JOIN USNo discussion on devotion can be complete if we ignore the story of Hanuman. He was able to cross the sea by the power of chanting His name; his first thought was victory to Lord, never for himself.
It was always Jai Sri Ram or “Victory to Lord Rama” on his lips.
Once Lord Rama asked him why Hanuman always bowed and knelt to Him when he knew that there was no real difference between him and the Lord. Hanuman replied by saying: “My Lord when I am away from You, I know that there is no difference between you and I but when I come in front of You I can only approach you as Your slave!”
Lord Krishna once asked Garuda, His mount, to bring some lotus flowers from the garden of Kubera, king of the yakshas.
On the way, Garuda’s ego began to inflate and he thought how there was nobody who was equal to this task than him in the universe. He reached the garden and began plucking the flowers.
Hanuman saw Garuda picking up the flowers and reprimanded him for taking the flowers without securing Kubera’s permission.
Bloated by his ego, Garuda replied: “I am taking these flowers for Lord Krishna. I do not need any permission.” Hanuman was annoyed.
He caught Garuda in his grasp and headed directly for Dwaraka. The earth trembled in panic. The Lord’s Sudarshana chakra stood in his way but he caught hold of it and held that too in his armpit.
The Lord was watching Hanuman’s actions with a bewitching smile and told his companions: “Hanuman is in a state of anger and he can be pacified only by the darshan of Rama and Sita, his consort. Otherwise he will lift Dwaraka single handed and drown it in the ocean.”
Lord Krishna and Radha Devi immediately assumed the form of Rama and Sita. Hanuman was overjoyed when he saw the divine couple.
He prostrated joyfully to Rama and Sita. Rama asked Hanuman what he was holding under his arms and Hanuman gave the Lord, the following reply: “This is nothing my Lord. It is but a small matter. While I was engaged in doing my japa, a little bird came and disturbed me. I caught hold of it and kept it under my arm. Then a little chakra came and disturbed me and I kept that too under my arm. My Lord! If you wanted lotus flowers, all you have to do is to command me and I will bring it in as trice.”
Pointing to Garuda, Hanuman said: “This weakling does not have the capacity to pluck flowers from the garden of such a mighty king as Kubera.”