Hanuman Chalisa: A string of forty pearls

 

Hanuman Chalisa

Perhaps known more widely amongst the masses than the Ramcharitmanas, this hymn in praise of Lord Hanuman is one of the finest of creations from the pen of Tulsidas, the poet-saint of the 16-17th century. The story of Tulsidas begins with mystery right from the circumstances surrounding his birth. It has been written that he remained in his mother’s womb for 12 months and was born with 32 teeth. The first word he uttered was Ram hence he was named Rambola. Dube was his family name. He was however abandoned by his parents immediately following his birth because the horoscope predicted ill to the father.

When initiated into religious life he was given the name Tulsidas. His first guru was Narharidas from age 7 till 17 and then Shesha Sanatana. Narharidas was the one who first introduced him to the Ramayan. Shesha Sanatana was instrumental

In shaping his literary skills.

Tulsidas was blessed with the sight of Hanuman several times and with Hanuman’s blessings also had the great fortune to meet with Ram and Lakshman on at least two occasions. He laid the foundation of the Sankatmochan Hanuman temple in Varanasi at the same place where he first met Hanuman. It is no surprise that this devout follower of Ram and Hanuman was inspired to write such exquisite verses exalting the virtues of both Ram and his faithful servant Hanuman. 

The Hanuman Chalisa is composed in Chaupayees, verses that each have four parts. Forty such chaupayees hence it is called chalisa. These are preceded and concluded by a doha which has a distinct meter from a chaupayee. 

When Tulsidas begins, he offers the first salutations to his teacher or Guru in the opening doha. And how? Just this one doha is a good enough testament to the literary and scholarly genius of Tulsidas! It made me think of Dnyaaneshwar, another giant in spiritual literature.

The first doha blends some complex linguistic elements with traditional Hindu concepts in a seamless manner. He uses an analogy while applying a paradox alongside. In one breath he reveals utmost humility while extolling the power of Rama. 

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि। 

बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि।। 

“I am cleaning the mirror of my mind with the dust from the feet of my guru before I begin to sing the glory of Rama by which one can achieve all the four goals in life.”

Here he refers to his mind as a mirror. There is humility in considering the mind as a mirror. It implies that it is merely reflecting light from another source. It is deferring the credit to a higher power. 

He is about to undertake an auspicious task. Before attempting to praise the Lord he wants to ensure that his mind is clean. Doubts, fears, misunderstandings, ill feelings, he wants all such impurities wiped out prior to undertaking a holy service. What material does he want to use for the cleansing? Dust from the feet of his preceptor! Normally impurities are likened to dust hence cleaning involves wiping dust away from a mirror or any surface. Instead Tulsidas wants to clean the mirror using dust! It is no ordinary dust, however. He places the guru in a position of such high regard that even the dust at the teacher’s feet has the purity and cleansing power to render an impure mind spotless like a clean mirror. 

Thus the first line reveals his superlative reverence for his guru and the following line summarizes the powers of Rama as well as the purpose of human life.

Hindu scriptures prescribe four goals for fulfillment of human life. These are the four fruits( phal chari) he refers to in these lines. What are they?

Dharma( righteous living)

Artha ( earning a living through honest means)

Kama ( enjoying pleasures that are permitted by law)

Moksha( spiritual emancipation)

Such is Ram’s virtuous life that anyone who takes a page from it would rise from lowly existence to the highest good. 

This is the confident declaration of Tulsidas as he opens the Hanuman Chalisa.

Right from the opening verse there is emphasis on purity. Purity of thinking and deeds.

Nija mana mukuru sudhari ( I will clean the mirror of my mind)

Bimal means free of mul or impurity.

Bimal jasu refers to Ram’s unblemished glory.

In a later verse while praising the virtues of Hanuman he uses the phrase “ kumati nivar “( remover of ill thinking) and sumati ke sangi ( one who grants pure thinking). 

Really ideal human life can be summarized as ongoing efforts towards pure thinking and actions based on such thinking.

We are not perfect and we are clueless about what perfection looks like. Our minds can emulate after concrete models better than anything abstract. This is what the Hanuman Chalisa facilitates.

A large part of the forty verses consists of profuse praise for Hanuman. There is description of his physical strength, fearlessness, resourcefulness, intelligence and single pointed devotion to Ram and Ram’s family. A picture is painted of an ideal servant of God. One who is dependable in times of need. One who has earned recognition from the Gods and saintly people for his exemplary qualities. 

One quality that I often contemplate upon when I think of the Hanuman Chalisa is the strategic approach Hanuman takes in different situations. When dealing with God’s people he assumes a small stature. This is to be understood as being humble and receptive, not physically reducing one’s size. 

सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा

The same humble servant puts on a fierce look when confronting tyrants. He doesn’t hide his displeasure when there is a threat to good people from the evil people.

 बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा

He shows and proves his might against the powerful enemy,

भीम रूप धरि असुर संहारे

And once the job is done he is able to set aside his greatness when attending to his master’s needs. Even the power display is done in an attitude of service to the master.

 रामचंद्र के काज संवारे

This I find is the most important lesson to take from Hanuman for anyone who wants to be a servant of God. What’s the point of staying humble and meek before tyrants or arrogant in presence of good people? 

One must know where what appearance is called for. One must learn to adapt to situations. Yet most of us fumble. We often know it within us and still do the wrong act at the wrong time. 

You can find the translation of the full Hanuman Chalisa from many books and articles. This post is just about my small observations and take home lessons from the brilliant composition. Like many people this is my go-to hymn when confronted by challenges in life, small or big. It instills hope, faith, support and encouragement. It allows me to be bold and strong even when the insides are shaking or crumbling. 

Yet it is more than just a hymn that protects in times of calamity. There are so many pointers tucked into the verses that teach how to lead an exemplary life. 

संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै।

मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै।।

Hanuman protects people but not everyone. What qualifications are necessary to be rescued ? Mind, action and speech must all be in one place when praying and in day to day activities. You think one thing, speak something different and do yet another thing, that reveals lack of integrity. When you are transparent in what you think and do and have striven towards pure living then you can expect divine protection. 

जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई।

छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई।।

Many people interpret this verse as “ if you recite the Hanuman Chalisa one hundred times, you will be liberated from all bondage and attain to great happiness.”

Rain water does not moisten the insides of a hard rock. For the Hanuman Chalisa to bring about a major change in your life, to free you from bondage and bestow happiness you need to study it carefully over and over, and absorb the deep essence that it embodies. Mere recitation would be foolish and self deceptive.

Whether one believes in Ramayan as history or considers it as mythology one cannot deny the power of certain things. One such thing of power is the Hanuman Chalisa. Those who are pure at heart can attain self realization by its study. For those who are riddled with hatred, anger, revenge or dejection it can purify them eventually if they pursue it consistently. It attracts the common man during periods of grave danger, evokes faith and then slowly leads him into deeper contemplation. 

 Tulsidas certainly knew this. What a gift he gave the world! To remember the saints on their birth or death anniversaries is an excuse to revisit their valuable teachings and help ourselves live better lives. 

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि। 

बरनऊं रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि।। 

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन-कुमार।

बल बुद्धि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार।। 

 

चौपाई :

 

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर।

जय कपीस तिहुं लोक उजागर।।

 

रामदूत अतुलित बल धामा।

अंजनि-पुत्र पवनसुत नामा।।

 

महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी।

कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी।।

 

कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा।

कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा।।

 

हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै।

कांधे मूंज जनेऊ साजै।

 

संकर सुवन केसरीनंदन।

तेज प्रताप महा जग बन्दन।।

 

विद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर।

राम काज करिबे को आतुर।।

 

प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया।

राम लखन सीता मन बसिया।।

 

सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा।

 बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा।।

 

भीम रूप धरि असुर संहारे।

रामचंद्र के काज संवारे।।

 

लाय सजीवन लखन जियाये।

श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाये।।

 

रघुपति कीन्ही बहुत बड़ाई।

तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई।।

 

सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं।

अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं।।

 

सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा।

नारद सारद सहित अहीसा।।

 

जम कुबेर दिगपाल जहां ते।

कबि कोबिद कहि सके कहां ते।।

 

तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा।

राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा।।

 

तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषन माना।

लंकेस्वर भए सब जग जाना।।

 

जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू।

लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू।।

 

प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं।

जलधि लांघि गये अचरज नाहीं।।

दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते।

सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते।।

 

राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे।

होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे।।

 

सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी सरना।

तुम रक्षक काहू को डर ना।।

 

आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै।

तीनों लोक हांक तें कांपै।।

 

भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै।

महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै।।

 

नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा।

जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा।।

 

संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै।

मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै।।

 

सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा।

तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा।

 

और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै।

सोइ अमित जीवन फल पावै।।

 

चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा।

है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा।।

 

साधु-संत के तुम रखवारे।

असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे।।

 

अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता।

अस बर दीन जानकी माता।।

 

राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा।

सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा।।

 

तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै।

जनम-जनम के दुख बिसरावै।।

 

अन्तकाल रघुबर पुर जाई।

जहां जन्म हरि-भक्त कहाई।।

 

और देवता चित्त न धरई।

हनुमत सेइ सर्ब सुख करई।।

 

संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा।

जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा।।

 

जै जै जै हनुमान गोसाईं।

कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं।।

 

जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई।

छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई।।

 

जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा।

होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा।।

 

तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा।

कीजै नाथ हृदय मंह डेरा।। 

दोहा :

 

पवन तनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप।

राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप।।