 's sorrow, Hanumanji set Lanka ablaze. Known for his deep empathy, he is unable to witness the suffering of others. This is why, in Sankat Mochan , devotees pray: "O Hanumanji! You have performed great deeds for gods. You hold the key to all solutions. Please remove my troubles at once. Who does not know that you are Sankat Mochan - remover of all obstacles?"
Even Meghanada's Brahmastra could not harm Hanumanji, for Brahma had blessed him with immunity. Yet, to uphold the weapon's sanctity, Hanumanji pretended to fall unconscious, allowing himself to be captured. This was a strategic ploy - as he was dragged through Lanka's streets, he carefully mapped the entire city. In a sense, Hanumanji was the original creator of GPS.
Ravan was livid at this audacious monkey who had destroyed his beloved Ashok Vatika. He demanded the monkey's identity. With calm resolve, Hanumanji replied: "By an iota of whose mighty power you were able to overcome the entire creation, and whose beloved spouse you have stolen, I am his messenger."
He urged Ravan to abandon his arrogance, surrender to Ram, and return Mother Sita. Ravan, mocking him, sneered, "So, we have found a wise guru in this monkey." Enraged, he wished to execute Hanumanji, but Vibhishan intervened, reminding him that executing an emissary violated statecraft. Instead, Ravan ordered that Hanumanji's tail be set on fire - a punishment meant to humiliate and destroy him. However, excluding Vibhishan's house, all of Lanka was set ablaze. It is, therefore, incorrect to say that Hanumanji burnt Lanka. It was the aggressive act of igniting his tail that caused the fire.
The lesson is profound: Those who set another's home ablaze will one day see their own engulfed in flames. Hanumanji merely gave Ravan and people of Lanka a glimpse of Ram's might, urging them to reflect on consequences before it was too late.
Lanka symbolises materialism, a world where pleasure, wealth, and power reign supreme, crushing spirituality in their wake. Just as rakshasas sought to annihilate anything that threatened their indulgence, our selfish ego seeks to suppress our spiritual inclinations. Today, people hoard wealth yet contribute nothing to the very land that nurtured them. The burning of Lanka represents destruction of material attachments, which the ego clings to - at dharm's cost.
Sitaji is Goddess Lakshmi - essential for our sustenance. But Ravan's mistake was that he wanted to possess her solely for himself rather than share her abundance. Unhappy at being bound, Lakshmiji burnt Lanka completely. In contrast, Hanumanji sought her as a mother, earning her blessings of immeasurable strength and ability to generate wealth - for the service and sustenance of others.
Hanumanji's worship destroys undesirable tendencies and burns away our negativities and attachments to the world of matter, within and without. This is his eternal glory.
Authored by: Swami Swaroopananda
The writer is global head, Chinmaya Mission
Hanuman Jayanti is on April 12
To say someone is 'on fire' implies that they are working with great inspiration. Fire is the source of heat, energy, dynamism, and brilliance - all qualities Hanumanji exemplifies. Moved by Sitaji 's sorrow, Hanumanji set Lanka ablaze. Known for his deep empathy, he is unable to witness the suffering of others. This is why, in Sankat Mochan , devotees pray: "O Hanumanji! You have performed great deeds for gods. You hold the key to all solutions. Please remove my troubles at once. Who does not know that you are Sankat Mochan - remover of all obstacles?"
Even Meghanada's Brahmastra could not harm Hanumanji, for Brahma had blessed him with immunity. Yet, to uphold the weapon's sanctity, Hanumanji pretended to fall unconscious, allowing himself to be captured. This was a strategic ploy - as he was dragged through Lanka's streets, he carefully mapped the entire city. In a sense, Hanumanji was the original creator of GPS.
Ravan was livid at this audacious monkey who had destroyed his beloved Ashok Vatika. He demanded the monkey's identity. With calm resolve, Hanumanji replied: "By an iota of whose mighty power you were able to overcome the entire creation, and whose beloved spouse you have stolen, I am his messenger."
He urged Ravan to abandon his arrogance, surrender to Ram, and return Mother Sita. Ravan, mocking him, sneered, "So, we have found a wise guru in this monkey." Enraged, he wished to execute Hanumanji, but Vibhishan intervened, reminding him that executing an emissary violated statecraft. Instead, Ravan ordered that Hanumanji's tail be set on fire - a punishment meant to humiliate and destroy him. However, excluding Vibhishan's house, all of Lanka was set ablaze. It is, therefore, incorrect to say that Hanumanji burnt Lanka. It was the aggressive act of igniting his tail that caused the fire.
The lesson is profound: Those who set another's home ablaze will one day see their own engulfed in flames. Hanumanji merely gave Ravan and people of Lanka a glimpse of Ram's might, urging them to reflect on consequences before it was too late.
Lanka symbolises materialism, a world where pleasure, wealth, and power reign supreme, crushing spirituality in their wake. Just as rakshasas sought to annihilate anything that threatened their indulgence, our selfish ego seeks to suppress our spiritual inclinations. Today, people hoard wealth yet contribute nothing to the very land that nurtured them. The burning of Lanka represents destruction of material attachments, which the ego clings to - at dharm's cost.
Sitaji is Goddess Lakshmi - essential for our sustenance. But Ravan's mistake was that he wanted to possess her solely for himself rather than share her abundance. Unhappy at being bound, Lakshmiji burnt Lanka completely. In contrast, Hanumanji sought her as a mother, earning her blessings of immeasurable strength and ability to generate wealth - for the service and sustenance of others.
Hanumanji's worship destroys undesirable tendencies and burns away our negativities and attachments to the world of matter, within and without. This is his eternal glory.
Authored by: Swami Swaroopananda
The writer is global head, Chinmaya Mission
Hanuman Jayanti is on April 12
You may also like
IPL 2025, LSG vs CSK head-to-head: In Pant-Dhoni face-off, where do Lucknow & Chennai stand against each other?
Every wild Wrexham transfer rumour – Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of retirement to Sergio Ramos move
Store chocolate in one place to make it taste 'so much better' - not the fridge
Delhi's new anti-pollution moves: Will they be enough?
PS5 price increase immediately hits the UK, Europe and beyond – and it's brutal for gamers
