GOPAL SHARMAN’S English version of the Ramayana opens with: "Time is the curtain within which all things age." Even as the lights are dim, the cosmic lines of Hanuman pierce through the measured time..."call me sometimes when the night seems particular dark to you...then I might exchange your landscape, replacing with billions of stars each leaf of each tree, each blade of grass. Your earth shall become the vastness of universe, with trees of it like galaxy of stars, pulsing as time in many different rhythms. From branch to branch here I play and swing. The sun, like fruit, I nibble and cast away."

These mystic lines of Hanuman, neither man nor beast and born of the wind, have been recited by millions of Indians over the years. The son of the wind god — symbol of life — is an embodiment of auspiciousness.

Among the characters of the immortal epic Ramayana portrayed by Valmiki, Kamban, Tulsi or Guru Gobind Singh, Hanuman occupies a unique place. He is an embodiment of physical prowess, mental equipoise, moral splendour and spiritual loftiness.

Valmiki has depicted Hanuman as a scholar, supporter of dharma, sincere friend, able minister, sagacious ambassador, mighty hero and an outstanding devotee who wanted to live "as long the great name of Rama was preserved among the sons of men."

Kamban in his excellent Tamil epic presented Hanuman as modest and bashful, who with his purity of thought and action gave solace to Sita, who in turn said," I only pray that you live forever in the world. To me you are the primordial incarnation of grace."

A character in the Rama Katha crossed the frontiers of Rama story and became an independent god. His images were carved and installed in independent temples. His brave deeds were admired all over. He has been portrayed as an interpreter of supreme reality, redeemer and dispeller of darkness and distress (sankat mochan).

Hanuman’s intellect, wisdom, sagacity, common sense are exemplified in his first encounter with Rama and Lakshmana. He addressed them in a perfectly modulated voice and earned the title of a Buddhiman, an incomparable scholar, from the hero of the epic. "To speak in the way he has done," said Rama, "is possible only for one who has mastered the Vedas, which is reflected in his humility, memory and erudition....No fault of expression was noticed anywhere in

his face, forehead and eyebrows nor in any of his limbs...the virtues of his throat are marked by the absence of prolixity and ambiguity....After listening to him, even the mind of an enemy with his sword uplifted will be made friendly thereby... by the very pleading of such an envoy, all objects of a sovereign, in whose service there happen to be agents adorned with hosts of such virtues, are accomplished." His knowledge of ethics and ambassadorial proprieties is clearly demonstrated whenever he is called to perform such duty. The negotiator united Rama and Sugriva, won the confidence of Sita and created fear in the heart of Ravana through his communication skills (vakapatutvam).

Hanuman is associated with great deeds of valour. While exhorting Hanuman to go to the mountains for precious herbs, Jamavant says: "If lone Hanuman is alive, even if all of us are dead, we must be deemed to be really alive." His strength, however never went to his head. When Sita asked him about the strength of Sugriva’s army, he replied:" There are many who are superior or equal to me, but none inferior to me." Introducing himself to Vibhishna, he said: "It is the very nature of Lord Rama to love his sevak....Tell me what superior birth can I claim — that of a frivolous monkey! Vile in every way, so much so that anyone who mentions my name in the morning is sure to go without food that day." At the same time he knew that "not even a thousand Ravanas will be a match in battle for me, who oft are capable of beating with rocks and trees in various ways."

Hanuman presents an ideal exalted position of a yathavachan karni, of he who acts as he speaks. He does not boastfully narrate his achievements. After burning Lanka, he was not overwhelmed by his extraordinary power. He simply said, " drishtva" (that he had seen Sita). It was Jamavant who described his achievements. Hanuman gave the entire credit to Lord Rama, who in turn took him in his arms and said: "This embrace of mine is the biggest reward I can give you now in recompense for what you have accomplished."

This mystic monkey god, typically characterised as the devotee of Lord Rama, is an embodiment of dasyabhava — sitting humbly before the Lord, he remains totally self-possessed, self-controlled and constantly absorbed. All his deeds are spiritual adventures of the soul to reach the truth, from self to self.

Considered the most popular and friendly deity, Hanuman is revered by leaders and social workers. Students too worship him, for he infuses enthusiasm and self-confidence into them. He is chiranjivi, living eternally in one embodied form, as blessed by Sita; a jewel — Ramayana maha malaratnam. There seems to be no other creation in the whole field of Indian thought that combines all the lofty ideals that the country stood for — the emphasis on the control of senses (indriya nigraha), heroism and valour for the cause of dharma, devotion, and, above all, humility.