Ramayana - Feb 14th, Iyengar Sunday Fun & Chair Class

Hanumanasana is a Valentine’s Day Tradition for me. This inspiring pose requires courage, but there are versions that are appropriate for all levels of students. It ultimately represents faith and love, with the recognition that neither are easy, but worth the price we pay.

This excerpt from Hanuman’s, the Monkey God’s story, comes at the end of the great epic Ramayana. All the action is over, the Queen Sita is saved, the Demon King defeated and the great Lovers Rama and Sita are reunited. In large part because of the lowly monkey Hanuman.

“ OhHanuman!”

“My King?" Hanuman knelt before Rama.

'Rama said, “As long as men shall speak of you, you will live on Earth. No one can equal you. Your heart is true; your arms are strong; you have the energy to do anything. You have served me faithfully and done things for me that couldn't be done."

^It’s nothing” said Hanuman. "I am your friend, that's all.”

Rama wore a rare golden bracelet set with gemstones on his right arm, a costly irreplaceable ornament inherited from among the wealth of the Solar Kings from ancient days. He said, "Best of Monkeys, take this as my gift,” and gave it to Hanuman.

Hanuman snatched the bracelet from Rama and started to turn it over and around in his white furry paws, looking

closely at it. Then he bent and broke it; he twisted the gold and pulled out the jewels, and put them between his hard teeth. He bit down on the priceless gems and broke them like nuts, and carefully searched over the pieces, looking everywhere for something.

Rama asked him, "Monkey, at a time like this why are you still difficult?"

Hanuman answered, "Lord, though this bracelet looked expensive it was really worthless, for nowhere on it did it bear your name. I have no need of it, Rama. What do I want with anything plain?"

Vibhishana sniffed at that. 'Then I can't see what value life has to you. Why don't you destroy your body as well?"

Then with his sharp fingernails Hanuman tore open his breast and pulled back the flesh. And see! There was written again and again on every bone, in fine little letters—Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama ….

Rama put down the grass he held, and with his two hands he pressed together Hanuman's parted flesh, and the wound over his beating heart came together leaving no scar at all, not even one big as a grain of dust, or the tip of a hair. Rama drew off his hand his broad gleaming gold ring that said Rama, the ring that Hanuman had carried to Sita. He put it into Hanuman’s wet bloodstained paw and gently closed the monkey fingers over it.

- trans. William Buck