Introduction
You must have heard this famous story of Hanuman Ji that, After the Ram-Ravan war, when Lord Shri Ram, Mata Sita Ji and Lakshman Ji returned to Ayodhya, Hanuman Ji also stayed with them.
One day in the royal court, everyone was praising Hanuman Ji's devotion. Some people asked jokingly or curiously: "Hanuman, you say that Ram and Sita always reside in your heart. Is this true, or is it just a rumour?"
Hanuman Ji smiled and said:
"Shri Ram and Mata Sita always reside in my heart."
People in the court thought that maybe Hanuman Ji had spoken like a poet, but then Hanuman Ji teared his own chest with his nails.
Everyone was amazed to see that Lord Shri Ram and Mother Sita Ji were actually present in the form of divine beings in Hanuman Ji's heart! In some versions, Lakshman Ji is also seen with them.
Everyone's eyes filled with tears after seeing this. Shri Ram Ji himself hugged Hanuman Ji.
This story is found in a Sectarian text of Ramanandi Vaishnavas called Ramcharitmanas, which was composed by Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century CE.
There is no mention of any such incident in any Valmiki Ramayan, other ithas granth, 18 Puranas and 18 Upapuranas etc.
So what is the actual story? In which scripture is it mentioned?
Tulsi Das ji has taken inspiration from "Vaman Puran" to write this story in his Ram Charitra Manas.
In this incident of Vaman Puran, "Shri Hari Vishnu" parts his chest and shows the presence of Shiva in it and proves his devotion towards Shiva.
On Vishnu Ji's request, he and all the gods with him go to Mount Kailash to meet Lord Shiva so that they can kill the demon named Mura.
All the gods do go to Kailash but they do not get to see Lord Shiva there. Then Vishnu Ji tells them that Lord Shiva resides in the heart of all of us and we just want to see him.
The other gods who went there with Vishnu Ji started asking how this can happen?
Then Vishnu Ji, by cheering his heart, makes everyone see the Linga Swaroop of Lord Shiva sitting in his heart. All the gods sitting there perform the anointment, worship etc. of that divine Linga of Lord Shiva with different types of materials.
This directly reverses the later sentimental Vaishnava usage. The earlier śāstric model is not Hanuman showing Rama in his heart; it is Hari revealing Śiva in his own heart. That is the uncomfortable truth which sectarian storytelling tries to cover.
Yajurveda Reference
So this was the story from which Tulsi Das Ji took inspiration and wrote the heart-rending story of Hanuman Ji in Ram Charitra Manas.
Bhagavad Gita and Śiva Jñāna
Similarly Lord Krishna didn't speak Bhagavat Gita himself. He narrated the Bhagavat Gita by being in yogic union with the supreme God and he forgot that knowledge and he said to arjuna he doesn't have the power to recite Gita again as mentioned in Mahabharat 14:16:5-13a.
Vyasa Muni clarifies it in Kurma Purana 1;28;60-61, where he says to Arjuna that You've directly perceived that Lord Rudra who has his eyes and face everywhere, who is the very embodiment of the universe. That divine knowledge of Shiva has been precisely understood by you and Hari/Rishikesha came as a guru to teach you that.
This is another blow to the inflated Vaishnava reading. The śāstric pattern repeatedly shows Hari connected to Śiva-jñāna, Śiva-bhakti, and Śiva’s inner presence. Sectarian Vaiṣṇava exaggeration may decorate stories later, but it cannot erase the Śaiva foundation.
Conclusion
The popular Hanuman-heart story is not found in Valmiki Ramayan, other ithas granth, 18 Puranas and 18 Upapuranas etc. The actual Purāṇic model is from Vaman Puran, where Shri Hari Vishnu reveals Shiva in his own heart and proves his devotion towards Shiva.
The Vaishnava attempt to use later sentimental storytelling to project exclusive Rama/Vishnu supremacy collapses when the original Purāṇic pattern is examined. In the śāstric source, it is Viṣṇu who shows Śiva in his heart, and the gods worship that divine Linga Swaroop of Lord Shiva.
Therefore, this story is not a proof of Vaishnava supremacy. Properly understood, it is another witness to Śiva’s inner rulership, Hari’s Śiva-bhakti, and the supremacy of Paramaśiva.
Inke hridaya mein thhe isiliye inke avtaar ne Lanka ke yudh se pehle Bhairav aur Ma Neelsaraswati ka awahan kiya. Aur us yudh ke baad jagah jagah pe sthapna ki. Kahani jitni badal de koi, asliyat actions se dikh jaati hai. Excellent write up. Please continue dispelling the misconceptions, and giving real gyan to people.
ReplyDeleteHara Hara Mahadev
Delete