Life Lessons from Lord Hanuman

Mythological epics, like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, teach us important values and lessons of life.  We acquire a variety of positive traits that we can still instill in ourselves today. 

Lord Hanuman, also known as Anjaneya or Pavanputra, is one of the most popular and revered gods of Hinduism. He is the son of Vayu, the wind god, and, according to many, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Hanuman is a dominant character in the famous epic of the Ramayana and is often depicted as a monkey with a muscular body, wearing a loincloth, and carrying a gada or mace in one hand and a mountain in the other. He is mentioned in many other religious scriptures and epics, like the Mahabharata and Puranas.

 Let’s explore some of these profound lessons gleaned from Hanuman’s life.

Profound devotion:

 The foundation of Hanuman's character is his deep devotion to Lord Rama. Not just in a religious sense, but also as a principle that can guide our relationships and endeavors, his unwavering faith and selfless service serve as a reminder of the transformational power of true devotion.

Strength Coupled with Humility

Hanuman maintained his modesty in spite of his extraordinary power and prowess. His humility shows us that genuine strength comes from understanding and modesty rather than from show and conceit.His compassion and humility were evident in everything he was doing because he was acting in service to others, especially his guru, Lord Rama.

 Duty and Loyalty

Hanuman’s unwavering loyalty to Lord Rama and his dedication to the cause showcase the importance of duty and loyalty. Hanuman’s life encourages us to stay true to our commitments, regardless of the circumstances.

Perseverance in the face of adversity

Whether it was his tireless search for Sita or his unyielding stand in battles, Hanuman’s determination in the face of adversity is an inspiring lesson. His perseverance teaches us the power of never giving up, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Balance of Mind and Body

While Hanuman’s physical prowess is well known, his intellectual brilliance and wisdom were equally impressive. His life serves as a reminder of the importance of nurturing both mind and body, signifying the need for a balanced and holistic approach to life.

Here are some examples:

1. Believe in your inner strength.

Hanuman was blessed with many powers and possessed immense   physical strength. When Rama's brother Lakshman was injured in a fight with Indrajit (Ravana’s son), Hanuman was asked to bring the Sanjeevani booti before sunrise in order to cure him. Hanuman was unable to identify the herb and thus lifted the entire mountain from the Himalayas by himself and brought it to Lanka. Apart from physical strength, Lord Hanuman also demonstrated mental strength. He faced every difficult situation with courage and had faith in himself and his Lord.

Lesson: Even in our lives, there are times when we come across sticky situations that make us feel discouraged and we lose hope. In such times, we can take inspiration from Lord Hanuman and try to deal with every problem with our inner strength.

2. Be pragmatic when the situation demands so.

Whenever Lord Hanuman encountered a challenging situation, he undertook a practical approach to deal with it. Rather than following general ideas or rules, he focused on the task at hand by acting sensibly according to the situation. This can be seen through various instances, such as when he uses his tail to burn down Lanka, lifts a mountain to bring the medicinal herb, and changes his form during his encounter with Surasa. He also saved many lives with his war-winning tips and tricks.

Lesson: Rather than depending on ingrained behaviors, we should like Lord Hanuman learn to adjust to any circumstance and act in accordance with the current needs.

3. Loyalty, selflessness, and humility.

Hanuman was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and dedicated a major part of his life to the Lord and his wife, Sita. Stories of his loyalty and selflessness towards them have gone down in history. Putting his life at stake, he went alone to Lanka to bring Sita back. Additionally, he was always modest and grounded despite his immense strength and power. 

This can be illustrated by the following incident: When Hanuman was crossing the sea on his way to Lanka, the Gods sent Surasa, the mother of the Nagas (serpents), to test him. She assumed the form of a fearful Rakshasi and told Hanuman that he cannot pass without going through her mouth. Hanuman acknowledged her strength and acted tactfully by expanding himself larger than Surasa’s mouth. She too made her mouth bigger and bigger, when suddenly Hanuman shrunk into his original size and quickly entered her mouth and came out before she could trap him. This way Hanuman respected Surasa’s condition and saved his life too. Impressed by this, Surasa assumed her actual form and blessed Hanuman.

Thus, only being competent or strong doesn’t always lead to victory. Humility and modesty are equally important. Even in pictures, Hanuman is mostly seen kneeling down with folded hands when next to Rama and Sita.

Lesson: Being well aware of our strengths is good, but that doesn’t mean that we should consider ourselves superior to others. We must always be humble, no matter how much we have achieved in life. Also, many times challenges cannot be won by force alone. One should use their intellect to adapt to the situation and find the best possible solution

4. Never compromise on your ideals.

During the war between Hanuman and Indrajit in Ashok Vatika, Indrajit chose to use the power of Brahmastra to vanquish Hanuman. He could have used his strength and broken the Brahmastra but did not because he didn't want to reduce the importance of a weapon that was made by Lord Brahma. Instead, he bowed in front of it.

Lesson: We may encounter circumstances in life where engaging in immoral behavior may be simpler.Nevertheless, sacrificing your principles in order to accomplish a goal is never a good idea.
5. Communication is the key to effective leadership.

While constructing the stone bridge in the sea, it was Hanuman who organised and encouraged the mischievous monkeys in getting the work done. Even during the battle against Ravana, he managed and led the entire Vanara army.
Lesson: Knowing how to communicate well and manage people effectively is a skill that is very useful in today’s times. At the same time, we must be kind and respectful too.
6. Look for the positive aspects.

Even during complicated situations, Hanuman maintained his composure and showed his sense of humour. For instance, when he visited Lanka to find Mother Sita, he was captured, denied a seat in Ravana's court, and made fun of his monkey form. Instead of getting angry or feeling insulted, Lord Hanuman increased the length of his tail and coiled it on the courtroom floor. He sat on top of the coiled tail seat with dignity and, as the emissary of the Lord, communicated Lord Rama's message of peace to Ravana.

Lesson: We should not let difficult times get the better of us. Keeping a positive attitude is essential to overcoming any situation.

7. Value your relationship.
Hanuman played an important role in initiating the meeting between Ram and a troubled Sugreev, because of whom Ram fought Vali and gave Sugreev his kingdom back. Similarly, as an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Mother Sita, Hanuman did everything in his power to help the holy couple reunite.

Lesson: If we get a chance to help a friend in need, we should not hesitate to help him or her. Like Hanuman, we should value friendship and promote goodwill among others.
These timeless lessons from Lord Hanuman’s life serve as guiding principles that can help us navigate the journey of life. They inspire us to cultivate virtues like devotion, humility, loyalty, perseverance, and balance, thereby leading us towards a path of fulfillment and wisdom.

--What other lessons have you learned from Lord Hanuman?
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