The human world needed to be populated but Brahma’s elder son, Narad, refused to give up his bachelor status. Disappointed He turned to His younger, Manu.
Humans flourished and Manu laid down the set of laws that was to govern their every move.
Brahma turned to the monkey world….perhaps this event was the one that took place first for the so called monkey world is really that of the ancient Indian’s.
Riksharaja was born and Brahma spent many hours delighting in the company of his son. The monkey pranced about discovering the lovely world when for the first time he came upon a clear sparkling pool. But there in the depth of the waters, staring him in the eye, was another monkey. Riksharaja plunged in and when he surfaced he had taken on the form of a female monkey. Surya (the sun god) and Indra (the king of the gods) fell in love instantly and to Riksharaja was born Vali, the son of Indra and Sugreev, son of Surya. Riksharaja regained his original form and returned to his father’s abode.
Vali, the elder; the future king, was taken away amidst great rejoicing while Sugreev lived by himself and grew lonesome. Riksharaja was upset and he called for Vayu, the lord of the winds.
‘Father a companion for my son, one who will be his source of strength.’
Vayu chose Anjana and a child - the first of the Langurs - or genus Semnopithecus (click on coloured link) - was born.
The little one was full of mischief as all children are. He rose early one day to discover an orange red fruit hanging just above the horizon.
‘A mango!’
The infant leapt up into the sky. But it was a strange fruit and the little one’s face was scorched. Would he give up? No, he sprang up once again.
Rahu, the demon who had long lost his torso, was lurking close-by for a chance to swallow the sun. The solar eclipse was due. He rushed to Indra complaining.
‘There is another demon attempting to eat the sun.’
Indra kept a sharp lookout and sure enough spotted a tiny form flying furiously at the sun. He hurled his thunderbolt.
The little monkey fell back onto the earth hurt and confused. His chin … his poor little chin had been cleft in two. Sweeping down towards him was his father who gathered him into his arms and retired to a cave. Vayu was enraged. He would blow no longer about the world with his life-giving winds. He would not come out of the cave…why was his little son being persecuted?
As the world choked and gasped for breath the gods came rushing to apologise.
They looked at the little one and were overcome. One so young and beautiful and yet such a font of power and strength. As they caressed the beautiful little face they blessed every inch of it. Finally placing their fingertips upon the injured chin, which the ancients called Hanu in Sanskrit, they proclaimed, ‘herein lies all your beauty. May you be known hereafter as Hanumantha or Hanuman.’
Congratulating Olympic champ Abhinav Bindra (click for Abhinav's blog) in the traditional manner for winning a gold medal.
1 comment:
u are not only a good physcian but also an exceelent writer. i wd say u are blessed with all these qualities. best wishes
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