MY HANUMAN CHALISA

by Devdutt Pattanaik

Tulsidas was educated in Sanskrit and Vedic scriptures as well as the regional language, Awadhi, in Ayodhya and in Varanasi. He heard the story of Ram for the first time from his guru.

This fifth head embodies ego (aham), the crumpled mind, which is the offspring of imagined hunger and fear that makes us cling to wealth and seek control over others.

Hanuman is Shiva. The colloquial meaning of his name is the destroyer of the ego. He does not seek wealth, power or knowledge. He is content. He has no reason to participate in the Ramayana, yet he does. He helps reunite Ram and Sita. And watches with amazement how this divine couple conducts their life.