MY HANUMAN CHALISA

by Devdutt Pattanaik

Hanuman observes Ram’s relationship with Lakshman and Sita, and realizes how Ram’s brother and Ram’s wife complete him, and how he completes them. When Hanuman places all three of them in his heart, he is essentially placing in his heart the idea of relationship: that the self is incomplete without the other; that the self exists in an ecosystem of others. That is why in Hindu temples, no deity is placed alone: the deity always has a spouse, or a child, or a companion, or an attendant.

Ravana ‘consumes’ those who love him. Ram ‘nourishes’ those who love him. In serving Ram dutifully, Hanuman nourishes himself. He moves from being va-nara, less than human, to being Nara-ayana, refuge for humans.